HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Lamictal

Support Forums
>
Bipolar Disorder
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 7/27/2007 2:58 PM (GMT 0)
My daughter (13 yrs old) was prescribed Lamictal.  Just curious if anyone else is on it.  I was very concerned about the rash, but she is only on 12.5 mg for 3 days, tomorrow she goes to 25 mg and then after another 3 days to 37.5 mg. 

Her p-doc's biggest concern is her going to my sister's for a week.  She states I am doing it at the wrong time.  My daughter is so happy that she will be spending time with her cousin and aunt.  I think her happiness far outweighs the risk as far as an increase in her meds.  I can be at my sisters house in 1 1/2 hours if something happens.  Am I wrong?

By the way, I'm still not so sure she is bi-polar.  She really doesn't get angry that often and she can't sleep at night, stays up all night, but sleeps all day.  The p-doc seems to be really focused on her inability to sleep at night as far as her diagnosis.  She had given her seroquel, but after 2 nights of that, did make her sleep, but made her start to have extreme head jerks.  So she is now just giving her lamictal. 

Any advice is appreciated..

Posted 7/27/2007 7:47 PM (GMT 0)
The staying up all night and sleeping all day sounds like a normal teen. My 15 year old has been doing it all summer and I caught her a couple of times during the school year up at all hours. All my older girls did that in the summer.
I would think anger and mood swings could also be a symptom of raging hormones. 13 is scary, and in my experience 14 is worse. I've gone through it 3 times so far. I still have 3 more smaller kids so its not over for me yet.
THE rash is very rare, although there are some more common rashes that she might experience and can be stopped simply by discontinuing the med. I got hives from it, but nothing that didn't disappear as soon as I quit taking it.
Posted 7/28/2007 3:27 AM (GMT 0)
hi there,
i wanted to share that yes the rash IS rare! and only occurs when when dosed up too soon. seems her doc is dosing up pretty slow! so thats good!

i had a very unusual reaction to it... but before i get into that, i should add that i have/had never felt better than when i was on lamictal! i thought clearer, i felt better and overall things were better! but i was unable to take it because of this reaction.

i developed some pretty serious swollen lymph nodes. actaully the surgeon removed one from behind my ear just to make sure it was not cancer because the lymphs were so unusual. and i had no clue why all of a sudden i developed these hard lymphs throughout my neck. well turned out it was one of those rare reations to lamictal and as soon as i stopped taking it, the nodes reduced within a week.
i was pretty sad about the reaction because i really like lamictal!

hopefully things work out for your daughter! has she tried trazadone for sleep? or clonadine?
Posted 7/28/2007 3:23 PM (GMT 0)

1st, I would like to welcome Chante to the HW family, I hope you find the support you are looking for here.

dilking,

I was on lamictal for almost 2 years in the past. The rash is super rare, and my pdoc told me if it is gonna happen it ususally happens in the 1st teo weeks of taking it.

Staying up late, I did that, heck I still do, but now it's more of a problem than I was younger.

I hope she has a good time at you sisters, and the meds work out for her.

If you are not sure she is bipolar, then you should get another opinion.

Posted 7/30/2007 11:15 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks again everyone. Well the Lamictal definately did not work. She started on 25 mg on Friday night, Saturday morning she was up by 8:30 in the am, unheard of. Seems to be okay other than a little loopy figured it was because she was up so early. She didn't want to do anything but watch tv. She then proceeded to tell to shut up and leave her alone, storm around the house, than ask me why I was ignoring her, didn't I love her...then she started to hold her head and cry that her brain felt like it was bleeding. I immediately called her p-doc and she was taken off the meds. The anger went on until almost 1 in the morning. She got up Sunday, in a normal mood (remember she is 13 so she is very moody anyway), begged me to take her to my sisters. She is there and I along with my sister are gaging her mood. So far she seems fine and happy. I really believe she has been misdiagnosed as being bi-polar, but I think she needs help, counseling. But both her therapist and pdoc want her medicated...I really feel helpless in getting treatment for my daughter.
Posted 7/30/2007 2:19 PM (GMT 0)
Dlking, is it possible to get a second opinion? Is there a pdoc in town who specializes in or works with many adolescents? If you haven't already, you might ask the school councelor for a recommendation.

You say you want your daughter to get counseling, but also that she's seeing a therapist. Does that mean you don't think her therapist is counseling her effectively?

serafena
Posted 7/30/2007 6:47 PM (GMT 0)
Serafena,

Her pdoc is one of the few who specializes in children up to the age of 16. Katie really doesn't like her. She loves her therapist, but at the same time, her therapist diagnosed her as bi-polar within 30 minutes and got us the appt with the p-doc after talking to her and giving the pdoc her diagnosis. I have read so much on the internet...I'm very confused. They never told me to get a physical with her regular doctor for a thyroid check. So I just now made that appt. I also looked into some holistic treatments to help regulate her moods. But I still am overwhelmed...I just wish I could know that I am doing the right thing in helping her. What I meant to say is, can counseling alone help her? I just don't want her on meds unless that is the only way. She doesn't want to be on them either.

Thanks,
Debbie
Posted 7/31/2007 2:12 AM (GMT 0)
It's clear you're interested in doing whatever it takes to make your daughter feel better, Debbie. She's a lucky girl.

I'd get a second opinion (or in this case, a third) if for no other reason than your peace of mind. And definitely get her to a regular doc for a physical -- see if they can pin down any physical issues.

If I could give you one bit of hope, it's that if your daughter is bipolar, the question of medication can be really scary, but meds really can give her some peace. Just like with any illness, medication can't fix everything, and one pill doesn't work the same for everyone, but there are lots of treatments available to try. Be patient, be supportive, and try not to be scared.

Most doctors really do want to help. Keep looking for a pdoc your daughter feels comfortable with, who takes the time to listen to both of your concerns, and who will explain the diagnoses and medications completely. This will make a huge difference in your daughter's attitude about her diagnosis.

Your daughter's life is not going to be over if she has bipolar, I promise. She has a long, happy, fulfilling life left ahead of her -- even if it does happen to be a life supported by mood stabilizing medication.

serafena
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply