hi -- new to forum

Hi everyone,

 

I'm new to this forum, and wanted to share my current situation. I was taking 75 mg of Lamictal since June, but then recently discontinued taking the medication (it's been more than a week since I stopped cold turkey), since I was worried I might be pregnant. It turns out that I'm not pregnant, but I haven't re-started Lamictal... so far, no major signs of withdrawal, but last night, I was emotionally sensitive and started crying when my husband came home a little late.  I haven't been able to consult with my doctor about this, because she just changed medical facilities and my husband and I moved to the east coast.  Has anyone else stopped taking Lamictal and been alright off the meds?  My husband thinks I'm in denial about being bipolar-- I was diagnosed with type I, though I think I have more of the depressive aspects of the mood instabilities.  Hope to hear from you soon!

I'm with Ellie. Get in touch with your Dr. It just isn't worth it!!!! Sandra

I'm not a medical person and I sure can't advise anything like that, I wouldn't want what I say to be in error!! Surely your clinic has another Dr. that took over her cases. Sandra

Okay I am no doc, but when did you stop the meds? How long you been off them? Did you have another prescription for them? See here's the deal, when you quit cold turkey from meds, as I have done as well, we all don't listen to docs all the time... you can go through withdrawal symptoms. If you don't , you still have that medication in your system for x amount of time. So depending on when you stopped , depends on  if I would say start again at a lower dosage. Can you call the physician you had, reach them at all? Where are your medical records? See having a doc , as of right now , with your records helps more than anything. What could be worse , well you mood altercation, especially if you are BP I. I was just there less than 2 months ago. How long have you been receiving treatment for BP? Denial is what we all go through, at least you take meds that are prescribed. When I was in denial , I would start , stop, .... you get the idea. I am open about it all now. NO denying here. Please remmeber , I am not a doc, only going on personal experience. I really think just making an appointment for now with an MD, would be beneficial. Just to get you back on your meds, by an authorized person. Let me know how things turn out, and Welcome. Nickie   ( living a scary dream, which is my reality.. Bipolar)

Hey Sandy, nice to chat with ya sweetie.. I hvae never done this with my lamictal, but other meds. My doc always just restarted at a lower dose with me. As long as the med doesn't require bllod work , labs.... So how you feeling? I am actually superb, well I have my days, but really have never felt better. Of course i take alot of meds now. Since what happened and all. It's great to finally feel better. This is the best I ahve felt without being hypo, or manic. That is a false " sense of  feeling good". Well take care , gonna read one more and off to school I go!!!! Nickie

Wish I had more time to talk with you, I really have to get to school, it takes a good 45min-1 hr to get there. Wow, I have so much to say. One thing quick before i do go, if you cannot reach your doc, is there anyone that replaced him/her? If not get your Med . records transferred to where you are and see a doc. As long is there licensed they can help you now!!! Take care, write later. Nickie Nice to meet you!!!!!

http://www.dbsalliance.org/questionnaire/screening_intro.asp   (test)

Symptom criteria for diagnosis BP I and II:  (Bipolar I under Mania and bipolar II under Hypomania.

MANIC & HYPOMANIC EPISODES by http://www.bipolar-tightrope.com/ManiaHypomaniaMore.html

Major Signs & Symptoms	Mania	Hypomania
Exaggerated self-confidence and optimism Decreased need for sleep without loss of energy More talkative than usual Sense that thoughts are racing Distractibility and difficulty focusing Increase in goal-directed activities or in nonproductive activities (pacing, squirming, and so on) Planning and carrying out potentially risky activities (foolish business investments, reckless driving, sexual indiscretions, spending sprees)	Consists of three or more symptoms if mood is elated or expansive, or four or more if mood is irritable May or may not include delusions or hallucinations May or may not need hospitalization to prevent harming yourself or others Without hospitalization, symptoms must be present for at least one week With hospitalization, symptoms may be present for any length of time	Consists of three or more symptoms if mood is elated or expansive, or four or more if mood is irritable May not include delusions or hallucinations Symptoms present for at least four days

 I strongly suggest you get a new pdoc and take these results to him in case he just takes your word for your diagnosis and it turns out you're not, so you can be treated for whatever you have.

I'm not saying your not BP, but docs these days are overdiagnosing it and people are not getting better because they don't respond to BP meds.

Hi again, Psych Nurse,

 

More about my situation: I was first diagnosed with BP I in 1998, after I had a week of not being able to sleep, experienced delusions (my mom was extremely worried about me because I was crying a lot, sometimes for no reason even though I had just broken up with my then-boyfriend), and my doctor thought that I presented with a perspective that I had special pwrs. I was hospitalized for about a week and took Depakote for about six months (I had xyprexa too but for only a few months due to side effects).  Nothing happened until 2004, when I was really depressed and became suicidal in grad school. I od'd eventually, after which I was hospitalized for the 2nd time when I was being considered to have major depressive disorder and was treated with wellbutrin (200 mg) and a small dose of respirdal (0.5 mg). I took respirdal for a month or two only, but was on wellbutrin for about 9 months. But then, that diagnosis was switched to BP I again, after I discontinued taking wellbutrin under the doctor's discretion, and I experienced major withdrawal effects: couldn't sleep at all really for a week, had crying spells, and while I was actually on wellbutrin, I had become involved with four part-time jobs, trying to go thru a career change. A little over a week after I discontinued wellbutrin, I was hospitalized for my third time, when I was given xyprexa, and later lithium (which was too strong, so I was given lamictal this past summer).  So that's basically my history...not sure how I've been surprisingly alright without lamictal so far, considering I've been diagnosed by two different doctors as BP.  I guess BP is not something like having diabetes, where there's a more objective way of diagnosing the different types and treating the disease.

Defo objective!  It's the hardest mental illness to diagnose and  usually takes a LOT of screening to get it right.  The answers you said no to are unusual for BP 1, but if you were having delusions, it's probably right.  You need to get back on Lamictal before another hypo/manic/depressive episode comes on, sometimes it can be a couple of weeks, sometimes a few days, who knows, everybody is different.   

Lamictal is not suffient stabilizing for BP I; it does not control mania.  It is really to keep you from going too low, which is awesome for us!  The the reality is we could go way up again, anytime, even tho you mostly suffer the depression.   Either episode will eventually happen one way or the other, so it's best to get back on your meds ASAP.  There WILL be a doc taking over the other ones patients for a time, it is illegal to leave a patient without a doctor.   So call today and let him tell you what to start at, usually 25mg at first, but you've only been off a week, still tell him and BTW the therapuetic dose is 200mg, otherwise, you dont get the full benefit.  And it won't make you sleepy or gain weight!  Great drug! 

For future reference:  DO NOT EVER STOP ANY MED COLD TURKEY!  It will really mess up the brain chemistry and is very likely to bring on an episode, but you were on a nontherapeutic (in studies, 200 mg is the right dose, for most everyone) dose, so that's the reason you aren't having worse effects.  Just don't go without, please!