Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 1024875

Shown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

So frustrated/hypomanic

Posted by sheilac on September 4, 2012, at 15:04:06

It's been 8 days on 50mg of Lamictal.

My new doc took me off all meds (300mg Lithium - gone and 300mg Trileptal - gone - but Trileptal made me depressed).

He is tapering me off Klonopin - down to 2mg a day from 3mg.

When I dosed up to 50mg Lamictal I went 4 days with little sleep and I started feeling irritable and now hypomanic. Even melatonin didn't work, which is usually a fabulous sleep aid for me.

I called his office today because I NEED some sleep. He said over the counter melatonin is unreliable (which is odd, because I have NEVER had a problem with it) and he wouldn't RX a sleep aid. He said he would call in seroquel for sleep (which in the past has made me irritable in the morning - but I know it will knock me out.

I'm taking all 50mg of Lamictal in the morning to give my body somewhat of a chance to sleep. It is making me hypomanic! After about an hour of taking it I feel like I have drank a pot of coffee.

I took 2mg of Klonopin today just to calm down.

He didn't believe me. He said it makes most of his patients tired and that's why he tells them to take it at night.

He was very condescending and seemed irritated he had to call me (but I don't see him for another 8 days) and if I don't get sleep I will be in the hospital.

I am so sick of rude doctors. I miss my old doc. He is the 2nd doc who has been rude and told me that what I was feeling wasn't so.

And I know these guys make $200 off my insurance for each visit, so they should at least seem concerned when I say I'm not sleeping.

I saw my therapist today and she said there was a noticeable difference in how I have changed - for the worse - in the last month. She said I seemed more irritable and less stable.

I hate this. I am sticking it out with Lamictal, because it helps my depression, but maybe a little too much, almost like the SRRIs.

Then, he rudely told me that most people don't get stable until they read between 200mg - 400mg! Duh! So, how am I supposed to stay stable until then?!

I'm wondering if I shouldn't add back the Lithium or Trileptal for stability.

Does he honestly expect me to just fly in the wind for another 6 weeks until Lamictal gets me stable!

What should I do?

 

Re: So frustrated/hypomanic » sheilac

Posted by phidippus on September 4, 2012, at 16:38:29

In reply to So frustrated/hypomanic, posted by sheilac on September 4, 2012, at 15:04:06

Lamictal can be activating, it doesn't mean its making you hypomanic, just wired. Seroquel in the right dosage (100-200 mg) will act as aa secondary mood stabilizer, so you really don't need to add back the Lithium or the Trileptal. If you feel you need to hurry up the Lamictal, call your doctor and talk to him about an accelerated titration. The only reason you're titrating is because Lamictal can cause a bad/deadly rash.

Eric

 

Re: So frustrated/hypomanic » sheilac

Posted by sleepygirl2 on September 4, 2012, at 17:12:45

In reply to So frustrated/hypomanic, posted by sheilac on September 4, 2012, at 15:04:06

Well, I definitely have gotten... certainly irritable, and a bit on the hypomanic side while going up on lamictal. Yeah, yeah, yeah, drs say that doesn't happen, I say "what-ever".

Hope it gets better soon,
Sleepy

 

Not giving up/frustrated/hypomanic

Posted by Sheilac on September 4, 2012, at 18:17:53

In reply to Re: So frustrated/hypomanic » sheilac, posted by sleepygirl2 on September 4, 2012, at 17:12:45

Well, I'm not giving up. I have tolerated Lamictal so far so I want to keep going. And I understand this docs philosophy on less meds, but I'm not sure what the heck he's thinking. It will be another month until I get up to 100mg and I hope by then it calms me down and won't make me hyper.

Meanwhile I will take the seroquel for sleep - I need sleep.
If I go over 50mg of seroquel I get very, very hungry. Oddly enough, since stopping Trileptal I've gained weight. Trileptal seemed to keep my appetite away.

This is a very smart doc, I just don't understand why he would let me get this way until I get stable. Very frustrating.

 

Re: Not giving up/frustrated/hypomanic » Sheilac

Posted by Phillipa on September 4, 2012, at 18:47:51

In reply to Not giving up/frustrated/hypomanic, posted by Sheilac on September 4, 2012, at 18:17:53

I guess I agree with Eric. I do remember when tried lamictal got to 50mg and got angry. Food for thought. Phillipa

 

Lou's response-dkdwnamnholightyrsefacndl » sheilac

Posted by Lou Pilder on September 4, 2012, at 19:50:41

In reply to So frustrated/hypomanic, posted by sheilac on September 4, 2012, at 15:04:06

> It's been 8 days on 50mg of Lamictal.
>
> My new doc took me off all meds (300mg Lithium - gone and 300mg Trileptal - gone - but Trileptal made me depressed).
>
> He is tapering me off Klonopin - down to 2mg a day from 3mg.
>
> When I dosed up to 50mg Lamictal I went 4 days with little sleep and I started feeling irritable and now hypomanic. Even melatonin didn't work, which is usually a fabulous sleep aid for me.
>
> I called his office today because I NEED some sleep. He said over the counter melatonin is unreliable (which is odd, because I have NEVER had a problem with it) and he wouldn't RX a sleep aid. He said he would call in seroquel for sleep (which in the past has made me irritable in the morning - but I know it will knock me out.
>
> I'm taking all 50mg of Lamictal in the morning to give my body somewhat of a chance to sleep. It is making me hypomanic! After about an hour of taking it I feel like I have drank a pot of coffee.
>
> I took 2mg of Klonopin today just to calm down.
>
> He didn't believe me. He said it makes most of his patients tired and that's why he tells them to take it at night.
>
> He was very condescending and seemed irritated he had to call me (but I don't see him for another 8 days) and if I don't get sleep I will be in the hospital.
>
> I am so sick of rude doctors. I miss my old doc. He is the 2nd doc who has been rude and told me that what I was feeling wasn't so.
>
> And I know these guys make $200 off my insurance for each visit, so they should at least seem concerned when I say I'm not sleeping.
>
> I saw my therapist today and she said there was a noticeable difference in how I have changed - for the worse - in the last month. She said I seemed more irritable and less stable.
>
> I hate this. I am sticking it out with Lamictal, because it helps my depression, but maybe a little too much, almost like the SRRIs.
>
> Then, he rudely told me that most people don't get stable until they read between 200mg - 400mg! Duh! So, how am I supposed to stay stable until then?!
>
> I'm wondering if I shouldn't add back the Lithium or Trileptal for stability.
>
> Does he honestly expect me to just fly in the wind for another 6 weeks until Lamictal gets me stable!
>
> What should I do?
>

sheilac,
' You wrote,[...What should I do?...].

 

Hope it all works

Posted by Sheilac on September 4, 2012, at 19:58:15

In reply to Re: Not giving up/frustrated/hypomanic » Sheilac, posted by Phillipa on September 4, 2012, at 18:47:51

My therapist today said she wondered why he took me off Trileptal and lithium. She said besides some depression I seemed stable then compared to now with Lamictal

I also hate eating like a pig.

Too bad I couldn't have stayed on lithium and Trileptal and added something for depression. At least then I felt more in control.

This is hard. My therapist didn't like my new docs attitude and said to give him one more visit before interviewing another doc. In the meantime she said if I had extra Klonopin to take it until I was able to get stable.

I feel like I did when I took geodon - at first manic and then stable.

I think I have to go slow with Lamictal because I have failed it in the past. I have to watch out for mouth and gum issues. My gums feel odd now, but nothing bad has happened so I'm staying the course.

Too bad I couldn't get higher on lithium.

But I know if I had to, I could always go back to Trileptal and lithium and figure out the depression end of it.

Why couldn't a low dose of Lamictal work with that combo to lift and brighten the mood?

If Lamictal fails he want to try depakote!

Seriously, I will not put back on the 50 lbs I have worked so hard to lose.

Depakote, seroquel, ugh! Lithium and Trileptal didn't make me gain any weight. In fact I was able to stop my binge eating on those meds.

I hate this. I want my old doc back.

 

Re: Hope it all works » Sheilac

Posted by Phillipa on September 4, 2012, at 21:16:21

In reply to Hope it all works, posted by Sheilac on September 4, 2012, at 19:58:15

I do understand the mixed messages one gets with a new doc and contradictions. Phillipa

 

Re: Hope it all works » Sheilac

Posted by SLS on September 4, 2012, at 23:40:21

In reply to Hope it all works, posted by Sheilac on September 4, 2012, at 19:58:15

There is no reason why Lamictal cannot be combined with lithium. In fact, it is a treatment that is used quite frequently by the NIMH.

Phiddipus might comment on the desirability of increasing the dosage of Lamictal at this point in time. He usually has a good feel for mood stabilizers. I would just comment that for most people being treated for depression by Lamictal, it is necessary to take more than 100 mg/day to produce a sustained antidepressant effect. I don't think that Lamictal is an effective anti-manic, although it might have properties that help treat rapid-cyclicity.

What drugs are you taking right now, and what are their dosages?

How many hours do you sleep each night when you are unstable? Do you feel tired the next day?

Do you have racing thoughts? If so, can you describe them?

Does your sex drive vary?

What are some of the other things you notice when you are unstable?


- Scott

 

Re: Hope it all works » Sheilac

Posted by SLS on September 5, 2012, at 0:08:43

In reply to Hope it all works, posted by Sheilac on September 4, 2012, at 19:58:15

> What drugs are you taking right now, and what are their dosages?

I apologize. I see that you have already done this.


- Scott

 

Re: Hope it all works » Sheilac

Posted by phidippus on September 5, 2012, at 14:51:53

In reply to Hope it all works, posted by Sheilac on September 4, 2012, at 19:58:15

Stay the course! Lamictal and Seroquel is a good combo!

Eric


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