Zoloft and Wellbutrin AND Zoloft and Lamictal

Hi Amykarma:

Welcome to healingwell. I hope we can drum up some advice and community for you. We're glad you're here.

If you are bipolar it's really important you not stop and start your drugs on your own. That really makes things worse. Lots of people try that -- they think they're better and stop but it really just brings on killer depression or mania, so please, for your own good, if you don't like your meds, do it under the supervision of your doctor.

Anti-depressants (like Wellbutrin) have been known to worsen mania in bipolar patients, so perhaps your irritability and insomnia were the first signs of hypomania and she decided to stop the AD and put you on a mood-stabilizer instead (Lamictal). Most psych drugs are going to give you some side effects for the first few days, let your doc know, but they usually go away pretty quickly (like within a week). Lamictal is a good drug. Many of us on this board are on it or have been on it -- I'll let others speak for themselves. But I'm still on it and it's done me a lot of good.

Hope that's helpful. I know a new diagnosis of bipolar is overwhelming at first, but it's really alright. It's time to make some decisions about how you want to live, though, because maintaining this disorder involves making wise choices which is (ironically) hard for us to do. So good luck, and chime right in with any comments or questions for the board.

serafena

I had been on Zoloft for 6 years and was in a real stressful situation at work. I forgot to take my thryoid meds and my Zoloft for about 5 days and went into horrible maniac phase. I was  sent to a psych. and he diagnosed me with bipolar. I had always severed with depression and had hyper personality but never considered myself bipolar.

Hi,

I was just diagnosed bipolar. Was taking 25 mg of Zoloft and .5 mg of Klonopin a day for OCD and Panic Disorder. That kept the OCD and PD at bay but I was still left with pretty nasty irritability anger and sometimes rage. Went to a new doctor and she determined I was bipolar from most of my reactions to SSRIs. She started me on Lamictal and kept me at the same dosage of the Zoloft and Klonopin.

It seems now in addition to irritability all of my panic and OCD symptoms are returning.

Is it possible that the Lamictal is increasing the effects of the Zoloft and causing this reaction?

Hi M73,

Welcome to HealingWell and to our forum. Glad you found us. It can really take a while to get the medications for bipolar just right and while I'm not sure if it's specifically the Lamictal which is making your other meds less effective, it seems possible. Your only option is to let the doc know and let her make adjustments. The process of finding the right "cocktail" can sometimes take months, so try and be patient. She will find a way to balance your moods and minimize your anxiety. In the meantime, think about ways you can manage your anxiety yourself.

You mentioned in your other post that you have brain zaps from being on SSRI's. Are those gone or are you still experiencing those. I had them and they were awful.

serafena

That sounds like hypomania to me. That's how I get when I'm manic. I don't get full blown mania, I get that itchy, irritable feeling too. The zaps stopped for me once I stopped taking effexor, which is what was causing them, for me.

serafena

hi im new is anybody out there

Hello and welcome to the life of bi-polar--what a nasty word--I HATE IT---before manic depressive now this--same crap only different pile.

I take both Wellabutrin and Lamotragine--these i guess seem to work the best. THis summer the doc suggested me to try a new med--since ihave been on this since i was diagnosed. WELL...I cant believe i am still married--YIKES!!!!!!!!

 

So i am back on the original combination---but my god--when i am in the dumps--watch out--I  AM RIGHT and NO ONE ELSE IS--I DONT CARE and I dont want to be cared for--its so nasty. WHen things get better--then its like a fog about how i was or how i treated others--my family sometimes, make me feel terrible--I work hard--and try to keep a second marriage-more kids and foster kids all together in a nice happy family

GOOD LUCK ON YOUR MEDICATION--if none work--try my two--or suggest to the doc. Just DO NOT EVER TAKE PROZAC--its takes away any rational reasoning--do nasty things

take care

 

thanks for the welcome--hi, i am mother of 2 (1 married) a step mother of two (both getting married) a grandmother to a special little guy, and a foster parent to 4 high needs boys. WOW....that seemed alot once i wrote that. ANyway, i was diagnosed with Discoid Lupus in 1989, and then later went into a bad depression when i lost my job--that did me in. Now i am diagnosed with bi-polar, and NOW suffering from restless leg syndrome. I always need to be needed and alsway want to be doing something--no matter what.--yikes this may be why i am bi polar. I suffer from weight gain and i HATE IT--so much that as i write this i am eating a cream filled donut. I hope this has described me enough--
we are off camping tomorrow for the long weekend--this will be a handful all boys are comin--watch out campsite
HOPE EVERYONE HAS A SAFE ENJOYABLE last weekend before school. I am in Canada where is everyone else located???????
bye
bren

Hi 99,

Welcome to Healingwell! Please start a new thread to introduce yourself. You'll get a lot more answers and support that way! You probably won't get an answer to your question in the way you asked it. You should get a Dr's second opinion if you are concerned about your meds.

I'm going to lock this thread. I am hoping to see you start a new thread and I'll meet you there!