FAQ/Help |
Calendar |
Search |
Member
Ursula Shackleton
has no updates.
Member Since: Jun 2021
Location: Ohio
Posts: 96
114 hugs
given |
#1
I am on day two of a 50 mg dose of Lamotrigine after being on 25 mg for two weeks, and it seems like within an hour of taking it, I'm exhaustedly tired and pretty much done for the whole day... but unable to sleep, which is why I'm not taking it at night. My pdoc seems to think this is because my body is getting used to the med, but I wonder if anyone else has experienced this and, if so, what they did to help with this side effect. My mood has already lifted some, so it is helping. It would just be nice to feel a little more awake. Thank you!
|
Reply With Quote |
mssweatypalms
|
leomama
|
Super Moderator
Community Support Team Community Liaison
Chat Leader
CANDC
has no updates.
Member Since: May 2014
Location: Northeast USA New England
Posts: 17,322
(SuperPoster!)
2,307 hugs
given |
#2
@Ursula Shackleton welcome to MSF My Support Forums. I am sorry you are feeling so sleepy but glad your mood has lifted.
I find when I exercise or do yoga that it helps me get more energy. 5 minute Tai Chi on youtube has 8 5 minute segments. Adrienne complete beginners yoga is good when I only have 20 minutes. She has dozens of longer programs too. Walking helps me. I usually have to do things later in day. When are you going to sleep at night? Are you getting a full night's sleep? Sometimes people need a med to help them sleep as well, so if this persists you may want to ask your prescriber if there are any psych meds that are suitable for your situation to help you get to sleep and stay asleep. @CANDC __________________ Super Moderator Community Support Team "Things Take Time" |
Reply With Quote |
Ursula Shackleton
|
Ursula Shackleton
|
catches the flowers
*Beth*
is practicing healthy breathing for brain, mind,
body, spirit.
Member Since: Jul 2019
Location: Downtown Vibes, California
Posts: 15,701
(SuperPoster!)
23.7k hugs
given |
#3
Quote:
I used to take Lamictal in the morning and it caused me to feel sleepy. Now I take all of it at night. __________________ |
|
Reply With Quote |
Ursula Shackleton
|
Ursula Shackleton
|
Member
Ursula Shackleton
has no updates.
Member Since: Jun 2021
Location: Ohio
Posts: 96
114 hugs
given |
#4
Quote:
Sleep isn't really an issue for me anymore. I've alternated melatonin with CBD for a long time now, and I sleep well. I get between 7 and 8 hours. The problem I have with getting to sleep is only with this med. After the sleepiness wears off, I have this really energized/revved up kind of feeling. So I end up taking it at one in the afternoon so that the energized feeling wears off by bedtime... but then I'm sleepy all day. I did have about a week of choppy sleep where I was trying to figure out how to time this thing, but I've been doing my normal 7 to 8 hours for the last three weeks. Thankfully I work for myself, so I end up doing all my work in the morning. Thanks again! |
|
Reply With Quote |
Member
Ursula Shackleton
has no updates.
Member Since: Jun 2021
Location: Ohio
Posts: 96
114 hugs
given |
#5
The thing that's weird for me is even though I get really tired, I can't seem to sleep with it. Then I get this really energized feeling after a few hours and *really* can't sleep with it. Maybe that'll pass once I'm on a higher dose though, and I'll just be able to take it to sleep. Thanks for the thoughts!
|
Reply With Quote |
*Beth*
|
*Beth*
|
Elder
Soupe du jour
has no updates.
Member Since: Jun 2015
Location: Czechia
Posts: 5,149
13.4k hugs
given |
#6
I hope you will not get too discouraged about it yet. Lamictal never made me tired, but I know of others who've said it did to them. Like many medications, such initial sedation can wear off when you get used to the dose. If your mood is lifting that's a very positive sign. Please be patient and tolerant as you grow used to the medication. It is even possible that at higher doses you will no longer feel such sedation. That's not uncommon with certain medications.
|
Reply With Quote |
Ursula Shackleton
|
Ursula Shackleton
|
Member
Ursula Shackleton
has no updates.
Member Since: Jun 2021
Location: Ohio
Posts: 96
114 hugs
given |
#7
Quote:
|
|
Reply With Quote |
Soupe du jour
|
Legendary
MickeyCheeky
My echo is the only voice coming back
Member Since: Jun 2016
Location: Italy
Posts: 11,817
(SuperPoster!)
38.4k hugs
given |
#8
i agree with the other wise and wonderful posters about Hoping that you won't get discouraged! i don't have much to add myself since id on't have bipolar and i don't take those meds! i Hope that your Pdoc will be able to assist you and that you will find the right meds! Sending many Safe, warm hugs to BOTH you, @Ursula Shackleton, your Family, your Friends and ALL of your Loved Ones! Keep fighting and keep rocking NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, OK?!
Last edited by MickeyCheeky; Jun 11, 2021 at 02:43 PM.. Reason: typing mystake |
Reply With Quote |
Ursula Shackleton
|
Ursula Shackleton
|
Member
Ursula Shackleton
has no updates.
Member Since: Jun 2021
Location: Ohio
Posts: 96
114 hugs
given |
#9
Thanks, @MickeyCheeky!
|
Reply With Quote |
Member
Ursula Shackleton
has no updates.
Member Since: Jun 2021
Location: Ohio
Posts: 96
114 hugs
given |
#10
Just wanted to say thank you to everyone here for all the support and encouragement! I've been through this before and tried to do it on my own for four years before finally having a major manic episode. Then my mother got diagnosed with a pretty ugly cancer a couple years ago and died this year. It was so hard for me to hear people complain about the pandemic and their little problems while I was taking care of my mother, my son with autism, and having to deal with my father's mood episodes as well as my own in the middle of a pandemic. After a major meltdown depression, I got in with a new pdoc, so I know it's a process. I was well on Lamotrigine for almost six years, back when I was seeing a different pdoc, but that's a whole other long story, so I have faith that I'll be well again. I like my new pdoc even more than my previous one. That's a great start :-)
Thanks for the warm welcome and all of your insights! |
Reply With Quote |
*Beth*
|
*Beth*, leomama
|
Grand Magnate
leomama
has no updates.
Member Since: Feb 2014
Location: USA
Posts: 4,703
172 hugs
given |
#11
Quote:
Hey girl I’m back on lamictal after being off it, I’m on 50mg, my psych told me to take it at night because of the drowsiness . He also told me it takes time , so he put me on Wellbutrin to lift my mood quicker . |
|
Reply With Quote |
Grand Magnate
leomama
has no updates.
Member Since: Feb 2014
Location: USA
Posts: 4,703
172 hugs
given |
#12
Quote:
Yeah I was on it for 10 years then I came off it then I had a marijuana induced manic episode so I went back on it. I was trying to manage my moods on my own and it finally got to be too much. |
|
Reply With Quote |
Ursula Shackleton
|
Member
Ursula Shackleton
has no updates.
Member Since: Jun 2021
Location: Ohio
Posts: 96
114 hugs
given |
#13
If life was less stressful, that would be a big help, right? For me, I think I managed fairly well for so long because I had a routine in place, did aerobic exercise every day, and had a great deal of stability, support, and coping mechanisms in place. Then my mom got cancer, then the pandemic, then she died of cancer.... Things just get to be too much sometimes.
|
Reply With Quote |
leomama
|
Grand Magnate
leomama
has no updates.
Member Since: Feb 2014
Location: USA
Posts: 4,703
172 hugs
given |
#14
Quote:
I’m sorry for your loss. I’m not sure what’s causing my symptoms at night, the lamictal or the Wellbutrin. I called my doctor and left a message . |
|
Reply With Quote |
Member
Ursula Shackleton
has no updates.
Member Since: Jun 2021
Location: Ohio
Posts: 96
114 hugs
given |
#15
Thank you for the kindness. It's hard but gets a little easier every day. I did Lamictal for years without issue in my thirties, but this time, yeeeeah. Not so great. At 50 mg, I had five days where I could only sleep for about four hours, anxiety went full-on supercharge, and I was massively paranoid about random things for about a week. Apparently a rare side effect. So you just never know the way something is going to effect you. Hopefully you get it figured out soon!
|
Reply With Quote |
leomama
|
Grand Magnate
leomama
has no updates.
Member Since: Feb 2014
Location: USA
Posts: 4,703
172 hugs
given |
#16
Quote:
My pdoc says it’s the Wellbutrin as I’ve never had problems with the lamictal before . In 6 months I’d like to go off the medication . We’ll see . |
|
Reply With Quote |
Ursula Shackleton
|
Member
Ursula Shackleton
has no updates.
Member Since: Jun 2021
Location: Ohio
Posts: 96
114 hugs
given |
#17
Thank goodness (right?) It's so much less scary to change antidepressants. Hopefully you find something that's a better fit.
|
Reply With Quote |
leomama
|
Grand Magnate
leomama
has no updates.
Member Since: Feb 2014
Location: USA
Posts: 4,703
172 hugs
given |
#18
Quote:
I’m still taking the Wellbutrin, I don’t really have time to mess around. I haven’t increased the dose yet though. I was supposed to go up to 200mg today . I figure I’ll wait till my day off to go up on a new medication. |
|
Reply With Quote |
Member
Ursula Shackleton
has no updates.
Member Since: Jun 2021
Location: Ohio
Posts: 96
114 hugs
given |
#19
That's a good idea. Starting on new meds at work just sucks
|
Reply With Quote |
leomama
|