[pink&grey]

I'm on day 6 of Lamictal, just 25 mg. Within about three days I swear I felt like a new person. I have not felt "normal" or stable in over a decade and realizing what it is made me realize just how sick I have been for so long. I don't want to go back there & have my hopes so high!!! I'm a better mother & person, I haven't yelled at anyone or gone to my bed for hours. I stopped crying and cursing constantly. I can tolerate myself and others. I just can't even explain how it feels to come out of that darkness after so long. My hopes are so high that this could be my life now.

Last night my throat started to hurt and the bottom of my mouth (below tongue started to ache). This morning I woke up with pain and swelling in my neck that hasn't gone away and all afternoon I've had heart palpitations. I don't know if this is something I just need to get through or if I should call the doctor. I don't want to give this medication up! I was so near death just two weeks ago.

What do you think? What should I do? I've read old posts here where people had the gland swelling, but they don't come back and follow up with what eventually happened so I don't know what the long term view is. Anyone have experience with this?

Thanks - Pink&Grey

[Nessa213]

oh wow.. I could have just about written this. Every. Word.

I've only been on Lamictal for a few days, low dose as well, and it's been like some kind of miracle for me. But I've been itching like crazy, and I've also been experiencing some mild kind of psychosis and I'm terrified that I might have to give it up.

I'm sorry, call me naive, but I WOULD take the psychosis and borderline mania than the way I was before. I know that's probably not great... but two weeks ago I was driving around sobbing thinking seriously about jumping off a bridge. I'll take THIS. Whatever THIS is.

I don't know anything about gland swelling, but I completely understand the fear behind having to give it up and my heart goes out to you.

Maybe if you call your pdoc and let them know. There may be something else you can get for that particular side effect.

[~Christina]

Best thing to do is contact your Pdoc, Not all side effects means it could be SJS (rash)

I had some odd/ quirky side effects when I first started 2+ years ago. I just went day by day with my Pdoc's blessing and things worked out fine.

Hope things work out for you

[Cocosurviving]

Wow ladies congrats! I've been on Lamictal for 7 weeks and only have a sliver of improvement. I just started 200 MG this week. I'll cross my fingers for both of you, y'all do the same for me.

Id suggest calling asap! I learned the hard way after doing minimal titration. My reaction began after having just bumped from 25-50 mg. Took the 50mg for 3 days. I thought I was getting sick with the flu. Glands were a part of a few sypmtoms I experienced. I brushed it off and by 3rd day 104.7 fever and rash set in and 5th day checked into ER for an 8 day vacation (yeah right?!) In isolation. IF it is an allergic reaction it can and effect every organ. I wish to God I could take this med because I'm with you... I too had instant benefit. Mine was a severe reaction after never having had a reaction to any sort of meds. I pray this works out for you just the way you want and need it too.

Originally Posted by pink&grey

I'm on day 6 of Lamictal, just 25 mg. Within about three days I swear I felt like a new person. I have not felt "normal" or stable in over a decade and realizing what it is made me realize just how sick I have been for so long. I don't want to go back there & have my hopes so high!!! I'm a better mother & person, I haven't yelled at anyone or gone to my bed for hours. I stopped crying and cursing constantly. I can tolerate myself and others. I just can't even explain how it feels to come out of that darkness after so long. My hopes are so high that this could be my life now.

Last night my throat started to hurt and the bottom of my mouth (below tongue started to ache). This morning I woke up with pain and swelling in my neck that hasn't gone away and all afternoon I've had heart palpitations. I don't know if this is something I just need to get through or if I should call the doctor. I don't want to give this medication up! I was so near death just two weeks ago.

What do you think? What should I do? I've read old posts here where people had the gland swelling, but they don't come back and follow up with what eventually happened so I don't know what the long term view is. Anyone have experience with this?

Thanks - Pink&Grey

Hello Pink&Grey: I'm now on 75 mg of Lamictal... 3 weeks in. I haven't had any problems at all. I would strongly encourage you to call your doctor! You may not want to go off the med. But if you can't tolerate it then that's not helpful either. There are other med's you can try.

I have the prescription information sheet I was given by my pharmacy. It does list rash as being something that should cause you to call your doctor right away, also "irregular heartbeat". These symptoms are not something you should just get through. CALL YOUR DOCTOR! Please? P.M. me if you want additional info from the prescription information sheet, although it's probably on the web...

[pink&grey]

Thank you all. It's so stupid, but these past six days have confirmed for me that I do in fact suffer from Bipolar disorder. I've been denying this for years!!! The trauma of realizing that is very much tempered by having people to talk to.

I will call my doctor and I will just pray that there is some sort of solution. I'll also try and remember to update this post down the line with my end result for others who will need to see it.

[pink&grey]

Originally Posted by Sweet Surrender

Id suggest calling asap! I learned the hard way after doing minimal titration. My reaction began after having just bumped from 25-50 mg. Took the 50mg for 3 days. I thought I was getting sick with the flu. Glands were a part of a few sypmtoms I experienced. I brushed it off and by 3rd day 104.7 fever and rash set in and 5th day checked into ER for an 8 day vacation (yeah right?!) In isolation. IF it is an allergic reaction it can and effect every organ. I wish to God I could take this med because I'm with you... I too had instant benefit. Mine was a severe reaction after never having had a reaction to any sort of meds. I pray this works out for you just the way you want and need it too.

what ended up happening for you? Have you found another med that helped you? I've never had a reaction to meds, other than going further cookoo with nuerepinephrines (sp?) Bit never anything physical.

[pink&grey]

Originally Posted by Cocosurviving

Wow ladies congrats! I've been on Lamictal for 7 weeks and only have a sliver of improvement. I just started 200 MG this week. I'll cross my fingers for both of you, y'all do the same for me.

Doing the same for you. Thanks, Coco.

Not for my BP sadly, just my ADHD right now since hospital release (UGH 3/18... too long!) My reaction was so severe it was nearly fatal. I did not have SJ's either... just everything else go wrong. Reaction damaged my liver and my liver count has to be scrutinized by my liver specialist, my internal md and my Pdoc in order to proceed with ANY course of meds for treatment of BP because most (from what I understand and the AP's as well) are processed thru the liver. (Bloodpanels on the 17th and I am dying to start trying new meds!!) I was only diagnosed in mid Feb with BP2 and ADHD. And i was just beginning to deal with my diagnosis, what it means, how it has effected every aspect of my life, etc.. and i began to feel better in just a few days on Lamictal and was SO hopeful. I relate to most of what u are saying and im so sorry you are having a hard time and dealing with the fear of not knowing if you can continue the one med you want most. I am almost 45, a mother of 3, work FT and know all I WANT is meds and I had hoped (as did my former partner--we broke up after I got out of hospital) that Lamictal was "it". Now I have no clue what I will be able to tolerate but still know there's something out there that'll work. (I am an eternal optimist.... i am also manic/hypo most of the time ) I truly hope this works out for you and that it is some anomaly.
If I can suggest something to consider, and you are able (I NEVER would've thought of this had i not, ironically run into a woman who's daughter had a reaction and had SJ and gone blind, etc... out to dinner a week after I got out of hospital) consult with an internal md not just a family practice dr if symptoms persist. They specialize in narrowing down blood work in relation to meds, food we eat, vitamins, supplements, etc... and how our bodies react and function with all we injest.
Keep us posted. I am very interested in knowing how this works out for you..sending positive thoughts your way....wishing you the best.

[UCMATH]

I've been on Lamictal since last July and I had a sore throat and really bad cough for months. My pdoc told me it was a fairly common side effect and we left it at that.

Maybe call your doc to be on the safe side?

Originally Posted by Sweet Surrender

Not for my BP sadly, just my ADHD right now since hospital release (UGH 3/18... too long!) My reaction was so severe it was nearly fatal. I did not have SJ's either... just everything else go wrong. Reaction damaged my liver and my liver count has to be scrutinized by my liver specialist, my internal md and my Pdoc in order to proceed with ANY course of meds for treatment of BP because most (from what I understand and the AP's as well) are processed thru the liver. (Bloodpanels on the 17th and I am dying to start trying new meds!!) I was only diagnosed in mid Feb with BP2 and ADHD. And i was just beginning to deal with my diagnosis, what it means, how it has effected every aspect of my life, etc.. and i began to feel better in just a few days on Lamictal and was SO hopeful. I relate to most of what u are saying and im so sorry you are having a hard time and dealing with the fear of not knowing if you can continue the one med you want most. I am almost 45, a mother of 3, work FT and know all I WANT is meds and I had hoped (as did my former partner--we broke up after I got out of hospital) that Lamictal was "it". Now I have no clue what I will be able to tolerate but still know there's something out there that'll work. (I am an eternal optimist.... i am also manic/hypo most of the time ) I truly hope this works out for you and that it is some anomaly.
If I can suggest something to consider, and you are able (I NEVER would've thought of this had i not, ironically run into a woman who's daughter had a reaction and had SJ and gone blind, etc... out to dinner a week after I got out of hospital) consult with an internal md not just a family practice dr if symptoms persist. They specialize in narrowing down blood work in relation to meds, food we eat, vitamins, supplements, etc... and how our bodies react and function with all we injest.
Keep us posted. I am very interested in knowing how this works out for you..sending positive thoughts your way....wishing you the best.

I thought your suggestion regarding the internal medicine doctor was great. Few of us would probably think of this. If you haven't already, I'd suggest posting that in the medications forum. Thanks!

I haven't visited the medications forum yet.... still trying to navigate, investigate and educate (myself) this site, bp, etc.... I will repost. Thanks for the suggestion.