Quote:
Originally Posted by ezogyo
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!
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Not a doc, but I'm a nerd and am on Lamictal myself. Researched the s--t out of it. Up to 200mg now and have been on some dose of it since September of 2015. Very well tolerated.
1. I'm not sure about the anxiety, but it has been reported for sure than Lamictal can cause sleep problems. I wouldn't doubt it with anxiety though given everyone has unique brain chemistry.
2.As for hypomanic, I wouldn't doubt it. Titrating to 200mg induced ultradian cycling (within the day, in a few days) in me. So it could be.
3. The anxiety could be (if I'm correct in thinking that's what you're asking about regarding the withdrawal symptom) a side effect of anti-depressant withdrawal. Cold turkey or did you wean off? Sometimes even weaning can cause withdrawals, especially if done too fast. It is listed as a possible side effect.
4. If you have a rash of any kind, call your doc IMMEDIATELY. It may not be SJS, given it's super rare. And you really lessen the chance if you titrate up slowly. It's like .03% of patients that develop it, but with rashes on mood stabilizers like Lamictal, need to be careful. SJS is tricky. Try not to scare yourself though. Like I said, super rare. Again though, any rash. Call doc immediately or go to ER/Urgent care and tell them you're on Lamictal if weekend or can't get a hold of them. Need to make sure. If it would be SJS, you can't stop if once it's started. It's quick. Once it appears, it spreads fast. Fast fast. So you'd know, but again, if it's concerning, get it checked, and regardless of that, call doc ASAP.
5. For me personally, it was. It got me back on track. It evened me out, stabilized me. I got two As in university as a Junior of the four classes I took after not having had an A in a class since my Freshman year. It's FDA approved particularly for BPII but also for BP in general and is considered a "miracle drug" by many psychs.
Again, no doc, but a lot of med experience and person research done. Spend a lot of time asking docs questions, reading my med inserts, and I'm a clinical psych major. I hope I helped you some rather than freaking you out.
