still kind of new at lamotrigine 50 mg

I have read that Lamotrigine (Lamictal Brand) is a miracle drug for so many with BiPolar because it has less side effects and helps the "lows" of BiPolar Depression. My P-doc might suspect I have BiPolar II but I honestly think the trend is to prescribe mood stabilizers and antipsychotics in place of Benzo's. Benzo's have gotten a bad rap because of abuse and is being sold on the streets to get "high."

Good luck with your appointment on Wednesday. Let us know who it goes.

May I ask what other meds do you take besides the 50mg Lamotrigine?

It sounds like you are experiencing "a lot of grief" as you said. Underneath the tip of the iceberg is a lot of complex feelings and thoughts. A therapist will help you if it merely "situational" depression. I think my depression is "situational" and I am also a "Highly Sensitive Person." I know that anger and irritation is dx as 'mania' sometimes but I never get along well without sleep and I never feel invincible. They prescribed Lamotrigine for me and it immediately calmed my anxiety. Unfortunately, I was one of the 1 in a 1000 who got the rash.

kellyinCali said...
May I ask what other meds do you take besides the 50mg Lamotrigine?

It sounds like you are experiencing "a lot of grief" as you said. Underneath the tip of the iceberg is a lot of complex feelings and thoughts. A therapist will help you if it merely "situational" depression. I think my depression is "situational" and I am also a "Highly Sensitive Person." I know that anger and irritation is dx as 'mania' sometimes but I never get along well without sleep and I never feel invincible. They prescribed Lamotrigine for me and it immediately calmed my anxiety. Unfortunately, I was one of the 1 in a 1000 who got the rash.

Hi there, its been a while....will probably post some different things to the two of you...but feel like i'm talking to both of you. Thanks for reaching out first. My persona for lack of better word sounds quite similar to yours. Highly sensitive in general, definitely have therapist, no other meds for the head (a lot for ulcerative colitis), do take clonazepam to sleep at night - it was prescribed long ago during a super stressful time and I happened to have severe insomnia and found the clonazepam worked where no sleeping pill came close. So the past few years I've been learning more and more about anxiety, as am in a lot of transition and frankly overwhelmed with the things i have on my plate.

I am sorry this did not work for you re - the horrible rash....because its sounds like it was doing a good thing. Being similar to you, I dearly hope it will work for me. And I hope you have found something else that works for you.

I'm so sorry you got the rash. Its funny...I know thats the big no no with this drug but have been reading of others getting rash and continuing?...weird...but I guess some doctors actually will work WITH the rash? I dunno.

I went up to 75 mg, enroute to 100 mg. A couple days later I started my first dosage of Humira. Two days after that...I experience pronounced anxiety for several evenings in a row...very uncomfortable. I researched these drugs with professionals and they all said neither should contribut

I dropped back to 50 mg. Still anxiety but not as intense...which means something else triggering anxiety but that the meds probably one of the triggers, even though shrink said not.

Does the 'lower SE profile' mean lower side effects?....I don't have an appt for quite a few weeks....looking forward to discussing with her what to do about my anxiety, given that its a serious factor - more so at this point than depression, and I have developed an aversion for anti-depressants....except for well-burin which she won't let me take (another story, will share if interested).

I don't have a clue if this is doing anything for me. I have so many changes going on in my life, and have little down time to catch my breath and pause and see differences from day to day. Its not hurting....unless causing the anxiety. But, I am now afraid to increase.

kellyinCali said...
Nourse -- keep us posted about your next appointment. Do you have rescue meds for anxiety? Yes, Lamotrogine is supposed to have a lower SE (Side Effects) profile than many other mood stabilzers. It sounds like you need something "calming" right now. Wellbutrin is stimulating so maybe that is why she is not prescribing it. I'm sorry that you are going through a lot right now. I am fighting a deep depression with a mind of its own. I live alone and my sleep cycle is literally upside down. I've been on the Med Roulette but haven't found the right med yet. I hope you start to feel better soon!

Hi Kelly, I live in CA too! (although now am visiting NC, where I'm from, visiting my 90 year old dad).

I looked back at your posts on this thread and just noticed the the Lamo drug really relieved your anxiety. I am confused sometimes reading diff posts on diff forums. For example one person said that Lamo does nothing for anxiety....its all for the classic bipolar symptoms and mainly helps with the depression part.

So it distinctly helped you with anxiety? How long were you able to take it before your rash?

I take (4) .5 mg of clonazepam every night. That started about 15 or more years ago when the father of our child had me in continuous, excessive litigation - and a friend suggested getting a small amt. for court dates. My doctor agreed, but what I discovered, after every sleeping pill in the world has not worked for me, was that clonazepam worked like a charm for a good night sleep. Alas, I found my sleeping pill (major sleep disorders based on a busted adrenal system). Since the litigation ended up lasting 16 years, I eventually,, through tolerance of the drug, built up to the 2 mg. When that happened I said no more. I want to get to a good space so I can start weaning off.

So I take that but its a strictly held medication and there is none left for the daytime. If I don't take it at night, I literally do not sleep at all. So now, because I take steroids (chronic Ulcerative Colitis flare for 2 years now), I must take other things to sleep....like trazadone, lots of herbs, melatonin (and now the Lamo)...you would think that would give me a good night sleep - but i still wake up at least once, and like this morning....woke up at 4 and just decided to get up. Did Lamo help you to sleep at all?

The only other thing I have is medical cannibus which i use rarely....a friend picked me up some of what he takes....and I brought on the trip. I used on the plane and it made for a very peaceful plane trip. But there are only 4 left so I am saving for a 'bad' day...

Thanks for being in touch with me, your very sweet. Its not my place to say - perhaps a moderator will correct me...but is it possible to talk with your doctor (if you even felt comfortable)...and ask him about working through the rash? Its similar with wellbutrin for me. Its the ONLY antidepressant that 1. helped me quit smoking (now have relapsed), and 2. just literally gave me energy which I am usually lacking and just made me feel much better in life. From the gate. But with the sleep issues it made them worse so I stopped. It was sooo disappointing.