HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Afraid to Start Lamictal

Support Forums
>
Bipolar Disorder
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 6/20/2007 2:24 PM (GMT 0)
Okay, I haven't been here in ages.  I've been very sick since last fall.  Finally ended up mixed states and pretty much out of control in the spring, then the depression hit and I spent a month in bed.  Treating this has been challenging to say the least.  I've been on drug after drug with little effect.  All this after the new pdoc decided I might not be bipolar and pulled me off most of the meds.

Yesterday my Pdoc handed me a starter pack of lamactil.  After all the horror stories I'm afraid to start it.  I'm already taking wellbutrin, ativan and seroquel prn.  Anyone taking lamictal successfully that would like to tell me their experience would be appreciated.

Ellie

Posted 6/20/2007 4:48 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Ellie,

 

I took Lamictal for about 2 months. I just stopped it last month. I did not have any side effects and the medicine did not make me feel wierd at all.

 

I had to stop taking it because it caused me to have rapid cycling which had not been occuring before I took the medicine. I was very dissapointed because this was the first medicine that didn't make me tired or absent minded.

 

There are a lot of people who it works really well for. Don't be afraid to start it. When I took m first pill, I couldnt even tell I took anything. Actually, if I didn't have the rapid cycling I wouldn't have been able to tell I was taking anything at all.

 

My doctor told me yesterday that my bipolar is very complex and resistant to medicine, so I'm sure your experience will be much better.

 

Good luck!

Posted 6/20/2007 6:41 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Ellie--

I'm on Lamictal -- Have been for about 4 years, and it's been very good to me. I haven't had any side effects I can think of, and while I have had a few ups and downs, on the whole I am much better for it. I even stayed on it while I was pregnant (there's a whole other topic, eh?) and everything was fine.
Posted 6/21/2007 2:11 AM (GMT 0)

Ellie1,

First, I want to welcome you to the healing well family.

Like you there are countless people out there who are terrified of the rash.  The chance of it happening in about 1%, but it is still important.  It usually occures within the 1st 2 weeks of taking it.

I have taken Lamictal in the past for about 2 years with no serious side effects.  I was on 300mg at the highest dosage.  I stopped taking it because it was not working anymore, even when added to another mood stabilizer.

Please give it a chance before deciding it isn't even for you.

Posted 6/21/2007 2:46 AM (GMT 0)
I guess I'm giving it a shot tomorrow. Even with the meds I'm on I'm just all over the place. 2mgs of Ativan isn't touching it. I hate the seroquel, but I"m going to have to take it at bedtime just to calm. It's been a rough 8 or 9 months, and it seems this mixed episode is practically uncontrollable. I've never experienced anything this severe before. My pdoc said he doesn't have admit privledges anywhere but said I should go have myself admitted if I'm not feeling better by the weekend. How on earth would I do that? How humiliating.
Can't eat, I've lost nearly 40 pounds, sleep around 3 hours a night if I'm not medicated. Basically just miserable. Maybe this Lamictal will be what it takes to turn it around. It sure can't get much worse.
Posted 6/21/2007 4:20 AM (GMT 0)

Ellie1,

Before I forget, I have not see you on HW for a while, so welcome back   I'm sorry things are not well for you. yeah

If you need to admit yourself to a hospital, there is nothing wrong with that.  I admitted myself in January 2007, December 2006, and July 2005.  And there was nothing wrong with that, it was a good and safe place to be.  Were you weren't left to roam alone.

I too have been suffering from mixed episodes lately, but my pdoc caught it ealy, and I am on 60mg 2x/day of Geodon.  Aside from making me like a zombie, it had calmed me down at least 80%.  I was having a mjor ragefest, which is not that bad anymore.  And it has helped other things like concentration, the earge to spend money, and the racing thoughts just to name a few.

Please hang in there and know we are here for you if you need us.   Best wishes on the Lamictal.


Posted 6/21/2007 5:31 AM (GMT 0)
I was jsut given a diagnosis (well, a "let's see if this works) of bipolor and a script of Lamictal to add to the cymbalta that I'm taking. He also wants to double the cymbalta from 30mgs to 60 mgs daily. I also take lunesta for sleep or i'm up all night. I'm scaired to take it, scared of the diagnosis and can't wait for someting to work. I'm losing hope that anything will.
Posted 6/21/2007 5:42 AM (GMT 0)
Christina,

On this BP forurm, we've all at one time or another been in a similar situation to yours.  When I got my diagnosis, I almost believed all of what I heard.  I nodded my head in comply but deep down inside I was terrified.  It still scare me today and it has been over 2 years now.  It gets better with time.

The medicine part is mostly trial and error for what works for one person may not work for the next.  Since my diagnosis I have been on at least 10 meds, which most of them did not work or the side effects were too much for me to handle.

So hang in there, and know we are here for you.

Posted 6/21/2007 6:58 AM (GMT 0)
:-)   My husband has beeen on Lamictal for several months and it works really well for him. I hope it works well for you, too. Hang in there. I thought we'd never get my husband balanced , but he is doing pretty well right now. He started on Klopotin last Friday , so far so good. You will be in my prayers.
Posted 6/21/2007 4:15 PM (GMT 0)
Ellie and Christina:

Good luck to both of you. One thing to remember is that Lamictal doesn't work overnight and you need to be safe in the coming weeks while it kicks in. If you don't feel okay this weekend, Ellie, and you're doc suggests you self-admit, then you should consider it. I've self-admitted too and it was just for 5 days. Just long enough to rest, catch my breath, get my meds regulated and feel safe. There's nothing wrong with it.

serafena
Posted 6/21/2007 4:19 PM (GMT 0)
Well, I took my first dose and now of course I'm freaking out. Full blown panic attack. Once I get past the first couple of days I"m sure I'll be okay, but this is going to be a rough couple of days.
Posted 6/22/2007 2:36 PM (GMT 0)
 Hi Ellie,

Welcome  :-)

 

I was on Lamictal but I have seizer disorder and and many other medical problems was on dilantian it work againist  it but my dr. Keep close eye one me. I aam now on Keppra

 

This is a great wed site to ask your Questions

 

I wish you luck

gumbee  smurf

✚ New Topic ✚ Reply