Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 238206

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Lamictal and depression

Posted by Rachel Terese on May 4, 2004, at 22:52:46

In reply to Re: Lamictal side effects » Dalilah, posted by Flipsactown on January 16, 2004, at 20:33:04

I'm on 100mg of lamictal for bipolar. I've never felt so depressed in my entire life. I can't stop crying and think things will never get better. I am scared of waking up and feeling this way. Has anyone had this side effect with lamitcal? I can't handle it anymore and feel like nothing will ever be the same. Help!!

 

Re: Lamictal and depression » Rachel Terese

Posted by Sad Panda on May 5, 2004, at 13:20:22

In reply to Lamictal and depression, posted by Rachel Terese on May 4, 2004, at 22:52:46

> I'm on 100mg of lamictal for bipolar. I've never felt so depressed in my entire life. I can't stop crying and think things will never get better. I am scared of waking up and feeling this way. Has anyone had this side effect with lamitcal? I can't handle it anymore and feel like nothing will ever be the same. Help!!
>
>

Hi Rachel,

Before Lamictal was your mood up & down? Is it now stabilised? It might be time to go back to your doctor & get an antidepressant added, I would certainly visit your doc ASAP & let him know how miserable you feel.

Cheers,
Panda.


 

Re: Lamictal side effects

Posted by jstrick1 on May 10, 2004, at 0:15:35

In reply to Lamictal side effects, posted by seamus o'noolan on June 30, 2003, at 17:37:40

I've posted regarding this before, but got no response. Both times I've tried Lamictal, I've developed sever neurological distress in my upper GI and stomach. Once it was at the 75 mg point, and not at the beginning stages. Please, is there anyone out there who has had similar responses? If so, what happened?

Thanks

 

Re: Lamictal side effects

Posted by T_R_D on May 10, 2004, at 13:28:26

In reply to Re: Lamictal side effects, posted by jstrick1 on May 10, 2004, at 0:15:35

>Both times I've tried Lamictal, I've developed a >severe neurological distress in my upper GI and >stomach.

Hi there, I'm not quite sure what you mean by neurological distress in your UGI and stomach. Was it determined that the vagus nerve (or other branches/filaments) was not functioning or not functioning correctly?

I have never heard of any psych med affecting vagus nerve function but I suppose anything is possible since they do act upon our brain/CNS.

If you are simply referring to organ distress I had a bit of an upset stomach when I first began Lamictal but it worked itself out after about a week or two.

Let me know if I'm on the right track here.

Karen

 

Re: Lamictal side effects » jstrick1

Posted by katia on May 10, 2004, at 13:35:08

In reply to Re: Lamictal side effects, posted by jstrick1 on May 10, 2004, at 0:15:35

> I've posted regarding this before, but got no response. Both times I've tried Lamictal, I've developed sever neurological distress in my upper GI and stomach. Once it was at the 75 mg point, and not at the beginning stages. Please, is there anyone out there who has had similar responses? If so, what happened?
>
> Thanks


I did have some stomach/GI problems when taking/starting Lam. I had to stop it after 6 or so weeks due to the irritability. But there were so many other influences - like new diet, buying a house, drinking wine too frequently, that I'm not sure what was what.
Katia

 

dizziness...?

Posted by AMD on May 10, 2004, at 13:46:07

In reply to Re: Lamictal side effects » jstrick1, posted by katia on May 10, 2004, at 13:35:08

I have been taking a low dose of Lamictal since January: 25 mg (added to my Celexa 40 mg). It has been working well for my depression -- it pulled me out of the low-grade depression I'd been for a few months prior -- but Wednesday before last I took a single 2.5 mg Zyprexa and it threw me for a loop for several days! The day after popping the Zyprexa I felt very stuporous, tired, and zonked out. My mind just didn't feel right. To self-medicate, I upped the dosage of Lamictal to 50 mg for a few days, but just felt as zonked as ever. This has persisted, but finally seems to be going away. Meanwhile, about 5 days after that night, I began having dizzy spells. Friday I had /several/ dizzy spells. I'd look up and the room would start spinning. Even after I'd dropped Lamictal to 25 mg again, I've had dizzy spells. What is going on? Is this possible from a SINGLE dose of Zyprexa? From /changing/ the Lamictal dose?

As of today, I'm dropping everything but the Celexa for a few weeks to detox. I feel more out of it than ever...

 

Re: Lamictal side effects

Posted by St. John on May 10, 2004, at 15:27:16

In reply to Re: Lamictal side effects, posted by T_R_D on May 10, 2004, at 13:28:26

Hey, folks. Thanks so much for the responses. A couple of points of clarification are in order. By gastric distress, I meant a generalized feeling that couldn't be tied to any specific symption with regard to my gut. In both cases, the feeling was one of being in a sensory irritation--burning, flaring, hurting, without a node of pain in particular. I was also flatulent in both orafices and constipated. My MD suggested that sometimes the anti-convulsant/mood stabilizing drugs cause this feeling and that it doesn't go away. He described it as an impact on the neural network of the stomach and intestines. In such cases, he felt that the drug was probably impossible to tolerate. I stopped after getting to 75 mg, but after some subsequent time trapped in atypical depression, I decided to give it a more gradual go. After 6 days of 25 mg, the symptoms returned with a vengence. It's Monday afternoon and I haven't eaten anything since Thursday evening. When I threw up Friday about midnight, it was all that I'd eaten since early Thursday, entirely undigested and in the form it'd entered my stomach. I'd guess this means that peristaltic motion had ceased? I don't know.

With regard to the dizziness, I have to be careful about that because of a wonderful little malady called Meniere's syndrome, which summarizes the deterioration of the vestibular system of the inner ear. Fortunately I'm not nearly as affected as some people who are totally bedridden by vertigo, but it ain't fun. My Otologist suggests the smallest atavan underneath the tongue till it dissolves. It has to be name brand because the others don't dissolve, but it works to cure pretty intense dizziness going to vertigo.

Thanks for your responses.

 

Re: Lamictal side effects

Posted by T_R_D on May 11, 2004, at 9:22:44

In reply to Re: Lamictal side effects, posted by St. John on May 10, 2004, at 15:27:16

Gotcha. That's what I figured you meant :)

It may be that the Lamictal is just too hard on your tummy. That is not an unheard of reason for discontinuing a med.

It's hard to remember as I've been on so many meds--I lose track of the specifics--but I think Lamictal's sides hung around a little bit longer than ADs and such...maybe I'm wrong though.

I don't know what to suggest. Vomiting does now sound promising, however. I guess it's a judgement call between the benefit of the drug vs. the toleration of the side effects. Have you tried any other anticonvulsants?

I'm sorry to hear about the Meniere's Disease! My grandmother has it but fares quite well. Does the ativan help?
Karen

 

Re: Lamictal side effects

Posted by St. John on May 11, 2004, at 15:02:27

In reply to Re: Lamictal side effects, posted by T_R_D on May 11, 2004, at 9:22:44

Thanks for the responses and sympathy. I'm not sure what the truth matter is. For now, I'm going to forego the med to see how things come back, and then maybe at another point when I have fewer pressures, try it again. The only thing that makes me think with some certainty that it's the med is that both times the symptoms were similar and unique in my experience. It's as if the outside of my GI track were encased in raw nerve endings--not enough to say, "get me to the hospital," but enough that it's hard to be able to think about anythng else--sort of a pervasive feeling like that spot on your foot you know will become a blister, no matter how you configure your boots, alter your socks, or use moleskin. I do know one thing: short of a medication revolution, I'll never take another straightup AD. I never had any effective results and the negatives, especially weight gain, were overwhelming. The lies we're told are astounding. No one admits that placebos and ssri's are virtually indistinguishable in their results--other than people not getting fat from sugar pills, at least unless they don't take them as candy.

Yes, the ativan does work for the Meniere's if I catch it quickly enough. It doesn't stop it because that's foregone once the vertigo has begun, but it does lessen the effects and shorten the duration of the attack for me. It also acts as a kind of vestibular stablilizer when I'm having generalized dizziness or walking like a drunk even though I'm sober 10 years.

Isn't it facinating that NONE of the literature indicates that Lamictal has the gastrointestinal complications I'm mentioning--nothing that says like other mood stabilizers, some people have the nasuea/distress. Oh well, got to preserve the market.

Thanks again.

Scott

 

Re: dizziness...? Be careful » AMD

Posted by firenrain on May 13, 2004, at 21:05:01

In reply to dizziness...?, posted by AMD on May 10, 2004, at 13:46:07

I'm no dr. but i think it may be adjusting meds daily. Any time I have ever had my meds adjusted so frequently was in the hosp. and yes I felt dizzy and drugged but, I was in a safe environment being monitored...so be careful. The way these drugs interact are taylored by your dr. to suit specific symptoms. Sometimes it's trial and error which bites. lol

 

New to Board: Frustrated with Lamictal

Posted by Nathan23 on May 19, 2004, at 20:52:21

In reply to Lamictal side effects, posted by seamus o'noolan on June 30, 2003, at 17:37:40


I am currently on 300mg of Lamictal. I started treatment with Lamictal this past Fall (2003) and was ramped up to 400mg after the normal additive introduction of the drug.

I had already been on 20mg of Lexapro when we introduced the Lamictal. I eventually tapered the Lexapro to 10mg, but couldn't stay comfortably at 5mg when we tried that, so I've stayed at 10mg.

In the begining, the Lamictal was working wonderfully; the side effects were minimal and my mood was good. My therapist even recently told me that she had never seen me so balanced-out as then. But things have changed in the last few months.

The side effects are upsetting me. At night things are really annoying. I get really twitchy and my legs get really restless (Restless Leg Syndrome is already in my family) to the point that I am uncomfortable. I also get that "itchy" (a bit different than itchy, but that's the best way I can explain it)feeling all over. I can feel random places in my body twitch and spasm too.

During the day, I'm always tired and down, I get headaches, and I also have somewhat blurry/out of focused vision at times too and this is odd-feeling because I've always had good eyes.

Recently I went to my doctor and told him about this and he decided to drop my dose from 400mg to 300mg of Lamictal and add Lithium.

Well, I've been on Lithium for a couple of weeks, only just got to the 900mg mark 5 days ago, but I feel completely awful. I'm going in for my blood-level lab on Monday.

Now I have all the same Lamictal side effects plus I'm flat emotionally and I feel very blah and down if anything. I seem out of it too. Like when I am driving my car (not that I'm intoxicated or unsafe) things seem slow, and when I am doing cognitive activites like reading or using the computer or taking notes in a lecture, everything just takes me more time and seems fuzzy. I am also feeling nauseous and sort of "ill."

I cut out all caffiene and alcohol. I'm going to go on a low carbohydrate diet too, because I am a HUGE sugar junkie. My doctor said that people in the Bipolar Spectrum are sensitive to all kinds of changes in their moods and that the peaking and crashing of sugar blood levels can cause lots of unwanted mood fluctuations that just complicate the situation.

I had a negative reaction when my doctor suggested Lithium, but I thought I should try it. I'm still giving it a fair shot, but if I don't feel much better by my next appointment, 2.5 weeks away, I'm going to have him take me off as much of all of this as possible!

I'm glad I found this board. It has been helpful.

Looking forward to dialoging with the group,
-Nathan

 

Re: New to Board: Frustrated with Lamictal » Nathan23

Posted by katia on May 19, 2004, at 21:35:25

In reply to New to Board: Frustrated with Lamictal, posted by Nathan23 on May 19, 2004, at 20:52:21

HI Nathan and welcome,
I tried Lam and Li together for a bit, but became a shuffling drooling zombie on Lithium. And when I upped the Li one more time, I developed the Lam rash so I stopped the Lam. and then eventually the Li. b/c I needed my brain back.

That's been my experience w/ Li lam combo.
Katia
> I am currently on 300mg of Lamictal. I started treatment with Lamictal this past Fall (2003) and was ramped up to 400mg after the normal additive introduction of the drug.
>
> I had already been on 20mg of Lexapro when we introduced the Lamictal. I eventually tapered the Lexapro to 10mg, but couldn't stay comfortably at 5mg when we tried that, so I've stayed at 10mg.
>
> In the begining, the Lamictal was working wonderfully; the side effects were minimal and my mood was good. My therapist even recently told me that she had never seen me so balanced-out as then. But things have changed in the last few months.
>
> The side effects are upsetting me. At night things are really annoying. I get really twitchy and my legs get really restless (Restless Leg Syndrome is already in my family) to the point that I am uncomfortable. I also get that "itchy" (a bit different than itchy, but that's the best way I can explain it)feeling all over. I can feel random places in my body twitch and spasm too.
>
> During the day, I'm always tired and down, I get headaches, and I also have somewhat blurry/out of focused vision at times too and this is odd-feeling because I've always had good eyes.
>
> Recently I went to my doctor and told him about this and he decided to drop my dose from 400mg to 300mg of Lamictal and add Lithium.
>
> Well, I've been on Lithium for a couple of weeks, only just got to the 900mg mark 5 days ago, but I feel completely awful. I'm going in for my blood-level lab on Monday.
>
> Now I have all the same Lamictal side effects plus I'm flat emotionally and I feel very blah and down if anything. I seem out of it too. Like when I am driving my car (not that I'm intoxicated or unsafe) things seem slow, and when I am doing cognitive activites like reading or using the computer or taking notes in a lecture, everything just takes me more time and seems fuzzy. I am also feeling nauseous and sort of "ill."
>
> I cut out all caffiene and alcohol. I'm going to go on a low carbohydrate diet too, because I am a HUGE sugar junkie. My doctor said that people in the Bipolar Spectrum are sensitive to all kinds of changes in their moods and that the peaking and crashing of sugar blood levels can cause lots of unwanted mood fluctuations that just complicate the situation.
>
> I had a negative reaction when my doctor suggested Lithium, but I thought I should try it. I'm still giving it a fair shot, but if I don't feel much better by my next appointment, 2.5 weeks away, I'm going to have him take me off as much of all of this as possible!
>
> I'm glad I found this board. It has been helpful.
>
> Looking forward to dialoging with the group,
> -Nathan
>
>

 

Re: New to Board: Frustrated with Lamictal

Posted by Nathan23 on May 20, 2004, at 0:57:55

In reply to Re: New to Board: Frustrated with Lamictal » Nathan23, posted by katia on May 19, 2004, at 21:35:25

Thanks for posting Katia...
If you don't mind my asking, what medicines did you go to after stopping lamictal/lithium? Are you on meds now? which ones?

-N

> HI Nathan and welcome,
> I tried Lam and Li together for a bit, but became a shuffling drooling zombie on Lithium. And when I upped the Li one more time, I developed the Lam rash so I stopped the Lam. and then eventually the Li. b/c I needed my brain back.
>
> That's been my experience w/ Li lam combo.
> Katia

 

Re: New to Board: Frustrated with Lamictal » Nathan23

Posted by flipsactown on May 20, 2004, at 2:04:36

In reply to Re: New to Board: Frustrated with Lamictal, posted by Nathan23 on May 20, 2004, at 0:57:55


Hello,

I took Prozac, Remeron, Lamictal and Lithium for about 6 months, but ended up stopping all as I was no longer getting the sustained relief from my unipolar depression. It must have been the poop out factor as I have been on Prozac nearly 10 years and my pdoc just kept adding on to the Prozac in the hope that I would get the sustained relief once again. But after 6 months of my depression returning in the late afternoon and evening, I decided to try one of the older tried and true ADs, Nardil. I have been on it 6 weeks and initially was getting excellent relief starting the second week. However by the 4th week, I had to do something about the severe insomnia from the Nardil and recently reduced my Nardil dosage by one half. Although the insominia had become less severe and my taking Seroquel before bedtime had allowed me to sleep continuously for 5 or 6 hours, I noticed that my depression was making a comeback. I will increase my Nardil slowly back up to 60mg and hope that my depression lifts again.

FST

> Thanks for posting Katia...
> If you don't mind my asking, what medicines did you go to after stopping lamictal/lithium? Are you on meds now? which ones?
>
> -N
>
>
>
> > HI Nathan and welcome,
> > I tried Lam and Li together for a bit, but became a shuffling drooling zombie on Lithium. And when I upped the Li one more time, I developed the Lam rash so I stopped the Lam. and then eventually the Li. b/c I needed my brain back.
> >
> > That's been my experience w/ Li lam combo.
> > Katia

 

Re: New to Board: Frustrated with Lamictal » Nathan23

Posted by BarbaraCat on May 20, 2004, at 11:41:40

In reply to New to Board: Frustrated with Lamictal, posted by Nathan23 on May 19, 2004, at 20:52:21

Hi Nathan,
I was on Lam and lithium for 1-1/2 years doing pretty well at 75mg until mixed state depression started breaking through (many life stresses contributed). Hoping to raise the dose to the 'therapeutic' 200, I started very slowly ramping up. At 125mg I started getting the 'itchies' but figured it was a delayed allergic reaction to our many cats. At 150mg the itching was intense and I started getting the twitchies and my skin felt on the verge of all over irritation. My mood was getting more anxious and irritable as well. Long story short, I eventually stopped lithium and lamictal because they were doing nothing for my increasing depression.

A few months later I was on a completely different drug, one whose side effects were the Stevens Johnson rash. I got it and ended up in the hospital and very sick for over 5 weeks. Moral of the story is I very strongly suspect that lamictal sensitized me to this allergic reaction and the 'itchies' were the warning signs that an inflammatory condition was setting up in my body. I'm now sensitive to many drugs I never was before. I feel like wearing a T-shirt with the words 'Got Lamictal itchies? WARNING, WARNING!!!' Good news is that I feel much better off lithium and lamictal but getting off prescription psych meds was no walk in the park. - BarbaraCat

> The side effects are upsetting me. At night things are really annoying. I get really twitchy and my legs get really restless (Restless Leg Syndrome is already in my family) to the point that I am uncomfortable. I also get that "itchy" (a bit different than itchy, but that's the best way I can explain it)feeling all over. I can feel random places in my body twitch and spasm too.
>
> During the day, I'm always tired and down, I get headaches, and I also have somewhat blurry/out of focused vision at times too and this is odd-feeling because I've always had good eyes.
>
> Recently I went to my doctor and told him about this and he decided to drop my dose from 400mg to 300mg of Lamictal and add Lithium.
>
> Well, I've been on Lithium for a couple of weeks, only just got to the 900mg mark 5 days ago, but I feel completely awful. I'm going in for my blood-level lab on Monday.
>
> Now I have all the same Lamictal side effects plus I'm flat emotionally and I feel very blah and down if anything. I seem out of it too. Like when I am driving my car (not that I'm intoxicated or unsafe) things seem slow, and when I am doing cognitive activites like reading or using the computer or taking notes in a lecture, everything just takes me more time and seems fuzzy. I am also feeling nauseous and sort of "ill."
>
> I cut out all caffiene and alcohol. I'm going to go on a low carbohydrate diet too, because I am a HUGE sugar junkie. My doctor said that people in the Bipolar Spectrum are sensitive to all kinds of changes in their moods and that the peaking and crashing of sugar blood levels can cause lots of unwanted mood fluctuations that just complicate the situation.
>
> I had a negative reaction when my doctor suggested Lithium, but I thought I should try it. I'm still giving it a fair shot, but if I don't feel much better by my next appointment, 2.5 weeks away, I'm going to have him take me off as much of all of this as possible!
>
> I'm glad I found this board. It has been helpful.
>
> Looking forward to dialoging with the group,
> -Nathan
>
>

 

Re: New to Board: Frustrated with Lamictal

Posted by Dalilah on May 20, 2004, at 12:39:11

In reply to New to Board: Frustrated with Lamictal, posted by Nathan23 on May 19, 2004, at 20:52:21

Hi Nathan,
I take 300mg Lamictal and 900mg Lithium (and 50 seroquel to put me to sleep.) I've been doing this for at least one and a half years. It works for me. Maybe the Seroquel could help you sleep, but it sounds like you have a lot of awful side effects. I am happy to say I do not. Of course I had been on about every drug in the book before I found this combo. If the side effects are intolerable, I get off the drug. I hope this helps. I wanted to write cause we have similar doses. I'm afraid all this proves is that this science of psyche meds is completely frustrating and different for every individual.
-Dalilah

 

Re: New to Board: Frustrated with Lamictal

Posted by Nathan23 on May 20, 2004, at 12:46:04

In reply to Re: New to Board: Frustrated with Lamictal » Nathan23, posted by BarbaraCat on May 20, 2004, at 11:41:40

BarbaraCat, you mention an increasing anxiousness and irritability on the higher dose of lamictal....

I have felt like the lamictal and/or the lithium has been making me feel more anxious and irritable. It's a different anxiety than the anxiety I experienced back when I used to get panic attacks though. This anxiety is more like an underlying anxiety...always in the background but it feels like it's masked over by something that keeps it from feeling like my more traditional anxiety. When I first started feeling this way it was weird because it felt like a "new" kind of anxiety/depression (I get the combo of the two). I think that the old depression/anxiety might be breaking through my meds and that the meds are just making the symptoms of the depression/anxiety a bit different. It's rather upsetting.

I'm tempted to get off this stuff and get on some form of an Antidepressant cocktail. I've only tried Paxil and Lexapro... I'm feeling less convinced that AD's "aren't going to work" for me. I'm thinking that if got totally off the Lamictal/Lithium and I got on something like increasing my Lexapro back to 20mg and adding wellbutrin or effexor that might work. Or maybe I could do Lexapro, Zoloft, and a low dose of wellbutrin.

> Hi Nathan,
> I was on Lam and lithium for 1-1/2 years doing pretty well at 75mg until mixed state depression started breaking through (many life stresses contributed). Hoping to raise the dose to the 'therapeutic' 200, I started very slowly ramping up. At 125mg I started getting the 'itchies' but figured it was a delayed allergic reaction to our many cats. At 150mg the itching was intense and I started getting the twitchies and my skin felt on the verge of all over irritation. My mood was getting more anxious and irritable as well. Long story short, I eventually stopped lithium and lamictal because they were doing nothing for my increasing depression.
>
> A few months later I was on a completely different drug, one whose side effects were the Stevens Johnson rash. I got it and ended up in the hospital and very sick for over 5 weeks. Moral of the story is I very strongly suspect that lamictal sensitized me to this allergic reaction and the 'itchies' were the warning signs that an inflammatory condition was setting up in my body. I'm now sensitive to many drugs I never was before. I feel like wearing a T-shirt with the words 'Got Lamictal itchies? WARNING, WARNING!!!' Good news is that I feel much better off lithium and lamictal but getting off prescription psych meds was no walk in the park. - BarbaraCat

 

Re: New to Board: Frustrated with Lamictal » Nathan23

Posted by katia on May 20, 2004, at 14:06:04

In reply to Re: New to Board: Frustrated with Lamictal, posted by Nathan23 on May 20, 2004, at 0:57:55

Hi Nathan,
I only continued on w/ Seroquel for sleep and got a bit hypomanic. It was fun. But it ended, and now I'm on Trileptal 450mg, Seroquel 15mg for sleep, and Paxil 12.5mg.
Katia

 

Re: New to Board: Frustrated with Lamictal » BarbaraCat

Posted by katia on May 20, 2004, at 14:09:38

In reply to Re: New to Board: Frustrated with Lamictal » Nathan23, posted by BarbaraCat on May 20, 2004, at 11:41:40

Hey Barb-Cat,
That's good news that you are doing well off of meds. If it hadn't been for me buying the house, restarting grad school, moving, etc. all that goes into it; I probably wouldn't have restarted meds. I am using them as support right now, but won't stay on them forever.

How're you doing otherwise? I'm crazy busy, constantly stressed out, but all ultimately good stuff - it's just hard now.
Katia

 

Re: New to Board: Frustrated with Lamictal

Posted by AMD on May 20, 2004, at 14:11:44

In reply to Re: New to Board: Frustrated with Lamictal » Nathan23, posted by katia on May 20, 2004, at 14:06:04

I'm on Trileptal now, 900 mg, and it seems to be lifting me out of my depression and ending a rather vicious phase of rapid cycling. Fingers crossed.

Also, aside from a little sleepiness, I have not noticed any real side effects. My cognitive abilities, if anything, seem to be returning (especially after quitting the Lamictal).

I'm also on Celexa 40 mg day, which abates depression.

In my case, I think the Lamictal (25 mg), which I started in January, led to the rapid cycling and, in general, made me more obsessive about everything, especially my health.

 

Re: New to Board: Frustrated with Lamictal

Posted by katia on May 20, 2004, at 14:12:46

In reply to Re: New to Board: Frustrated with Lamictal, posted by Nathan23 on May 20, 2004, at 12:46:04

Hey Nate again,
I forgot to mention that I restarted Lamictal about two months ago for about 5 weeks, but couldn't tolerate it due to the activating qualities of agitation/irritability. The first time I was on it, I was activated on the euphoric side, but not this past time. I am much better w/o it. I started Paxil in place of it.
Are you bipolar?
KAtia


> BarbaraCat, you mention an increasing anxiousness and irritability on the higher dose of lamictal....
>
> I have felt like the lamictal and/or the lithium has been making me feel more anxious and irritable. It's a different anxiety than the anxiety I experienced back when I used to get panic attacks though. This anxiety is more like an underlying anxiety...always in the background but it feels like it's masked over by something that keeps it from feeling like my more traditional anxiety. When I first started feeling this way it was weird because it felt like a "new" kind of anxiety/depression (I get the combo of the two). I think that the old depression/anxiety might be breaking through my meds and that the meds are just making the symptoms of the depression/anxiety a bit different. It's rather upsetting.
>
> I'm tempted to get off this stuff and get on some form of an Antidepressant cocktail. I've only tried Paxil and Lexapro... I'm feeling less convinced that AD's "aren't going to work" for me. I'm thinking that if got totally off the Lamictal/Lithium and I got on something like increasing my Lexapro back to 20mg and adding wellbutrin or effexor that might work. Or maybe I could do Lexapro, Zoloft, and a low dose of wellbutrin.
>
>
>
>
> > Hi Nathan,
> > I was on Lam and lithium for 1-1/2 years doing pretty well at 75mg until mixed state depression started breaking through (many life stresses contributed). Hoping to raise the dose to the 'therapeutic' 200, I started very slowly ramping up. At 125mg I started getting the 'itchies' but figured it was a delayed allergic reaction to our many cats. At 150mg the itching was intense and I started getting the twitchies and my skin felt on the verge of all over irritation. My mood was getting more anxious and irritable as well. Long story short, I eventually stopped lithium and lamictal because they were doing nothing for my increasing depression.
> >
> > A few months later I was on a completely different drug, one whose side effects were the Stevens Johnson rash. I got it and ended up in the hospital and very sick for over 5 weeks. Moral of the story is I very strongly suspect that lamictal sensitized me to this allergic reaction and the 'itchies' were the warning signs that an inflammatory condition was setting up in my body. I'm now sensitive to many drugs I never was before. I feel like wearing a T-shirt with the words 'Got Lamictal itchies? WARNING, WARNING!!!' Good news is that I feel much better off lithium and lamictal but getting off prescription psych meds was no walk in the park. - BarbaraCat
>

 

Re: New to Board: Frustrated with Lamictal » Nathan23

Posted by sac on May 20, 2004, at 21:28:46

In reply to Re: New to Board: Frustrated with Lamictal, posted by Nathan23 on May 20, 2004, at 12:46:04

Nathan, I just wanted to respond to this post because I can say from experience the anxiety and irritability is definately from the Lamictal. I am currently on 150 mgs. Lamictal but used to be at 200. This is my second go around in 3 years with Lamictal. I also have a generalized anxiety that is different than the panic attack type anxiety. I have read in a book one time about the side effect of "emotional upset" and for me that describes it best. It's hard sometimes to tell whether it's depression or anxiety. For me, I finding my mood is generally dysphoric on the Lamictal. In the beginning, I felt great but after a few months it goes downhill. This was what happened to me last time and that's why I stopped it once before. That is just my experience though. I am currently down to 100mgs. from 150 and decreasing slowly. I may stay around 50 -75 mgs. until I figure out what my next step will be.

> BarbaraCat, you mention an increasing anxiousness and irritability on the higher dose of lamictal....
>
> I have felt like the lamictal and/or the lithium has been making me feel more anxious and irritable. It's a different anxiety than the anxiety I experienced back when I used to get panic attacks though. This anxiety is more like an underlying anxiety...always in the background but it feels like it's masked over by something that keeps it from feeling like my more traditional anxiety. When I first started feeling this way it was weird because it felt like a "new" kind of anxiety/depression (I get the combo of the two). I think that the old depression/anxiety might be breaking through my meds and that the meds are just making the symptoms of the depression/anxiety a bit different. It's rather upsetting.
>
> I'm tempted to get off this stuff and get on some form of an Antidepressant cocktail. I've only tried Paxil and Lexapro... I'm feeling less convinced that AD's "aren't going to work" for me. I'm thinking that if got totally off the Lamictal/Lithium and I got on something like increasing my Lexapro back to 20mg and adding wellbutrin or effexor that might work. Or maybe I could do Lexapro, Zoloft, and a low dose of wellbutrin.
>
>
>
>
> > Hi Nathan,
> > I was on Lam and lithium for 1-1/2 years doing pretty well at 75mg until mixed state depression started breaking through (many life stresses contributed). Hoping to raise the dose to the 'therapeutic' 200, I started very slowly ramping up. At 125mg I started getting the 'itchies' but figured it was a delayed allergic reaction to our many cats. At 150mg the itching was intense and I started getting the twitchies and my skin felt on the verge of all over irritation. My mood was getting more anxious and irritable as well. Long story short, I eventually stopped lithium and lamictal because they were doing nothing for my increasing depression.
> >
> > A few months later I was on a completely different drug, one whose side effects were the Stevens Johnson rash. I got it and ended up in the hospital and very sick for over 5 weeks. Moral of the story is I very strongly suspect that lamictal sensitized me to this allergic reaction and the 'itchies' were the warning signs that an inflammatory condition was setting up in my body. I'm now sensitive to many drugs I never was before. I feel like wearing a T-shirt with the words 'Got Lamictal itchies? WARNING, WARNING!!!' Good news is that I feel much better off lithium and lamictal but getting off prescription psych meds was no walk in the park. - BarbaraCat
>

 

Re: New to Board: Frustrated with Lamictal » Nathan23

Posted by BarbaraCat on May 20, 2004, at 22:09:41

In reply to Re: New to Board: Frustrated with Lamictal, posted by Nathan23 on May 20, 2004, at 12:46:04

Hi Nathan,
I sure can relate to the weird kind of anxiety and sometimes, like sac's email, I wonder if my depression, primarily godawful mixed states bipolar depression isn't really a severe anxiety disorder. I do well with a benzo soother but can't tolerate them for long.

Your comment about 'background' anxiety is right on - always a flavor of tenseness, something bad about to happen. It's really in my mind, mainly fear about not being able to take whatever awful thing might happen. The thing is that it rarely ever happens and even when the worst has happened, I was able to handle it just fine. I'm really a very strong capable and gutsy person, but this habitual anxiety is wearing me down.

When I was on SSRI's and when they worked (Zoloft primarily), I didn't experience this kind of ultra-sensitivity. Of course, I didn't experience much sensitivity at all and this is a trait I rather like about myself - in moderation. My personality was alot different back then. It's harder now and I wish I could tone down the feeling volume, but I really do like myself alot more now even though it hurts more in every way.

I pretty much reached my limit, however, with the physical and mental pain and started taking St. John's Wort just yesterday, the Perika brand which is a good one. It worked pretty well for me about 8 years ago and I'm hoping it'll prevent a slide into depression, which I seem to be heading towards. Once I fall into that hole it's so hard to crawl out of and SJW can't handle a major slide. The side effect profile of SJW is mild so we'll see. I won't do SSRI's again and probably not any other prescription med. So if this doesn't work, I'll ride it out bareback until the undertow spits me out again. I'm getting pretty good at this but it's such a drag.

>
> I have felt like the lamictal and/or the lithium has been making me feel more anxious and irritable. It's a different anxiety than the anxiety I experienced back when I used to get panic attacks though. This anxiety is more like an underlying anxiety...always in the background but it feels like it's masked over by something that keeps it from feeling like my more traditional anxiety.

 

Re: New to Board: Frustrated with Lamictal » katia

Posted by BarbaraCat on May 20, 2004, at 22:35:01

In reply to Re: New to Board: Frustrated with Lamictal » BarbaraCat, posted by katia on May 20, 2004, at 14:09:38

Hiya Katia,

> That's good news that you are doing well off of meds. If it hadn't been for me buying the house, restarting grad school, moving, etc. all that goes into it; I probably wouldn't have restarted meds. I am using them as support right now, but won't stay on them forever.

**That's great news about the house and school. Last time we chatted you were about to move in and start school. Keeping busy is a great as long as you're not struggling with an impending breakdown, eh? Probably a good thing you've got the med support right now until things are more steady state.
>
> How're you doing otherwise?

**I go up and down. I'm really glad I'm off meds cause the down times are more quiet and manageable and not bezerk like they were before. But lately I've been struggling and feeling very apart from Life. My body is really hurting, like a constant fibro ache always going on in my mind and everywhere. I'm planning on going back to school for a few courses this summer -- I've got to do something to engage my time and mind. Just hope I don't crash and burn physically cause this fibro thing is a bitch and pulls the rug out on every long-term plan I make.

When I can manage to bring myself into the 'Now' ala Eckart Tolle, I can appreciate life for that moment. Then my mind drags me back to worry, gloom and pain. I guess that's where the spiritual practice comes in - practice. But it seems like I'm always trying, struggling to 'be here now' and just wish it would get easier. It's tempting to think my entire life is always like this, but I know it's not. I'm going to give St. John's Wort a try again for support. I recall from a past trial that the little plant was a gentle mood brightener and did well in keeping me from the skids. I'm not there yet and don't plan on sliding in.

So I'm really rooting for you and pray wonderful peaceful adventures for you w/out too many hypo-jaggies. Keep me posted. It always lifts me up to chat w/you. - BCat

 

Re: New to Board: Frustrated with Lamictal » BarbaraCat

Posted by katia on May 20, 2004, at 23:16:26

In reply to Re: New to Board: Frustrated with Lamictal » katia, posted by BarbaraCat on May 20, 2004, at 22:35:01

**That's great news about the house and school. Last time we chatted you were about to move in and start school. Keeping busy is a great as long as you're not struggling with an impending breakdown, eh? Probably a good thing you've got the med support right now until things are more steady state.
>>I know - good news, but too stressful right now to enjoy that good news. impending breakdown is what caused me to go on Paxil. don't know if it's doing any damn good. At least I'm functioning, but very precariously. I'm having to play landlady to two housemates as well and housekeeper/manager; something I've never done before. Mowing the lawn? what's that? And this lawn was so immacuately manicured, already half the flowers have died even tho' I'm watering like crazy everyday. Heat waves...Also got to find FOUR clients by mid-June for this Life coaching program. I ain't ready!!!!! You can imagine all the issues that come up around that - anxiety, I'm no good, I'm stupid, what can I do to "help" anyone? etc. etc. AND WHEN? do I find the time? yikes.....
power of now, power of now, deep breath...

**I go up and down. I'm really glad I'm off meds cause the down times are more quiet and manageable and not bezerk like they were before.

>>That's so interesting that your downs are more quiet and manageable w/o meds. I'm wondering about all these bipolar stuff. I've been reading a lot lately about Sensory Integration Disorder (SID or DSI) and also reading a book called "The Highly Sensitive Person" and god how I can relate to this more than the bipolar thing. I wonder if my bipolar thing is a symptom of SID/DSI. The Paxil and Trileptal help manage my overstimulated nervous system and quell the anxiety, at least I hope so, my anxiety is still really there. My immune system is down, I can tell because of a rare "cold sore" I get once every two years when I'm REALLY run down. I feel really tired a lot. Maybe Paxil? And dizziness and headaches. If you want to know more about DSI, let me know and I'll pass on some info. I've been on another chat group re: DSI and it's amazing how many other people have these "wierd" sensory sensitivites (like the honkers in yoga).

**But lately I've been struggling and feeling very apart from Life. My body is really hurting, like a constant fibro ache always going on in my mind and everywhere.

>>I'm sorry to hear that. I know about physical pain in the past month - severly pulled a shoulder drilling something and got sciatica painting and pulling off wallpaper. In the midst of my pain, I really thought about and had empathy for those, like you, who suffer with chronic physical pain. Not sure which is worse - mental or physical pain as they both make every second a challenging torture. Are there any meds you can take?

**I'm going to give St. John's Wort a try again for support. I recall from a past trial that the little plant was a gentle mood brightener and did well in keeping me from the skids. I'm not there yet and don't plan on sliding in.

>>I thought St. John's acted on serotonin like ADs and bipolars should stay away from it? anyway, if you had good experiences before, then you should probably be ok with it again.

* So I'm really rooting for you and pray wonderful peaceful adventures for you w/out too many hypo-jaggies. Keep me posted. It always lifts me up to chat w/you. - BCat

Thanks for the support Barbara. It always lifts me when I see your names on postings too.
Warmly,
Katia
>


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