Day 4 Lamictal rash

Hi kellyinCali,

Hope you find some answers soon. Dr. Google can scare us sometimes. Lol

Please know that you are not alone. We are here for you my friend.
Let us know how your app goes today at the doc.

UA

My thyroids have been overactive a few times in the past. I always get tested for them. An under-active thyroid can make you feel depressed.

Hope the app went well.

UA

In your mind, you’ve been around the world and back. Every 15 seconds.

As a bipolar, I’ve experienced that. And I still do from time to time, although, two things have helped me:

1. Knowing my diagnosis, bipolar, and being treated for that with Lithium mood stabilizer for the manic portion of my bipolar, and two, Mirtazapine anti-depressant for the depression side of my manic-depression.

2. What’s helped me also is trying to remain positive as I face each problem, for, as I’ve read, by being positive going into a problem that you can solve it, increases your chances of solving it, even before you start thinking about the problem. Because, when you think positive, you open up areas of your brain toward solving it (you’re looking for solutions), whereas when you think negative, you’re opening up areas of your brain toward defeat.

Your brain is waiting on orders from you on which direction to go.

And I don’t have to be positive all day long. Just for the minutes it takes to try and solve the problem.

You said:

“Sadly, while I am not convinced I am Bipolar (maybe II), this med (Lamictal, which gave you a rash), helped with my anxiety (racing thoughts, impending doom).”

So, you think you may be bipolar. You also said, “I'm in such a depression right now, I slept 15 hours. I wake up to go to the bathroom but then hit the pillow and back to sleep I am. I also have ZERO energy. Is this what Bi-Polar depression is like?”

And “I feel like a whiner but without energy, I can't seem to move forward. Everything is going to take effort and I have no energy. I'm sad and depressed. Sleep...sad and depressed. I could work through the depression if I only had "energy."

As for the rash, you said, “I sincerely hope you have a better day and I appreciate your input and opportunity to talk to someone who actually got "the Lamictal rash" too.

I typed “lamictal rash” into the net search engine, and it came up with a number of websites that discuss this, which you may want to check.

You said you went to the doctor and he suggested Latuda, which drugs.com says is “Latuda is also used to treat episodes of depression in adults with bipolar disorder (manic depression).

And “Ritalin (to help me turn my sleep cycle upside down.)”

For sleep, I take Melatonin, a supplement from the health food store, or on the net. I take 1 mg a night but only because I also take doctor meds, or I might have to take 3 or 4 mg a night. They sell in in 5 and 10mg tablets, so maybe that’s OK, you’ll have to decide.

Some say check with your doctor or druggist to see if Melatonin is OK to take with the meds that you have.

My psychiatrist says it’s OK because it’s been around a long time.

What time do you do to bed and get up? I have trouble with my sleep cycle, also, because I had dogs nearby.

hi, ritilan is used for narcolepsy,(as well adhd) however i read that because it is a stimulant interdependence and addiction is common with this drug. i recommend that you think about a sleep study. unless you live with narcolepsy that is. have had 2. was on, at one stage. 1200mg of seroquel a night. for sleep. kind regards. just lookin' out for ya.

Glad you are feeling better.

1. You say: “I'm in such a depression right now"

2. “Still feeling depressed”

3. “I think I became so deeply depressed because….”

4. “I related more to situational and atypical depression but I trust that my Pdoc realizes that this depression was deep and long for me.”
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So, the depression seems to be established.

Then you wonder:

1. “I am still not certain what my DX is. However, my P-doc is treating me for bipolar depression”

2 “Sadly, while I am not convinced I am Bipolar (maybe II)…”

3. “Is this what Bi-Polar depression is like?”

As a bipolar, or manic-depressive, myself, I have both of those extremes, one at a time. So, you can be in the depressive side of bipolar, or the manic side of bipolar.

You said you doubted you are bipolar I, but you “maybe” bipolar II, which the net says is the less severe form, with hypo mania, but not the more elevated form of full blown mania that is in bipolar I.

So that could answer the question of are you bipolar, as you have suggested. For if you are only bipolar II, it’s not as noticeable, so it could be harder to detect than bipolar I. Thus the confusion.

So the question is, do you have the hypo manic side of bipolar, or are you simply depressive, without the mania? (You did mention having "racing thoughts" which I've heard is a sign of mania) Do you recognize any of the below?
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Web.md says of the lesser, or bipolar II: “During a hypomanic episode, elevated mood can manifest itself as either euphoria (feeling "high") or as irritability.”

“Symptoms during hypomanic episodes include:

• “Flying suddenly from one idea to the next

• “Having exaggerated self confidence

• “Rapid, "pressured" (uninterruptable) and loud speech

• “Increased energy, with hyperactivity and a decreased need for sleep”

“People experiencing hypomanic episodes are often quite pleasant to be around. They can often seem like the "life of the party" -- making jokes, taking an intense interest in other people and activities, and infecting others with their positive mood.

“What's so bad about that, you might ask? Hypomania can also lead to erratic and unhealthy behavior. Hypomanic episodes can sometimes progress onward to full manias that affect a person's ability to function (bipolar I disorder). In mania, people might spend money they don't have, seek out sex with people they normally wouldn't, and engage in other impulsive or risky behaviors with the potential for dangerous consequences.”

1. “I'm in such a depression right now" “Still feeling depressed”
“I think I became so deeply depressed because….”

2. You say, “Depression is not logical.” (But with the difficulties, it seems like it might be) (As you said, “(“I related more to situational and atypical depression but I trust that my Pdoc realizes that this depression was deep and long for me.”)

3. As far as meds go, the Latuda was "ok" at 20 mg. “On a positive note, I am doing MUCH better” (on Latuda).

4. Latuda, about which drugs.com says: “Latuda is also used to treat episodes of depression in adults with bipolar disorder (manic depression).

5. “I am still not certain what my DX is. However, my P-doc is treating me for bipolar depression”

6. “Sadly, while I am not convinced I am Bipolar (maybe II)…”

7. “I still do not think I have BPII but I read an article about OCD mimicking BP sometimes. I do at times find too much energy for a goal oriented task to the point of obsessive. I'm keeping a "symptom journal" now”
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A. You’re diagnosed as bipolar but you answered 4 of the 5 questions on hypomania as no, so we’ll say you’re not hypo manic, and therefore not Bipolar I (the one with full blown mania) or Bipolar II (the one with only reduced or hypo mania).

B. But you strongly believe you’re depressed, but probably from the tough situations you’ve been going through, not bipolar depression.

C. So we’ll say you’re misdiagnosed and you’re miss-medicated. And being diagnosed correctly is important, so that you can be properly medicated.

D. But the Latuda (“used to treat episodes of depression in adults with bipolar disorder (manic depression”) is helping.

E. There are antidepressants for people who have just depression (but they can be used for bipolar), so you might want to be open to some of those.

F. I once had a huge concern for getting back on meds, and delayed it too long. One step I didn’t consider was:
a. cutting the medicine in half, or even in 1/3rd or 1/4th, and taking that rather than the full pill.

If I was going to have a negative reaction, I could stop taking the pill. If no negative reaction, I could continue taking the other portion(s) an hour or hours later as I choose.

These are my views as a bipolar.

Hi Kelly,

So sorry mate that I've not been on but I hope your doing ok...miles from you I look like I've done 10 rounds in a boxing match, broke out all over my face red and swollen, lumpy spots on my neck, feet and now starting on my arms from my SCLE (Lupus) mate.

By the way i'm on thyroxine have been for years and no side affects for my under-active thyroid gland.

Hug Terry