[Eloise42]

I pretty much always go into my pdoc with a game plan because it costs to much to muck around. We upped my topamax but frankly in the year plus I've been taking it I've been depressed to the point of being totally lethargic and ineffective and I'm really sick of being sick. Technically we could still up the dose but I feel like if it was going to help it would have by now.

We talked about cycling back to Lamictal because maybe I've been off it long enough for it to be effective again because I was awesome on Lamictal. Has revisiting previously effective medications worked for anyone?

[BlackPup]

I had a bad experience with topamax too so I went back to lithium and added on some extras!!!

Good luck with it, hope the lamactil works

[onlymedid]

I have had to go back on meds before and it worked well for me. I am on topomax and it is still working for me.

[DivorcedWoman]

I'm not familiar with Topomax but I was given Abilify after I had an anxiety attack. After a few weeks I was having a hard time talking to people and having memory issues. I figured it was part of the illness and was depression but I had never in my life had these issues before. I did communicate this to my team but they did not mention changing my meds. I started dating someone and told them I was bipolar and the meds I was taking. He saw the side effects I was speaking of and talked to a friend that was a pharmacist. He said he thought it was the Abilify. I addressed the concern again with my team and I got off the Abilify and all the side effects I mentioned disappeared. I was on the it for a little over a year. I feel like I wasted a year of my life on the wrong meds so I would suggest talking to your psychiatrist and changing your meds. I'm not sure what else you are taking. I take Lithium, Lamictal, Propanolol for shaking I get on Lithium and Temazepam for sleep. Everyone's cocktail is a little different but luckily this is working really well for me.

[dragonfly2]

Lamictal saved my life. I'd say it's definitely worth giving it another try. Topomax didn't work well for me. The Lamictal doesn't completely treat my depressions, though. I've had to add Wellbutrin to the mix and it has helped. It doesn't have the tendency to trigger mania or rapid cycling like other antidepressants. Sounds like you've given the Topomax a long enough try. I hope you find some relief soon.

[Kymaro]

I dont think I've ever heard on one becoming tolarent to Lamicatal, Maybe I read that wrong. I've been on Lamictal for about 5 yrs now and have no intensions of ever going off. It has been the best medication I've used so far. A few "additions" every now and then but they all have been short term and have always stayed on Lamictal. Not personally familar with topamax so I cant really comment there.

[Eloise42]

I was on Lamictal for well over five years and I've definitely reached a point where the maximum dose of other medications was no longer effective so I don't see why Lamictal would be different. I think our bodies adjust to them eventually.

I'm always on Remeron, it's my magic bullet although I'm on %150 of the max dose because I've been on it for over ten years. And Lunesta and a benzodiazapene.

[missmoonshine]

Well, I am on venlafaxine which I have been on since I was first diagnosedll with bipolar. I have been on epilim and lithium which were ok for the mania but not the depression. I was put on mirtazipine which I hated. It made me want to sleep all day long it made me feel so ill. I carried on it for nine weeks and despite encouragement from my pdoc to continue it I couldnt do it.
Then I was so down I didnt give a **** anymore. Then was admitted to the psych unit and commenced quite rapidly onto lamotrigine its been my life savor. It was like a sudden improvement it felt likr a switch had been flicked in my brain. There are plenty of bipolar meds out there and it can take time to find the right one but its worth it when you find the right meds