I haven't been able to sleep tonight due to job stresses...and being up and having extra time to "think" has me worried about a decision I made with my pdoc this afternoon. We are eliminating one med, decreasing another and adding Lamictal. I guess I am skeptical of taking another med. I don't know much about it...I guess I am looking for some reassurances or at least some examples of experiences with Lamictal, positive or negative.

Have I missed other discussions about Lamictal? I didn't see any.

Hi jill,
I've been on Lamictal for about a year or so. You start slow as to avoid a rash, which I'm sure your doc already told you. That's the only s/e I can think of..and you will be monitored for that.

I actually feel no side effects at all. It has kind of boosted my Lithium, in my opinion. Not gonna lie, I still have occasional depression but not as shattering, it seems. In fact, if I start getting alot of depression again, the Pdoc ups my dose, and it makes a big difference. I really like it and wouldn't want to be taken off of it. I think it makes me as stable as I am going to be.

No weight gain, no anything, that I can think of. I don't mean to sound like a commercial but....it's been a good med for me.

I hope you like it and do well.

This post has been edited by AngelWithin: Feb 1 2006, 10:14 AM

thanks for sharing that AngelWithin, I appreciate it. Certainly sounds like it has been a winner for you.

Lamictal didn't help my depression, but then I haven't done particularly well on the mood stabilizers. The good news, though, is that I had no bothersome side-effects, and that's rare for me!
I'm curious - what other meds are you changing?
Good luck with the Lamictal, Jill!

I am ceasing Neurotin (was at 1200mg). I am decreasing Wellbutrin (from 300XL to 150XL). I am remaining on prozac (40mg). I also have Trazadone I can take at night if I need it. And if I take it early enough. I hate it when I think I might need it but I don't take it (because I hate to take it if I don't absolutely need to) and then I wake up in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep. I need a good 8 hours if I take a whole pill, I can't remember the dosage. And it always seems to bothersome to cut the pill in half...easier to lay there and toss and turn for hours???...don't know what I am thinking sometimes.

I know how you feel jill .
I do the same thing. I can't imagine my reasoning on it, either. Tossing and turning is the worst.

Are you on the Lamictal?

I am wanting off of Lithium. I don't know if Lamictal is strong enough to use by itself , as a mood stabliizer.

This post has been edited by AngelWithin: Feb 5 2006, 09:52 AM

Thank you AngelWithin, it is good to know someone else does the same craziness.

Yes, I did begin the Lamictal.

Jill...
I was on Lamictal for over a year.... I got up to 450 mg, coupled with about 400 mg of Topamax also... I loved the combo... no side effects for me for a long time. I don't get back depression, but I have problems with mania.... so I had to watch out for that, and for the fact that sometimes I just balanced out so much that I was flat. I hated that. But all in all it was great. I finally had to stop the Lamictal because of a rash... but I don't believe it was the "dreaded rash".... I think it had to do with mal-nutrition.... but, when you get a rash, you get a rash.... and you have to err on the side of caution. I was very sad to stop the combo.

Now I take Abilify and Topamax, and it seems to work ok too.... except for this third ear growing out of the side of my head....

;)

There is or was another Lamictal thread somewhere!! I know - I started it :)

I take 200mg of Lamictal a day to top up my other ADs. It is really, really important to start off slowly and increase not more than 25mg every two weeks. It seemed to take forever to get to 200mg. Watch for rashes. Those can be the really serious side effect.

I have absolutely no idea if it is helping me or not!! My doctor and my therapist think I seem less depressed, so I guess maybe it is doing something. And at least it had no decernible side effects for me.

I am into my 4th week of Lamictal and I feel a DEFINITE benefit

I am more stable. I think AW described it that way too. Way more stable. I have been going through some stresses recently that would have sent me cowering in the corner previously. But I have been able to keep up the daily grind. I'm not saying it has been *easy* but it has been amazing how much better I am able to deal with stress and conflict. It doesn't send me to bed under the covers for days.

My pdoc has plans to take me up to 200 in the next several weeks. (slowly as everyone as mentioned)

i am on my second day of Lamactil, it is the only drug i take except for Atavan for anxiety. I just quit a career that for 17 years basically destroyed me because of the stress levels. Toward the end, whether it was because of my age or whatever, I did need the Atavan to function.

Now I am unemployed and i'm not sure if it's the Atavan, the relief, the Lamactil or a placebo effect but i feel really different today..... My heart feels so open, i don't feel afraid or paranoid, i just feel like a human being.

I know it's unlikely the lamactil is working but maybe it's just the feeling of hope. And Atavan is a great drug for me by the way.

My biggest issue is something my doc calls 'blunting' which means i do not experience pleasure. He says the lamactil will help. I don't care if i eat tunafish sandwiches the rest of my life. I cannot go back to the stress of my old job. My sanity, which i did not even realize i lost thru the stress, is creeping back to me and it's PRICELESS.

Thanks for listening.

I suspect it is the Ativan at this stage, Stormy - I think it is a wonderful drug too. As you have to start Lamictal so slowly, it will be a while before you get to a therapeutic level.. Meanwhile, enjoy the relief Ativan gives you.

I was just taken off of Lamictal by my new Podc ..with no explanation basically. I am getting to get a feel for how she does things and not sure I will like it. She has put me on Abilify which is fine, but....
I feel so bad ..it has been over a week and I don't take a high dose anyway due to how my body deals with meds.
I need to really post in MNES but oh well.. I feel rotten and I want my Lamictal back!
I am feeeling so sad.