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Posted 10/7/2008 9:31 PM (GMT 0)
Hello,

I'm new to Healing Well .com and my main area of concern is depression and bipolar.  I have been on anti-depressants (SSRI) for 11 years and have taken a wide variety of them.  Recently I have had severe mood swings with extremely high "highs" and extremely low "lows"; the lows have even brought about thoughts of suicide.  Thankfully I have a great husband and a good family doctor...which brings me to my recent visit to a psychiatrist.  He suggested that bipolar may be the problem and prescribed Lamictal and Tofranil (this is a tricyclic class anti-depressant not a SSRI).  My concern is...from what I read they usually only keep you on Lamictal for 18 months; my question is what happens then?!  I'm really tired of changing meds and always looking for the right combination!!  Has anyone been on this combination and has it helped?!  Thanks

Posted 10/7/2008 10:31 PM (GMT 0)
Hi yankeepeaches,

Welcome to HealingWell and the bipolar forum. The guidelines for how long patients should be on drugs are just that -- guidelines. Docs don't always stick by them. I've been on Lamictal for 5 years or so. But Lamictal works well for me, better than other things have, so we just stick with it. If a drug stops working, or if your doc thinks you're going to be doing damage by staying on something too long, they'll try out something else after a while. But all that's assuming the drug works for you. I hope the new cocktail does the trick. I'd venture a guess and say that the majority of the people on this board started out diagnosed as depressed and later were diagnosed bipolar, so you're in good company.

Keep posting and let us know how that tricyclic works. I've never heard of anyone taking that one before.

Thanks,
serafena
Posted 10/7/2008 11:57 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome to HealingWell yankeepeaches. It is great to have you on board.

As Serafina said, if an rx works for you then there is no reason to take you off the med. I was on Lamictal for over 1 1/2 years before it stopped working for me. But that is not the case with everybody. Everyone is different, there are people who have been on it more than 5 years and it works great for them. It is hard to say what will happen in your case, because that time has not happened yet.

Like you I hate switching meds and readjusting to new side effects, but I would rather have a new med than to stay on one that stopped working.

Please keep posting and let us know what happens to your med situation.

Olivia
Posted 10/8/2008 1:17 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Olivia and Serafina...here's keeping my fingers crossed!!! I'll keep you updated!
Posted 10/8/2008 7:08 PM (GMT 0)
I was on Lamictal with Lithium for a while. Of all the bipolar meds, this combo seemed to work well for me. The only side effects I had experienced were a strong metallic smell and taste and diarhea. It was only with any foods that contained dairy products. I found out later that Lamictal has lactose in it and I happen to be lactose intolerant so that explains the latter side effect. I was eventually taken off of both due to too much weight loss, but mentally and emotionally they worked well.

Good luck!
Posted 10/9/2008 12:29 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the info Brannon!  I really hope this works for me as I've been on this rollercoaster for so long! :-)
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