Lamictal/Neurontin Just Diagnosed Bi Polar

Hello everyone,

I am 33 years old and have a family history of bi polar and chemical

dependency. Always a happy girl growing up, so everyone thought,

but had my own darkness, with extreme creativity. Sometimes very

difficult to concentrate and follow through with things although

being just about a straight A student. At age 27 had a kidney stone

and was introduced to opiates, mainly vidodin and was able to

focus and concentrate although depressed a lot in a lonely marriage

to a man 12 years older with a son 8.5 years younger whom he had

full custody of. We had 2 daughters now 9 and 12. I found solice

in opiates, then put on Zoloft, Klonopin, and Ambien. I became

addicted to the Klonopin and Ambien, and all other benzos through

the years. Tried many SSRI's to no avail. Didn't know if the depression caused the drug use or if the drug use caused the depression!! Then being hospitalized a doctor diagnosed me bi polar

after talking to my current husband (an angel) and interviewing me,

put my on Abilify, I could not see clearly and  could not function.

Never took it again.

Fall time went on Wellbutrin and Strattera. Not sure if it worked due

to dependency on Vicodin and other scripts. Finally went into treatment and detoxed off all addictive drugs in January. Came

home hopeful but in a state of mania, soon the worse depression

of my life, no function, no hope, dying inside for about 10 days.

Then the mania hit again, not sleeping, full of energy, creativity,

calling everyone, cooking, cleaning etc., not really focusing due

to racing thoughts. My husband told me I needed to call a doctor.

Finally I accepted the bi polar diagnosis and went to a very insightful psychiatrist yesterday who talked to me for 45 minutes.

She put me on Lamictal, the starter pak and Neurontin which

also acts as a mood stabilizer. I was on Neurontin in treatment

and found it to calm my nerves and help me sleep. I am hopeful.

Anyone with experience on either drug? Took 2 doses of Lamictal,

feel a slight headache and achey but alright so far.

Thanks for all the great info on these boards.

Boomer1

I've been on both medications. Lamictal gave me a rash, and neurontin made me very sick (as did its new cousin Lyrica, but that ones for pain only). Neurontin hasn't ever been shown to have effectiveness with bipolar disorder, and pfizer got into hot water over its marketing practices because of neurontin. If I were you, I'd talk to the doc about finding something else for a mood stabilizer, perhaps something thats approved for that use.

Neurontin will make you tired, but tired isn't the same as stabilized.

JMHO.

hammilton

By the way, I have a history of seeking solace in opiates too (now needing them for pain management, however). If you want to talk, feel free to email or IM me. On AIM i am smirnoff4capt and my email is [email protected]

Absolutely Robert.
I too have heard some rumors about Neurontin being prescribed offlabel for bipolar but what it comes down to is if it works and your doctor and you both come to the decision to continue it then that is your decision to make.
In the beginning Abilify (which I take) was considered a drug primarily for schizophrenics (SP!) but was prescribed for bipolar just the same and is now approved for both.

I flipped out on the fact that the Abilify was an atypical anti-psychotic as well. Didn't want the stigma of being on something like that. It took me three tries before I just gave up the fight and stayed on it. It REALLY worked for me but everyone is different.
No, you should not have the extreme episodes once you are stable. IMHO I think we tend to have more dramatic mood swings than other people even when stable, but the really awful stuff should disappear. Should it return, you'd need to get with your doctor. It usually means you need a med adjustment.
I believe the rash with lamictal happens right at the beginning if it's going to happen, so you probably don't have anything to worry about on that score. I'm not absolutely sure, but I think thats how it works.
Anyway, it's good to hear you're feeling better. Keep us posted!
God Bless
Ellie