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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by raisinb on May 15, 2009, at 16:47:00
I have been on Lamictal titrating up for a few weeks. I'm now on 50 mg in the morning and 25 mg at night. For the last few days, I've felt kind of euphoric, jacked up, restless, adrenalized, a bit shaky. Can Lamictal cause hypomania? Is this common (seems a little odd, since it's supposed to stabilize mood). I'm also on 50 mg Zoloft and 20 mg Lexapro and Xanax and Restoril prn.
Of course, I just had some incredibly stressful life events too--I got fired (which should make me depressed, but instead I feel wonderful and a little manic--that's why I suspect the drug).
What do you think?
Posted by Phillipa on May 15, 2009, at 17:07:47
In reply to lamictal reaction, posted by raisinb on May 15, 2009, at 16:47:00
Ahhh sorry about the job. Lamictal at 50mg caused some anger in me but mania agree with you unless its paradoxical? Love Phillipa
Posted by obsidian on May 15, 2009, at 18:25:48
In reply to Re: lamictal reaction » raisinb, posted by Phillipa on May 15, 2009, at 17:07:47
it got me agitated and irritable initially
Posted by ricker on May 15, 2009, at 19:45:20
In reply to lamictal reaction, posted by raisinb on May 15, 2009, at 16:47:00
I've read of others who experienced the same thing you described while taking lamictal so I guess it's possible.
I only take 25mg twice a day, I too get a bit edgy/irritable if I go above that and yet other do quite well on 100 - 200mg??
Maybe stay at 75 for a month and see if you improve, or if things get worse, step back down to 50mgs.I know the word on the street says 100mg minimum for therapeutic gains, not so for me.
Regards, Rick
Posted by garnet71 on May 15, 2009, at 20:33:13
In reply to lamictal reaction, posted by raisinb on May 15, 2009, at 16:47:00
hey RaisinB - sorry about the job!! that sux!!! Hopefully and probably a better job will come out of it. Do you think it had anything to do with your mental health issues??
Never took Lamictal, sorry no advice, but sometimes it's best to cope with life stress in hypomanic ways...i wouldn't necesarily think that is a bad thing, though I guess it might be if a med is involved and of course you'd want to know. I've dealt with some very stressful situations w/humor, joking, playing around; just a coping mechanism. I mean, there are worse ways to cope-you could be curled up in your bed immobilized, or getting drunk, or taking it out on others.....I wouldn't necessarily attribute it to symptoms of bipolar, just my humble opinion, though not saying the meds having nothing to do with it. Just looking at it from a different perspective is all....
Posted by raisinb on May 15, 2009, at 20:38:15
In reply to Re: lamictal reaction » raisinb, posted by garnet71 on May 15, 2009, at 20:33:13
Thanks for the responses and condolences everyone. With all the drama and stress from my tenure, I think it's partly a relief to leave. I feel excited about new horizons and encouraged that I've only been fired for 2 days and already have interviews.
I'm going to have to monitor how I react and talk to my pdoc about it if I narrow it down to the Lamictal.
Posted by Zana on May 16, 2009, at 9:31:26
In reply to Re: lamictal reaction, posted by raisinb on May 15, 2009, at 20:38:15
Lamictal is a mood stabilizer but it is what is know as a bottom up stabilizer meaning that it tends to be stimulating. I found it way too stimulating even when I was very low. You'll have to give it some time, I think, to find out how you settle in with it.
Terrible about your job.Zana
Posted by desolationrower on May 16, 2009, at 21:20:16
In reply to Re: lamictal reaction, posted by Zana on May 16, 2009, at 9:31:26
yeah, i wouldn't necessarily stop it. it may be helpful for depression at low dose for you. maybe adding an AP when needed.
-d/r
Posted by cgd092 on May 24, 2009, at 0:51:15
In reply to Re: lamictal reaction, posted by desolationrower on May 16, 2009, at 21:20:16
I have been on 200mg Lamictal / lamotrigine for over a month now. (I titrated up the that dose) I don't have any tremor or shakiness. The main side effect for me is ataxia. Which is latin for butterfingers/clumsy/klutz. I drop stuff and have to watch that last step. I kind of have to concentrate on doing some physical things. I laugh at myself becaue I feel like Chevy Chase doing his impression of Gerald Ford. Other than this, it makes me feel a little speedy, and I'm not depressed or anxious. I really like Lamictal so far. I hope-hope-hope it works out and lasts. . . . also, at first I was cranky on it. But that seems to have gone away. Also, I avoid caffeine on it because that adds to the speedy feeling. I never got any euphoria with it. I just basically feel normal. This is essentially my first mood stabilizer. It's going well so far. I hope it really keeps my depressive/anxiety episodes at bay.
This is the end of the thread.
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