Seroquel XR/Lamictal & b/c

Okay, so I was semi-complaining/responding on someone else's thread tonight (sorry, you know who you are) and now I'm trying not to panic that I have weeks stretching ahead of me with no hope for a meds change. I've begged to get something to help me through the severe mood swings, depression, and drowsiness to no avail. P-nurse says she can take me off of Wellbutrin, which I actually like and gives me energy or add Lithium (which I'm scared of) or ratchet up my Seroquel (which I hate and want to get rid of altogether for its drowsy, weak and shaky side effects. I used to like it before I figured out that it was causing the weakness in my legs).

So I feel stuck and a farm house to the tornadoes of my emotions with no end in sight. She says to wait it out (in the cellar I presume, which is my bed) and see if Lamictal balances the swirling mercurial specters, which it hasn't so far. Meanwhile, I have some samples of Seroquel XR 50mg that she suggested I try instead of the instant releases which I take for sleep (25-75mg per night). So tonight I popped one instead of the instants. I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow, but I'm expecting more horrible side effects (I suppose it's better than getting my hopes up only to have them smashed).

Oh, and also ladies, if you're on an estrogen based b/c pill, it weakens the effectiveness of Lamictal. I just discovered this by reading about it tonight, with no heads up from the professionals. You still have to start your dose as slowly as anyone else, but for long term maintenance, you may need up to 2x the dose of another person your size because the estrogen pulls out the Lamictal from your body faster than normal. See the site below:

http://www.rxlist.com/lamictal-drug.htm

I know about the b/c thing but luckily, my pill isn't estrogen based, so the doctors say. Think about Lithium. It may be your wonder drug. Seroqel made me a zombie. I never want to go back to that place. Wellbutrin increases anxiety if you already have severe anxiety issues. Except for the anxiety part, I loved the energy and oomph it gave me. Chin up, Thinker, we'll get through this together.

Thanks ama. Still afraid of lithium, but I'll read up on it. Don't want to lose my WB, so maybe lith will counter the anxiety. I do hate Seroquel XR and regular. I've been awake for 3 hours and I feel like my brain's in a fog. I didn't sleep very deeply last night and it took a long while to fall asleep. Blah. It's like a long shrouded period of dullness, but not good sleep or good wake. I'm in a no woman's land of gray, although the sun is shining and I don't feel depressed, just odd. Like the creatures Ulysses sees in the cave by the river Styx...as I recall from a reading in 8th grade, although my memory is cloudy. I think I need to write an Edgar Allen Poe short story or poem.