[Cocosurviving]

I don't understand why I get bursts of productive energy then
most of the time I just want to lay in bed and watch tv.
I started a new med six weeks ago, I'm wonder if
it's working.

[Atypical_Disaster]

Lamictal didn't do much for me. But I've seen it work for others. It depends on the person.

[Victoria'smom]

It's the only one that has worked for me. Maybe you need a higher dose

[Cocosurviving]

A higher dose crossed my mind.

[ultramar]

Originally Posted by Cocosurviving

I don't understand why I get bursts of productive energy then
most of the time I just want to lay in bed and watch tv.
I started a new med six weeks ago, I'm wonder if
it's working.

All of this started after taking the Lamictal? You've taken it for 6 weeks now, so if that's the culprit it sounds like you've given it enough time. I'd talk to your pdoc about it, maybe it's not working out for you.

Lamictal has been by far the most successful medication I've ever taken. I never believed that a medication could truly make such a difference until I started Lamictal (started on it about 6 years ago). Granted, it doesn't help with mania, but it's been amazing for depression. Since I started taking it I don't get depressed like I used to at all.

And just as amazing? No side effects. It doesn't even seem possible, really. All of us are so different, maybe this just isn't working for how you and your brain work, plus I suspect other meds you take may affect it and vice versa.

Who knows, maybe you do need to give it more time. Or maybe it's not the medication that's making you feel this way, so hard to tell. But I'd consult your pdoc -best of luck

[ultramar]

Originally Posted by Cocosurviving

A higher dose crossed my mind.

Oh, I just saw your dose, it's pretty low. Maybe you need to give a higher dose a chance before giving up on it. My understanding is that it's not one of those meds that you can go up 100's of milligrams, I think the cut-off (for proven effectiveness) is around 250, but of course your pdoc will know best. I started on 100 and it only helped a little, the 150 I'm on now is what has been so effective.

Coco, I started Lamictal at the 25 mg. dose and built up to 100 mg over
time. It was excellent for about 4 months, then my sensitivity to drugs
caused me to react with a breakout of acne (which is characteristic of
some who cannot take that mood stabilizer).

Even at 15 mg I was pushing toward hypomania. My psychiatrist stopped
it and told me just to take aspirin.

I think Lamictal is excellent if we can take it; otherwise, it was better
for me to go on one of the older antidepressants: Prozac. With changes
in diet to accommodate a more alkaline state, that's sufficient medication
to keep everything for me stable---just 20 mg once daily.

I hope you find success with Lamictal. At six weeks you should be feeling
better, in my opinion. Check with your psychiatrist about your use and
dosage, please.

Gen

[bluemountains]

It is a great drug for me. At first I thought it wasn't so great because as my dosage increased, it seemed that I still felt the same. When I started on 200 mgs., it was like magic. All of the sudden my bad mood lifted and I felt like smiling. Some of this has calmed down; however, I suspect that my current ssri, zoloft, may be losing effectiveness If lamictal doesn't work, your pdoc may suggest abilify. This one made me sleep all of the time, but it is great for my son.
Bluemountains

[Cocosurviving]

Originally Posted by ultramar

Oh, I just saw your dose, it's pretty low. Maybe you need to give a higher dose a chance before giving up on it. My understanding is that it's not one of those meds that you can go up 100's of milligrams, I think the cut-off (for proven effectiveness) is around 250, but of course your pdoc will know best. I started on 100 and it only helped a little, the 150 I'm on now is what has been so effective.

I wondered the same abt the dosage. I'll be sure
to speak with my pdoc abt it.

Thx

[BlueInanna]

Does it make any difference what time you take it? Pdoc told me to tak it at night. Are you going down on the lithium?

Also you probably know, but you're not supposed to ever miss a dose and then double dose of lamictal or go up in dosage too fast because it can cause a lethal allergy.

I think give it some more time. 6 weeks may not be enough time to tell, since they make you go up in dosage slowly.

It made me very tired even after months, but it did help depression.

[Cocosurviving]

Originally Posted by genetic

Coco, I started Lamictal at the 25 mg. dose and built up to 100 mg over
time. It was excellent for about 4 months, then my sensitivity to drugs
caused me to react with a breakout of acne (which is characteristic of
some who cannot take that mood stabilizer).

Even at 15 mg I was pushing toward hypomania. My psychiatrist stopped
it and told me just to take aspirin.

I think Lamictal is excellent if we can take it; otherwise, it was better
for me to go on one of the older antidepressants: Prozac. With changes
in diet to accommodate a more alkaline state, that's sufficient medication
to keep everything for me stable---just 20 mg once daily.

I hope you find success with Lamictal. At six weeks you should be feeling
better, in my opinion. Check with your psychiatrist about your use and
dosage, please.

Gen

It would be nice if I were BP 2, I'm 1 and can't take
Antidepressants, before my dx I took Celexa and
went straight manic. I've tried to get my pdoc to
give me a antidepressant along w/ a MS but
she won't budge. From another poster, I believe
Lamictal's therapeutic level is 250 MG. I'll speak
with my pdoc abt it. Thx for all your help.

[skyerat]

When I first started Lamictal a year ago, I had amazing results at 200mg. After 3 months, the effect wore off. I wonder if it was a "placebo" effect? Now I'm at 600 mg and am still having mixed episodes but primarily severe depression. My pdoc says the average bp is on 4.2 meds. I have many of them and no relief. At 900 mg of lithium I began to experience profound confusion; also with seroquil. Abilify sent my hypo-mania through the roof. I am despairing of finding a med or combination of meds that will work. I haven't tried the new ones 'cuz they are so expensive and I don't have insurance. Am starting therapy again soon. That helps, some. Working with my Alanon sponsor helps too. I wish there was a magic pill that would make all this go away. I want a life; a normal life, whatever that is.

[Cocosurviving]

Originally Posted by skyerat

When I first started Lamictal a year ago, I had amazing results at 200mg. After 3 months, the effect wore off. I wonder if it was a "placebo" effect? Now I'm at 600 mg and am still having mixed episodes but primarily severe depression. My pdoc says the average bp is on 4.2 meds. I have many of them and no relief. At 900 mg of lithium I began to experience profound confusion; also with seroquil. Abilify sent my hypo-mania through the roof. I am despairing of finding a med or combination of meds that will work. I haven't tried the new ones 'cuz they are so expensive and I don't have insurance. Am starting therapy again soon. That helps, some. Working with my Alanon sponsor helps too. I wish there was a magic pill that would make all this go away. I want a life; a normal life, whatever that is.

Thx for the info, I just started 200 MG of Lamictal today.
Maybe I'll start to feel better soon. I've been so depressed
that I haven't been to church in 6 weeks. I started out on
900 MG on lithium once depression started in the winter,
it was increased to 1800 MG. it still didn't help w/ my
depression so that's were Lamictal came in to play.
I haven't tried many meds, I took one AP. I can't
take AD b/c they cause me mania. I'm banking
one Lamictal so I don't have to start over w/,another
med.

[notALICE]

I couldn't take Lamictal - and I started on 25mg & never went above that - the dreaded rash. Heard it was very good for most. It was never suggested I try Lithium, but I was wary of it anyway. Do you get any untoward side effects from Lithium Coco? My PDoc just added Trileptal, to counteract the depression. Can't take antidepressants for the same reason as Coco.

Anyone try Trileptal and if so, what was your experience?

[Cocosurviving]

Originally Posted by notALICE

I couldn't take Lamictal - and I started on 25mg & never went above that - the dreaded rash. Heard it was very good for most. It was never suggested I try Lithium, but I was wary of it anyway. Do you get any untoward side effects from Lithium Coco? My PDoc just added Trileptal, to counteract the depression. Can't take antidepressants for the same reason as Coco.

Anyone try Trileptal and if so, what was your experience?

I'm not sure abt side effects caused by Lithium yet. I was taking Risperdal
at the same it. I just stopped taking Risperdal so I'm
going to taking note of what's no longer happening.
I had the following side effects: a lot of weight gain,
cognitive dysfunctions, unable to read, forgetting how
to pronounce simple words, forget driving rules and
mixing up the gas and brake petals.

[Rainbow123]

It works very good for bipolar depression. Not so much for mania.

[~Christina]

It works well for me. I hit 150 mg and my pdoc and I decided to sit and wait for a while. I haven't needed to increase it, I have been on it for a few years.

It's the only medication I have been on that has Zero side effects.

[Cocosurviving]

Originally Posted by Rainbow123

It works very good for bipolar depression. Not so much for mania.

I heard that from another poster, what's to weird my
pdoc suggested I taper off Lithium after we know
Lamictal is working. I would be manic as heck.

[BipolaRNurse]

I've had only one depressive episode since I started Lamictal 14 months ago. However, it does nothing for my mania so I take a small dose of an AP and a benzo to deal with that end of it. Think I'm gonna have to up my meds though---we are having an early summer where I live and my whole life is in flux right now, plus I've got a $#!+ ton of energy. What could be more fun?

[anneo59]

Originally Posted by ultramar

All of this started after taking the Lamictal? You've taken it for 6 weeks now, so if that's the culprit it sounds like you've given it enough time. I'd talk to your pdoc about it, maybe it's not working out for you.

Lamictal has been by far the most successful medication I've ever taken. I never believed that a medication could truly make such a difference until I started Lamictal (started on it about 6 years ago). Granted, it doesn't help with mania, but it's been amazing for depression. Since I started taking it I don't get depressed like I used to at all.

And just as amazing? No side effects. It doesn't even seem possible, really. All of us are so different, maybe this just isn't working for how you and your brain work, plus I suspect other meds you take may affect it and vice versa.

Who knows, maybe you do need to give it more time. Or maybe it's not the medication that's making you feel this way, so hard to tell. But I'd consult your pdoc -best of luck

one of best meds ever for me, but i know not for all. good luck.

[ultramar]

Originally Posted by genetic

Coco, I started Lamictal at the 25 mg. dose and built up to 100 mg over
time. It was excellent for about 4 months, then my sensitivity to drugs
caused me to react with a breakout of acne (which is characteristic of
some who cannot take that mood stabilizer).

Even at 15 mg I was pushing toward hypomania. My psychiatrist stopped
it and told me just to take aspirin.

I think Lamictal is excellent if we can take it; otherwise, it was better
for me to go on one of the older antidepressants: Prozac. With changes
in diet to accommodate a more alkaline state, that's sufficient medication
to keep everything for me stable---just 20 mg once daily.

I hope you find success with Lamictal. At six weeks you should be feeling
better, in my opinion. Check with your psychiatrist about your use and
dosage, please.

Gen

Do you mind saying why your psychiatrist told you to take aspirin?

[sprik]

I have been taking it for yrs and yrs, and it is the only one the psy has not taken me off, hes increased it, but it has done wonders for me, I hope u get your meds figured out

[Cocosurviving]

Originally Posted by BlueInanna

Does it make any difference what time you take it? Pdoc told me to tak it at night. Are you going down on the lithium?

Also you probably know, but you're not supposed to ever miss a dose and then double dose of lamictal or go up in dosage too fast because it can cause a lethal allergy.

I think give it some more time. 6 weeks may not be enough time to tell, since they make you go up in dosage slowly.

It made me very tired even after months, but it did help depression.

I'm not going down on Lithium. And thank goodness I have
not missed a dose of Lamictal. My pdoc just started having me
take Lamictal in the morning.

[Cocosurviving]

Just spoke w/ my pdoc's nurse, she wants me to take the 200 for 1-1/2 week. Then call back if no improvement.
she will increase my dose or start me on
on something else. I prefer increasing
the dose, the thought of starting over is
unbearable.

I am new to the medication for BP (dx BP 2 rapid cycler mid Feb) . I started on 25mg of Lamictal for 2 weeks and then went up to 50mg and 2 days later I began to have severe reactions (initially thought it was a horrible case of flu) and within another 3 days i ended up fighting for my life and in the hospital for 8 days with an allergic reaction to Lamictal. Im beyond frustrated with NEVER being able to take the "miracle drug" that so many BP's rave about....and zero or very little side effects????? OMFG?!?! My question is I there ANY drug out there like it or close to it? I have been unmedicated for BP since early March. I am ADHD and currently taking 40mg of adderral and occasionally take Temazapam (10mg) to sleep... blah, completely ineffective. I think I've been manic and hypomanic with a sprinkle of depressed mixed in for 5 plus weeks now.... I WANT BP meds. Im just starting to keep a mood journal, begged my tx to include DBT in conjunction with CBT....but I need meds....Suggestions please? I can't take any until I get "medical clearances from liver specialist and internal dr after blood work on 5/17. I am so healthy otherwise (physically) that I think similar ones will be "ok'd". Thank you!