View Single Post
 
Old Jul 14, 2016, 08:43 PM
ezogyo's Avatar
ezogyo ezogyo is offline
Member
 
Member Since: Nov 2015
Location: Uraguay
Posts: 90
Background story:
So I have a problem I'm facing recently. After being without medication my Bipolar 2 for a year, I decided to try a new one with lesser side effects. The weight gain, increase apatite, hair loss and drowsy + zombie feeling all day was a big turn off(when I was on Valproic x750mg and Risperidral x2mg).
So there I was, trying out Lamictal x25mg for the first time as my pdoc promised it will never cause weight gain(which was my biggest problem) and will lesser the above side effect. But he described all possible side effect including a life-threatening one. He said he will increase the dosses further few weeks later.
I was taking an Anti-Depressant called Amitriptyline x10mg for my migraine for a month which I stopped on doctor's order 2 days after I started on Lamictal, still taking Propranolol x20mg for the migraine though.

The Good:
This meds by far seems to be helping me fight my depression and I feel as if I'm finally getting my life back together. Able to think clearly, don't feel dull or heavy headed. Able to socialize. Even my anxiety has gone to almost zero! Weight gain and apatite wise I'm more in control than ever.

The Bad:
It has been a week to be exact and I'm wondering if it is the reason of my insomnia. I did not slept for last 2 days and still functioned well with few minutes of nap and just today had 2 hours of sleep before I woke up being wide awake and couldn't sleep at all. And most of all, I'm keep having severe anxiety when I try to sleep where I become so conscious about my breath as if I'll forget how to breathe if I do not focus on it. So weird..
Moreover, I'm getting worried sick after finding out how extremely severe it's life-threatening side effects is (Steven Johnson rash)!

Doubts:
- So is Lamictal the main cause of my insomnia and anxiety?
- Is it possible that I'm hypomanic it's making it worse?
- Can it be a withdrawal symptom of stopping the anti-depressant?
- Is it possible to cure the rash fast by stopping taking lamictal when it first begin to appear or will it keep spreading and last a long time before I can get better?
- Is this drug worth taking the risk? I can really try to live without any medication as oppose to putting chemical in my body that may harm me in long term you see.

I know I should ask this questions to my pdoc, but I'll be seeing him a week later and I really needed to clarify all those doubt asap. So please help me out. Thanks!
Hugs from:
PatternsInTheIvy