Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 99337

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Re: SAM-e and BP II » Ron Hill

Posted by Cindylou on April 10, 2002, at 6:45:07

In reply to Re: SAM-e and BP II » Cindylou, posted by Ron Hill on April 9, 2002, at 23:10:39

THANKS, RON! You have been such a help.

By the way, what is Lithoboid? I have never heard of that med.

cindy


> >I am interested in taking that online screening, but was a bit confused when I checked out the link. I couldn't find the actual screening test. Do I need to pay the $10 first, in order to "subscribe" to their services, and then I'll have access to the test?
>
> Yes. You can access the demo tests without paying the ten bucks for ten days. Just click on the desired demo where it says:
>
> FREE SAMPLES
> Anorexia Nervosa (self-imposed starvation)
> Internet Mental Health Quality of Life Scale (Paper format)
>
> Then, if you want to pay the ten for ten, click the continue button in the box that says:
>
> Diagnosis Programs
> Online diagnosis of the disorders are available at MyTherapy.com , Dr. Phillip Long's other website.
>
> From there you can sign up. I've never paid the ten bucks because it was free when I used it a few years back. I thought it was pretty good for what it is; a screening tool.
>
> > As far as my pdoc prescribing the tricyclic -- she is also the one who believes that I am bipolar II. We were both in a quandry over what to do ... since no mood stabilizer that we know of is safe during pregnancy.
>
> Not an easy situation, huh? A year or two ago judy1 was faced with this situation. Her dx is BP and if my memory serves me right (which it rarely does!), she tapered off of Lamictal to have a child. Also, Beardy (beardedlady) has expressed interest in this issue of pregnancy and psychotropic medications. These two ladies (and more?) may be able to give you some good ideas.
>
> > Since depression is my predominant issue, she thought the nortriptyline would be worth a try -- and she did mention the Omega 3 fatty acids being a possiblity for stabilizing moods (although she didn't know much about it -- said I would need to take 5 grams, but that's about it.)
>
> One of my soap box issues is that a BP patient should NOT be put on an AD or a stimulant without first having a MS fully in place. The reason for my bias on this issue is that, although I'm BP II, I was initially mis-dx'ed as ADHD and put on Ritalin. Paxil was added a couple months later to try to control the irritable mood swings brought on by the Ritalin. This med combo pushed me into full blown mania and then eventually dumped me into a depression pit too deep to climb out of. As an aside, it was SAM-e that gave me back my life after six years of failed AD trials (with Lithobid as my MS). At any rate, this is the origin of my bias in this issue.
>
> > I wonder if SAM-e and Omega 3 could work together without a med?
>
> Maybe it could, but if you truly are BP II, you will probably need more mood stabilization fire power than what Omega-3 PUFA's can provide. There is a warning on the side of the SAM-e box against BP's taking it unless their pdoc approves it. SAM-e can induce mania (or hypomania) in BP patients.
>
> >I'm not sure if SAM-e is safe during pregnancy, though.
>
> I've never read anything that would lead me to believe that SAM-e is unsafe during pregnancy, but I'm not a doctor. SAM-e is a naturally occurring compound and is synthesized by the human body.
>
> -- Ron

 

Re: SAM-e and BP II » Cindylou

Posted by Ron Hill on April 10, 2002, at 9:22:21

In reply to Re: SAM-e and BP II » Ron Hill, posted by Cindylou on April 10, 2002, at 6:45:07

> By the way, what is Lithoboid? I have never heard of that med.
--------------------

Cindylou, Lithobid is a brand name of slow release lithium carbonate.

-- Ron

 

Re: online diagnosis » Ron Hill

Posted by Cindylou on April 12, 2002, at 17:57:43

In reply to Re: SAM-e and BP II » Cindylou, posted by Ron Hill on April 9, 2002, at 23:10:39

Hi Ron,
Thanks for your help with that online screening tool. I just took several tests, and it did not diagnose me as bipolar! Obsessive compulsive and chronic depression (dysthymia?), but not bipolar.

That is actually what I suspected. After treating me for a year, my pdoc said she thought I was bipolar II because I had such large bouts of fatigue and agitation. But I never had any type of actual "mania" that I can think of, except on a rare occasion where I felt excessively happy ("too" happy, kind of zoomy.)This would only last a day, and usually happened: when I first started a med; when I was infatuated with someone; or after a long night of drinking (I think I may still have been drunk!)

So, the online test was interesting ... and I think I will definitely get a second opinion.

Thanks so much!
cindy


> >I am interested in taking that online screening, but was a bit confused when I checked out the link. I couldn't find the actual screening test. Do I need to pay the $10 first, in order to "subscribe" to their services, and then I'll have access to the test?
>
> Yes. You can access the demo tests without paying the ten bucks for ten days. Just click on the desired demo where it says:
>
> FREE SAMPLES
> Anorexia Nervosa (self-imposed starvation)
> Internet Mental Health Quality of Life Scale (Paper format)
>
> Then, if you want to pay the ten for ten, click the continue button in the box that says:
>
> Diagnosis Programs
> Online diagnosis of the disorders are available at MyTherapy.com , Dr. Phillip Long's other website.
>
> From there you can sign up. I've never paid the ten bucks because it was free when I used it a few years back. I thought it was pretty good for what it is; a screening tool.
>
> > As far as my pdoc prescribing the tricyclic -- she is also the one who believes that I am bipolar II. We were both in a quandry over what to do ... since no mood stabilizer that we know of is safe during pregnancy.
>
> Not an easy situation, huh? A year or two ago judy1 was faced with this situation. Her dx is BP and if my memory serves me right (which it rarely does!), she tapered off of Lamictal to have a child. Also, Beardy (beardedlady) has expressed interest in this issue of pregnancy and psychotropic medications. These two ladies (and more?) may be able to give you some good ideas.
>
> > Since depression is my predominant issue, she thought the nortriptyline would be worth a try -- and she did mention the Omega 3 fatty acids being a possiblity for stabilizing moods (although she didn't know much about it -- said I would need to take 5 grams, but that's about it.)
>
> One of my soap box issues is that a BP patient should NOT be put on an AD or a stimulant without first having a MS fully in place. The reason for my bias on this issue is that, although I'm BP II, I was initially mis-dx'ed as ADHD and put on Ritalin. Paxil was added a couple months later to try to control the irritable mood swings brought on by the Ritalin. This med combo pushed me into full blown mania and then eventually dumped me into a depression pit too deep to climb out of. As an aside, it was SAM-e that gave me back my life after six years of failed AD trials (with Lithobid as my MS). At any rate, this is the origin of my bias in this issue.
>
> > I wonder if SAM-e and Omega 3 could work together without a med?
>
> Maybe it could, but if you truly are BP II, you will probably need more mood stabilization fire power than what Omega-3 PUFA's can provide. There is a warning on the side of the SAM-e box against BP's taking it unless their pdoc approves it. SAM-e can induce mania (or hypomania) in BP patients.
>
> >I'm not sure if SAM-e is safe during pregnancy, though.
>
> I've never read anything that would lead me to believe that SAM-e is unsafe during pregnancy, but I'm not a doctor. SAM-e is a naturally occurring compound and is synthesized by the human body.
>
> -- Ron

 

Thanks for letting me know. Best Wishes! (nm) » Cindylou

Posted by Ron Hill on April 15, 2002, at 10:13:02

In reply to Re: online diagnosis » Ron Hill, posted by Cindylou on April 12, 2002, at 17:57:43

 

Re: Lamictal problems already -- any advice? » Hattree

Posted by disney4 on January 6, 2003, at 13:18:02

In reply to Re: Lamictal problems already -- any advice? » Bekka H., posted by Hattree on March 26, 2002, at 11:59:22

Hi,

I am getting ready to make a change in my medication. I am currently taking Neurontin and klonopin for Bipolar Disorder and OCD. I am in a depression and want to add Lamictal and possibly a low dose imipramine. I am afraid of weight gain because I am also a binge eater. I am very sensitive to meds, but the Neurontin and klonopin have been very easy to tolerate. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Thanks,
Elsie

 

Re: Lamictal problems already -- any advice?

Posted by polarbear206 on January 6, 2003, at 16:29:42

In reply to Re: Lamictal problems already -- any advice? » Hattree, posted by disney4 on January 6, 2003, at 13:18:02

> Hi,
>
> I am getting ready to make a change in my medication. I am currently taking Neurontin and klonopin for Bipolar Disorder and OCD. I am in a depression and want to add Lamictal and possibly a low dose imipramine. I am afraid of weight gain because I am also a binge eater. I am very sensitive to meds, but the Neurontin and klonopin have been very easy to tolerate. Any suggestions would be appreciated!
>
> Thanks,
> Elsie

Elsie,

When my bipolar got under control the binge eating stopped. The dose of imipramine I'm on is low at 25mg. My appetite is under control. No carbo cravings.

Laura

 

Re: Lamictal problems already -- any advice?

Posted by Hattree on January 6, 2003, at 17:37:14

In reply to Re: Lamictal problems already -- any advice? » Hattree, posted by disney4 on January 6, 2003, at 13:18:02

Lamictal has been the most helpful med of the many I have tried. No complaints about Neurontin, either. I've lost ten pounds or so since I started Lamictal, not that Lamictal was the reason, but it hasn't done any harm.

> Hi,
>
> I am getting ready to make a change in my medication. I am currently taking Neurontin and klonopin for Bipolar Disorder and OCD. I am in a depression and want to add Lamictal and possibly a low dose imipramine. I am afraid of weight gain because I am also a binge eater. I am very sensitive to meds, but the Neurontin and klonopin have been very easy to tolerate. Any suggestions would be appreciated!
>
> Thanks,
> Elsie

 

Re: Lamictal » polarbear206

Posted by Colin Wallace on January 8, 2003, at 4:49:55

In reply to Re: Lamictal problems already -- any advice?, posted by polarbear206 on January 6, 2003, at 16:29:42

!
>>
>>
> When my bipolar got under control the binge eating stopped. The dose of imipramine I'm on is low at 25mg. My appetite is under control. No carbo cravings.
>
> Laura


Hi Laura,

Glad you're still faring well on Lamictal.I'm still doing fine at 150mg,(although the awful UK weather is testing me to the limit), but I'm guessing that at some point in the future, the depression will finally outrun a viable dosage, and I'll have to add an AD- makes me shudder.
I've not had much fun with any AD in the past (especially SSRI's) and I was looking ahead and thinking perhaps desipramine or lofepramine in low doses;thing is,current opinion seems to suggest that tricyclics are the most destabilizing med. for any type of bipolar.I see you're on imipramine, and was wondering how you've found it.Looking back, I actually think that Lofepramine was probably one of the least troublesome meds I tried when compared with all the others.Then again, maybe I didn't take it in high enough doses or for long enough to become destabilized.Hmmmmmmmmmmm.

Cheers,

Col.

ps.Anyone else's input welcome here too.

 

Re: Lamictal

Posted by pork chop on January 8, 2003, at 14:35:12

In reply to Re: Lamictal » polarbear206, posted by Colin Wallace on January 8, 2003, at 4:49:55

Hello,

It's been about 6 weeks for me on Lamicatal, I'm finally up to 100 mg. and things are going great. My pdoc suggested Lamicatal because I was terrified of the weight gain associated with Depakote and Lithium, and because of it's tendancy to help with depression. I take Klonopin every once in a while when I feel the anxiety kicking in, but not more than once or twice a week. I'm still cycling a little, but on the whole, I'm rapidly improving. Best of luck.

My one piece of advice with Lamictal is GO SLOW. You don't want to get the rash.

 

Re: Lamictal » pork chop

Posted by Colin Wallace on January 8, 2003, at 15:36:10

In reply to Re: Lamictal, posted by pork chop on January 8, 2003, at 14:35:12

> Hello,
>
> It's been about 6 weeks for me on Lamicatal, I'm finally up to 100 mg. and things are going great. My pdoc suggested Lamicatal because I was terrified of the weight gain associated with Depakote and Lithium, and because of it's tendancy to help with depression. I take Klonopin every once in a while when I feel the anxiety kicking in, but not more than once or twice a week. I'm still cycling a little, but on the whole, I'm rapidly improving. Best of luck.
>
> My one piece of advice with Lamictal is GO SLOW. You don't want to get the rash.

Hi there,

Yes,it is a great med. ain't it? It's taken me around four months to reach 150mg due to med. sensitivity, but the prolonged titration has been worthwhile.I find it an unusual med. in that I can be feeling great for a while and then it 'cuts out' very suddenly and without warning;then I up the dose by 12.5mg(25mg last adjustment), and I'm fine again.Hoping to reach a dose where the effect will be a lasting one-this will probably be the only med. I've ever taken where I reach a full therapeutic dose.
Good luck with your treatment too.

 

Re: Lamictal Colin

Posted by polarbear206 on January 9, 2003, at 10:45:13

In reply to Re: Lamictal » polarbear206, posted by Colin Wallace on January 8, 2003, at 4:49:55

> !
> >>
> >>
> > When my bipolar got under control the binge eating stopped. The dose of imipramine I'm on is low at 25mg. My appetite is under control. No carbo cravings.
> >
> > Laura
>
>
> Hi Laura,
>
> Glad you're still faring well on Lamictal.I'm still doing fine at 150mg,(although the awful UK weather is testing me to the limit), but I'm guessing that at some point in the future, the depression will finally outrun a viable dosage, and I'll have to add an AD- makes me shudder.
> I've not had much fun with any AD in the past (especially SSRI's) and I was looking ahead and thinking perhaps desipramine or lofepramine in low doses;thing is,current opinion seems to suggest that tricyclics are the most destabilizing med. for any type of bipolar.I see you're on imipramine, and was wondering how you've found it.Looking back, I actually think that Lofepramine was probably one of the least troublesome meds I tried when compared with all the others.Then again, maybe I didn't take it in high enough doses or for long enough to become destabilized.Hmmmmmmmmmmm.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Col.
>
> ps.Anyone else's input welcome here too.


Hi col.


My pdoc told be that some bipolar's do well on low doses of tricyclics. I also read some info on this on Dr. Ivan's site Depression Central. I think you should give it a try if you need to add an AD. Sart out real low at 10mg. You might want one that is more sedating then the other's. Imipramine has moderate sedation. The reason I do so well with imipramine is that I feel more like myself on this class of AD. My emotions are not blunted. So glad your still hanging in there with lamictal. It's been wonderful for me. Stable at 200mg. I'm looking forward to my next pdoc appt. to share the good news. Please keep me posted. I hope sunny days are ahead for you!


Laura


 

Re: Lamictal Colin » polarbear206

Posted by colin wallace on January 10, 2003, at 13:17:23

In reply to Re: Lamictal Colin, posted by polarbear206 on January 9, 2003, at 10:45:13

>
>
> Hi col.
>
>
> My pdoc told be that some bipolar's do well on low doses of tricyclics. I also read some info on this on Dr. Ivan's site Depression Central. I think you should give it a try if you need to add an AD. Sart out real low at 10mg. You might want one that is more sedating then the other's. Imipramine has moderate sedation. The reason I do so well with imipramine is that I feel more like myself on this class of AD. My emotions are not blunted. So glad your still hanging in there with lamictal. It's been wonderful for me. Stable at 200mg. I'm looking forward to my next pdoc appt. to share the good news. Please keep me posted. I hope sunny days are ahead for you!
>
>
> Laura

Hi Laura,

Thanks for the slant on TCA's and Lamictal.I wouldn't mind trying Imipramine, but my GP pulls a grimace at the mention of it.I take Amitriptyline now at night for sleep (a tiny 10mg)but didn't like it at all at a 50mg dose as I recall.Can't get Desipramine in the UK, so I'll probably go with Lofepramine(if/when the time comes when I need it).
I presented myself at my GP's office recently, a new man, after taking Lamictal (unauthorized)for four months.I bypassed both him and my YDNP (yawning disinterested (nhs) psychiatrist, who both refused me Lamictal ( or a psych. appointment until April!) and now I'm basically well.My (terrified) GP tried to halt my dosage at 100mg on the pretext that it may cause some obscure bone-marrow problem that required blood tests.I did as I was told (knowing that this was utter crap)and started to lapse again.
Once again I bypassed him, hit 150mg and felt well.He's refusing to go higher than 200mg for monotherapy 'cause it says so in his dustly lil' book)or to go up faster than 25mg per fortnight.
Thank God I've educated and treated myself, and can obtain my own meds.Otherwise I'd still be laying groaning on the setee all day, or worse.
UK- at the cutting edge of 'medieval' psychiatry..

enough rambling,


Col.

ps. do you have a link to the Depression central TCA/bipolar info??

 

Re: Lamictal Colin

Posted by disney4 on January 10, 2003, at 15:48:42

In reply to Re: Lamictal Colin » polarbear206, posted by colin wallace on January 10, 2003, at 13:17:23

I had my psych Dr appt today, and after going over my symptoms....binge eating, frequent depression, and OCD flare ups, he decided upoon effexor XR. I am sticking to 1/2 of a 37.5 dose, because of my sensitvity to medication. I hope I can tolerate it, and it helps, because I need something to work gently.

 

Re: Lamictal-Colin Wallace

Posted by catmint on January 11, 2003, at 2:56:13

In reply to Re: Lamictal, posted by pork chop on January 8, 2003, at 14:35:12

>I find it an unusual med. in that I can be feeling great for a while and then it 'cuts out' very suddenly and without warning.

Hey Colin,
I know exacty what you mean. Sometimes I feel like Lamictal is like a stimulant in that I can feel the effects wear off after 4 or 5 hours. I have been doing pretty good at 10 mg in the morning and then 2.5 mg 4-5 hours later. My vision is blurred, but the headaches and insomnia are gone. I wonder about you and polarbear talking about ADs and adding them. I know Laura takes a small dose of them. She seems to be doing great. I hope you and I stay feeling good. Sounds like you need a new pdoc and how!
Keep in touch
Amy

 

Re: Lamictal-Colin Wallace

Posted by colin wallace on January 11, 2003, at 4:59:58

In reply to Re: Lamictal-Colin Wallace, posted by catmint on January 11, 2003, at 2:56:13

> >I find it an unusual med. in that I can be feeling great for a while and then it 'cuts out' very suddenly and without warning.
>
> Hey Colin,
> I know exacty what you mean. Sometimes I feel like Lamictal is like a stimulant in that I can feel the effects wear off after 4 or 5 hours. I have been doing pretty good at 10 mg in the morning and then 2.5 mg 4-5 hours later. My vision is blurred, but the headaches and insomnia are gone. I wonder about you and polarbear talking about ADs and adding them. I know Laura takes a small dose of them. She seems to be doing great. I hope you and I stay feeling good. Sounds like you need a new pdoc and how!
> Keep in touch
> Amy

Hey Amy,

Glad you've stuck with it so far- are your mood swings and anger improving noticably too?
I think divided doses are are a good bet for the reasons you pointed out, but I find that I can't sleep if I take it too late in the day.
At 150mg I still have a lot of leeway before I consider adding an AD- I won't even consider it before around 250mg, as I don't want to be on more than 300mg Lamictal if I can help it.
I think you'll find that pretty soon(once you pass 25mg) you'll suddenly bottom out on the small dose, and the tiny increments stop working.At that point it's time to whack up the dose by 12.5mg- and it gets much easier to tolerate in a short time.50mg was the turning point for me-after that it was plain sailing, and 25mg increments were/are easy.
Glad you're getting results, and hey, no rash this time eh?!

Keep well,

Col.

 

disney4 Lamictal problems already -- any advice?

Posted by McPac on January 12, 2003, at 1:28:23

In reply to Re: Lamictal problems already -- any advice? » Hattree, posted by disney4 on January 6, 2003, at 13:18:02

"I am currently taking Neurontin and klonopin for Bipolar Disorder and OCD."

Neither of those meds are first-line meds for OCD. The klonopin could help ocd but usually as an adjunctive med. Is your ocd mild?

 

Re: Lamictal » colin wallace

Posted by catmint on January 12, 2003, at 14:41:52

In reply to Re: Lamictal-Colin Wallace, posted by colin wallace on January 11, 2003, at 4:59:58

Colin,
Aside from the initial boost, I am still having mood swings, and anger but I suspect it is due to the increases which I do once a week. I also started drinking coffee again, which makes my edgy temperament worse.
I was wondering, what would you suggest for titrating from here? I have been on it for 5 weeks, and am at 10mg in the morning and 2.5 in the afternoon. You said in your last post that the increases can get higher the longer you're on it. What would you suggest? I do need to increase seeing as how yesterday, I stayed in bed most of the day (of course the sun hasn't been out for 5 days here in N. Cali.)
Do you have trouble getting out of bed in the morning? I also have had an upset stomach in the morning as well. Could be depressive symptonms, cause once I take the Lamictal, it's all better.
To be honest, I am worried about all these increases. Are we just becoming tolerant to each dose and if so, the increasing won't ever end? I recall, Peter (or Peter S. is it?) started having severe mood swing after being on Lam for 8 months was it?
Well, on the other hand, Laura is doing well going on almost a year. Of course, she takes that tricyc. med too.
Ok let's keep in touch. Are you working again?
Amy

 

Re: disney4 Lamictal problems already -- any advice? » McPac

Posted by disney4 on January 12, 2003, at 15:51:47

In reply to disney4 Lamictal problems already -- any advice?, posted by McPac on January 12, 2003, at 1:28:23

My p doc added effexor xr to the mix recently. I have trouble tolerating meds, and the Neurontin and Klonopin are about the only things that didn't make me want to jump out of my skin. As for the effexor, I'm experiencing an ongoing tension type headache, and some nausea. I am going to try taking it at night from now on along with my higher Neurontin and Klonopin dose. My biggest concern with this med are the reported sexual side effects and withdrawl problems. I am going to stay on the lowest possible dose to try and avoid those problems. If that doesn't work I may give the Straterra a go, but that wouldn't be much help for my OCD.
Elsie

 

Re: Lamictal » catmint

Posted by colin wallace on January 13, 2003, at 8:11:49

In reply to Re: Lamictal » colin wallace, posted by catmint on January 12, 2003, at 14:41:52

> Colin,
> Aside from the initial boost, I am still having mood swings, and anger but I suspect it is due to the increases which I do once a week. I also started drinking coffee again, which makes my edgy temperament worse.
> I was wondering, what would you suggest for titrating from here? I have been on it for 5 weeks, and am at 10mg in the morning and 2.5 in the afternoon. You said in your last post that the increases can get higher the longer you're on it. What would you suggest? I do need to increase seeing as how yesterday, I stayed in bed most of the day (of course the sun hasn't been out for 5 days here in N. Cali.)
> Do you have trouble getting out of bed in the morning? I also have had an upset stomach in the morning as well. Could be depressive symptonms, cause once I take the Lamictal, it's all better.
> To be honest, I am worried about all these increases. Are we just becoming tolerant to each dose and if so, the increasing won't ever end? I recall, Peter (or Peter S. is it?) started having severe mood swing after being on Lam for 8 months was it?
> Well, on the other hand, Laura is doing well going on almost a year. Of course, she takes that tricyc. med too.
> Ok let's keep in touch. Are you working again?
> Amy

Minty,

You're at 5 weeks and on 12.5mg ,right? In my modest opinion, you need to climb the dose
ladder a touch quicker about now and hit 25mg within,say,2(no more than 3)weeks.
Are you pill-splitting or using 2.5 dispersables? You could immediately double your
afternoon dose to 5mg for 2 weeks (17.5mg)and then take the plunge and go for a (whopping!)
25mg.This is actually pretty much the way I did it (I think I hit 25mg within about 6 to
7weeks).I then began taking it as a single morning dose.
My mood evened out a bit from 25mg onwards, and (weekly) raises of 12.5mg became fairly
easy to take.
I don't have too much trouble getting out of bed in the morning, although I do have trouble
finding stuff to occupy myself with during the day.This has driven me to the end of my rope
in the past, especially having been too ill to work for over two and a half years.
Like you, when the weather closes in, I really get pulverized-all too often in the UK.
Still, I've improved well enough on Lamictal to contemplate getting back to work, and I
think being re-inserted into a 'normal' environment might have a 'normalizing' effect on my
mood- fingers crossed.It could all go 'tits-up' though, as we say in the UK!!
I wouldn't worry too much about the dose increases- I've just dropped back from 150mg
to 125mg, as it feels better.I hope I'm reaching a kind of dose plateau.
Being med. sensitive at least means we've got more time before the mileage wears out
with this med-if it's gonna wear out at all.Mucking around with an AD at this point
might not be a good idea.I'll probably start thinking about it when I reach around 200mg.

Good luck!

Col.

Ps.A low dose benzo.(4mg diazepam)is a real lifesaver for me too.

 

Bipolar, Alcoholic, or Totally Normal?

Posted by pork chop on January 16, 2003, at 21:35:34

In reply to Re: Lamictal » catmint, posted by colin wallace on January 13, 2003, at 8:11:49

Sometimes I'm great and I'm thinking, Wow, this Lamictal stuff is awesome. Other times I get sooooo low. I'm swinging throughout the day. I'm bored, antsy, restless and desperate. Once I start to feel better something minor will spiral me into an angry rage and then I wind up back in the same crappy depression that I just got out of. This happens almost every day.

Anytime I add alcohol I'm guaranteed two days worth of depression. But I enjoy drinking and I'm having a hard time not going out with friends on the weekends, or coworkers after work. Everyone says you can have fun without the booze, but I think that's garbage. What fun is it to stand in a bar sober when everyone else is buzzed?

I just can't find any balance in life. I get a promotion, I ask for a bigger promotion. A guy is remotely intersted in me, I'm picking out the honeymoon destination. It's all or nothing with relationships, work, shopping, vacations etc... Am I an alcoholic, do I have bipolar, or am I completely normal and this is how everyone feels? I'm obviously in a bad mood right now, but who knows, I might be fine in 10 minutes...

oh yeah, I'm on 100 mg. Lamictal and take Klonopin as needed.

Hope I didn't just bring everybody down, but I feel better after venting so thanks!

 

Re: Bipolar, Alcoholic, or Totally Normal? » pork chop

Posted by catmint on January 17, 2003, at 2:21:15

In reply to Bipolar, Alcoholic, or Totally Normal?, posted by pork chop on January 16, 2003, at 21:35:34

>>Sometimes I'm great and I'm thinking, Wow, this Lamictal stuff is awesome. Other times I get sooooo low. I'm swinging throughout the day. I'm bored, antsy, restless and desperate. Once I start to feel better something minor will spiral me into an angry rage and then I wind up back in the same crappy depression that I just got out of. This happens almost every day.

Hello,
I'm sorry to hear that your not doing well. I was curious if you split your dose of Lamictal? I find that the antidepressent effects wear off after about 4 or 5 hours, so I take the larger of my dose in the morning, and a small amount 5 hours later.
I do understand that anger that you talked about. It can really spiral if you don't watch it. Are you exersicing at all? That can make a huge difference.
I think you would be doing better if you quit drinking. It makes the side effects of Lamictal worse. I know it seems like you won't have much of a social life, but once you stop, you begin to realize what your friendships are really based on. Do you have any friends that can hang out with you and not drink? Maybe instead of going to the bar after work, you could suggest checking out a local rock climbing gym or something of the sort.
I know it's hard, having a mental illness and trying to function like "everyone else"
Maybe you need some time off work. Can you do that?
Keep in touch. I hope you get stable soon.
Amy

 

Re: Bipolar, Alcoholic, or Totally Normal?

Posted by pork chop on January 17, 2003, at 9:46:27

In reply to Re: Bipolar, Alcoholic, or Totally Normal? » pork chop, posted by catmint on January 17, 2003, at 2:21:15

Hi Catmint,

No, I take the 100 mg. all at once in the morning. I see my pdoc today and I'm going to ask her about splitting it up. That's a good suggestion.

I exercise 5 days a week on the treadmill and go to 3-4 pilates classes. I think that really helps, but I'm still just not stable.

Quitting drinking would totally help, but it's hard. I live in the city, have lots of friends, but I'm never up for hanging out at a coffee bar on a friday night, or going to a friends house to play trivial pursuit. Boring, but then again, the only things I don't find boring are drinking, shopping, or dreaming about moving somewhere far far away. I'm also terminally single and all my friends are either married or engaged. That's completely annoying. I'm jealous of their relationships, but not the direction they're all headed. Babies, mortgages, etc... I feel like they're all morphing into adults and I want to free and be able to leave at a moments notice. Why am I not becoming a responsible adult like everyone else?

I thought about taking some time off work, but I just got a sweet promotion. Now I think I'm driving my boss insane because I'm throwing myself into this job and I'm overwhelming him.

Maybe Lamictal's not right for me after all. Anyway, thanks for your post catmint.

 

Re: Bipolar, Alcoholic, or Totally Normal? » pork chop

Posted by lam on January 17, 2003, at 17:35:23

In reply to Bipolar, Alcoholic, or Totally Normal?, posted by pork chop on January 16, 2003, at 21:35:34

> Sometimes I'm great and I'm thinking, Wow, this Lamictal stuff is awesome. Other times I get sooooo low. I'm swinging throughout the day. I'm bored, antsy, restless and desperate. Once I start to feel better something minor will spiral me into an angry rage and then I wind up back in the same crappy depression that I just got out of. This happens almost every day.
>
> Anytime I add alcohol I'm guaranteed two days worth of depression. But I enjoy drinking and I'm having a hard time not going out with friends on the weekends, or coworkers after work. Everyone says you can have fun without the booze, but I think that's garbage. What fun is it to stand in a bar sober when everyone else is buzzed?
>
> I just can't find any balance in life. I get a promotion, I ask for a bigger promotion. A guy is remotely intersted in me, I'm picking out the honeymoon destination. It's all or nothing with relationships, work, shopping, vacations etc... Am I an alcoholic, do I have bipolar, or am I completely normal and this is how everyone feels? I'm obviously in a bad mood right now, but who knows, I might be fine in 10 minutes...
>
> oh yeah, I'm on 100 mg. Lamictal and take Klonopin as needed.
>
> Hope I didn't just bring everybody down, but I feel better after venting so thanks!

I don't think you are an alcoholic. I understand exactly what your saying about the alcohol, and I don't believe things change, no matter how old you get (not for me anyway). Moving from career to family and kids it's always there in social settings. Everyone is either out at the bars or at parties. Everyone I know is drinking and if your not, everyone wants to know why your not. Every weekend theres something going on and even when I don't feel like going it's alot easier to go and have a drink. And frankly the jokes aren't as funny and it's not as much fun without it. Hey for me it's no fun at all. I don't drink everyday, I'm not an alcoholic right? but when I go out I like my wine. But I didn't realize the efffect of alcohol on AD. And I don't want to feel the way I do. I'm very much all or nothing. Sorry now I got a little carried away.

 

Re: Bipolar, Alcoholic, or Totally Normal?

Posted by pork chop on January 18, 2003, at 8:17:55

In reply to Re: Bipolar, Alcoholic, or Totally Normal? » pork chop, posted by lam on January 17, 2003, at 17:35:23

Well, I went to the pdoc yesterday and told her everything. I suggested stopping all meds and seeing what happens. She didn't think that was a good idea and replaced my Klonopin with Seroquel. My dosage of Lamictal is also on the rise again. I'm increasing by 25mg/week until I reach 200mg. I guess since it took so long to get to this point (with Lamictal) it would suck to go off it; realize it really was working and then have to start up all over again. Has anyone had any experience with Seroquel?

lam: I'm with ya on the bar scene. It's not fun when you're not drinking. Being 28 and single with friends that drink is difficult. My pdoc was insistant that I not drink and we set a goal: no booze for one month, not even a sip. I have a wedding next month (the first of 8 I've been invited to this year already- eiw) and I know I'll have a few drinks there, but I'm going to give this a try.

 

Re: Lamictal problems already -- any advice?

Posted by Ellie's Mom on May 20, 2003, at 23:10:28

In reply to Lamictal problems already -- any advice?, posted by Bekka H. on March 21, 2002, at 20:58:06

I've been on Lamictal for about two weeks now (25mgs for 5 days, then 50 mgs/day.)

I experienced the exact same problem you described: that not-quite-sleeping experience. I've been tapering off Celexa at the same time.

Seemingly, as I've taken less of the Celexa, my sleep has gotten better. The combo of the two drugs just made me jumpy.

Now I'm just going through all the NASTY Celexa withdrawal crap: dizziness/buzzing in my head, shocks down my arms, stabbing pain in my hands.

Scary stuff.


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