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Kookey
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Default Feb 20, 2021 at 10:43 PM
  #1
“Unless someone like you, cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not.” ― Dr. Seuss, The Lorax

I have had PMS and then PMD all my life, got worse after kids. Have very bad Endometriosis with 6 surgeries. Suffered Depression but refused to acknowledge it until after breakdown. Started Fluoxetine to manage period cycle for endo which sort of helped depression as well but constant pain negated this.

Took Duromine to lose weight and that cleared my head so I could think properly but also became manic. Beginning of the end of my marriage of 32 years. Grew up with disabled mum (lovely parents) and a brother with Asperger's which we discovered runs in the family, so I have similar traits.

Diagnosed with ADHD aged 45. Ritalin replaced Duromine and so much more focused, but needed different anti-d - escitalopram. Didn't stop rumination so been taking zopiclone for nearly 20 years. Only way to get a restful sleep.

Started getting panic attacks 2015, when marriage dissolved - so afraid of a future alone after marrying at age 20 and kids gone, then mum died after very sick for 18months and dad and I caring for her daily. Also working full time. Then dad had a stroke plus my brothers care service broke down and put him in a high risk situation. Life was dark for a long period of time.

Saw long term GP who knew my journey and he prescribed Lamotrigine as a mood stabiliser. The most amazing difference to my panic attacks that would hit out of nowhere, especially after excessive and paralysing rumination and over-whelming stress I had to manage alone. Started at 25mg.

As my anxiety topped again, I saw my brothers neuropsychiatrist who had diagnosed the ADHD. He explained what was happening in my brain - neurons, etc and increased the Lamo to 50mg as I required if I felt a panic attack coming on. I could take one and it would work within 15 mins. So magical.

Through the separation and divorce, it increased to 2x 100gm in the morning and then one when needed. At times I took up to 6 a day but not daily. Still a miracle drug for me. NZ stopped funding Lamo and I went onto Lamictal and this threw me 100% backwards. Neuro applied for special compensation so now I'm back on it. Saved my life.

Was able to get back to 2-3 a day for almost 2 years until life broke down again this year with covid and change of situations in my life. Lost most of my hours at work so income halved, huge mortgage and living expenses I'm not sure I will be able to manage, the support care for my brother fell over big time so going through Health and Disability Complaints Commission which is a long slow process.

The high levels of anxiety of my brother and 83 yr old father and many the many meetings to go to out of town, are interfering with my work and all this has trebled my anxiety and daily if not twice daily the panic attacks have returned and now high blood pressure. So I am back to taking up to 6 a day, just to function each day and to achieve some sort of positivity rather than debilitating negativity and dark thoughts.

Now I am experiencing agoraphobia... this is debilitating at work, as I am a teacher. I try my best to avoid assemblies and sports day. Sometimes have to take a Lamo before taking a class. Don't want to go out places where groups of people and and noise. I know once some of these stresses are solved then I will be fine on 2 a day but for now it is survival mode and waiting for Neuro to tell me the max I can take every day.

Sorry for the novel.. In conclusion.. Lamotrigine is a miracle drug for me. I wouldn't be around if it wasn't.

Last edited by bluekoi; Feb 21, 2021 at 12:41 PM.. Reason: Move to own thread.
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Smile Feb 22, 2021 at 04:04 PM
  #2
Thanks for sharing your struggle. Hope circumstances begin to improve for you soon.
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Default Feb 22, 2021 at 04:24 PM
  #3
That's wonderful! It's inspiring to hear of a psych med doing what it's supposed to do.

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Default Feb 23, 2021 at 05:07 PM
  #4
I've never heard of using Lamictal in a PRN way, above a base dose, but if it works for you that's great. No side effects when you take 600 mg in a day? If not, that's great, too. Please be aware that very high doses can cause side effects. Big jumps in dose make people more vulnerable to the Stevens-Johnson Syndrome rash. If that happens, you might want to discuss other options for PRN purposes with your doctor asap. Does your doctor know you sometimes take up to 600 mg in a day? He/she gives you enough that you have so many spare pills? I suppose if he/she is a neurologist, they know what they are doing for you with that medication.

I've never experienced double/blurry vision from Lamictal (only carbamazepine), but someone here did and even went to the ER when they wrote that they accidentally doubled their dose to 400 mg in a day. I know some people are more vulnerable to such side effects than others. Some scare a lot easier when they get them, too.

I'm sorry to read that you've had so many struggles, and still do. Hopefully you will get a break from them soon.

Last edited by Soupe du jour; Feb 23, 2021 at 05:19 PM..
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Red face Feb 23, 2021 at 10:29 PM
  #5
hi there,
thanks for sharing.
I had never heard of anyone taking over 500mg of lamictal.
I would be afraid to take 6oomg.
I am grateful for you that this seems to be working for you.

That is wonderful!
I have never taken it prn. I take 150mg twice a day. pdoc lowered it from 200mg twice a day.
Then again this is a new pdoc for me a nurse practitioner.
I have a face time meeting every 2 months.She has only seen me stable. So she doesn't know except for what I tell her about my hospitalization, as she has never asked for the notes from my month long stay last march april.
IOP for 5 weeks.
anyway.
happy that you are better. how ever way you get to be comfortable in your own skin.
bizi

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150mg of lamictal 2x a day
haldol 5mg 2x a day
1mg of cogentin 2x a day
klonipin , 1mg at night,
4-5 peri-colace for chronic constipation


multi vit,, vit c, at noon, tumeric, caffeine at noon
PRN Remeron 15mg at night,
zyprexa10mg under tongue,
requip2mg.





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