[clow]

I've been taking Zyprexa for about a year now. I was originally put on it to stabilize from what my pdoc said was a bipolar mixed state. I don't think that was actually it. I think I was really in a benzo freakout after having a nervous breakdown after ambien withdrawal and days of not sleeping. Then came the ativan and then I turned into a complete and utter mess. Anyway, zyprexa stabilized me, but definitely not nearly who I was. Besides the million side effects, I really can't think like I used to and have little to no emotion, save my anxiety which is somewhat blunted. So... I'd like to get off it, but I'm afraid I'm stuck on it for life. I'm down from 10mg of zyprexa to 2.5 and the cognitive effects are somewhat better, but definitely still there. So, my pdoc suggested we titrate up on lamictal over a month and then discontinue the zyprexa. However, I've read a lot of forum posts about lamictal having terrible cognitive effects. Now I am terrified. I don't know if I should live with the devil that I know.

I'm a programmer by trade and I'm trying desperately to concentrate through the fog that is my mind now. I am in a new job and am terrified of failing. There is no backup plan.

In my mind originally I'd imagined I'd get on the lamictal, off the zyprexa, get rid of the thousand terrible side-effects of the antipsychotic and get back to myself with the goal of eventually getting off the lamictal as well. Now I am imagining starting the lamictal, combined with the zyprexa and turning into an even bigger mess than I am now. If this happens I am screwed.

Please help.

[Gixxer06]

Hey clow welcome to the site. I am new to this as well. From my experience Lamictal has not had any cognitive defects with it. I am on 100mg twice a day and it seems my cognitive defects from before are improved. I am now starting zyprexa becuase i still have numerous cognitive deficits. How was your experieince with zyprexa. did it help with cognitive function? what were the major side effects?

Originally Posted by clow

I've been taking Zyprexa for about a year now. I was originally put on it to stabilize from what my pdoc said was a bipolar mixed state. I don't think that was actually it. I think I was really in a benzo freakout after having a nervous breakdown after ambien withdrawal and days of not sleeping. Then came the ativan and then I turned into a complete and utter mess. Anyway, zyprexa stabilized me, but definitely not nearly who I was. Besides the million side effects, I really can't think like I used to and have little to no emotion, save my anxiety which is somewhat blunted. So... I'd like to get off it, but I'm afraid I'm stuck on it for life. I'm down from 10mg of zyprexa to 2.5 and the cognitive effects are somewhat better, but definitely still there. So, my pdoc suggested we titrate up on lamictal over a month and then discontinue the zyprexa. However, I've read a lot of forum posts about lamictal having terrible cognitive effects. Now I am terrified. I don't know if I should live with the devil that I know.

I'm a programmer by trade and I'm trying desperately to concentrate through the fog that is my mind now. I am in a new job and am terrified of failing. There is no backup plan.

In my mind originally I'd imagined I'd get on the lamictal, off the zyprexa, get rid of the thousand terrible side-effects of the antipsychotic and get back to myself with the goal of eventually getting off the lamictal as well. Now I am imagining starting the lamictal, combined with the zyprexa and turning into an even bigger mess than I am now. If this happens I am screwed.

Please help.

___________________________________________

I think your psychiatrist must feel that you are much better to be willing
to stop Zyprexa; that's great.

Lamictal is an excellent medication, in my view. And your psychiatrist is
going to titrate your dosage probably to 100 mg. per day which is the
standard dosage. If, along the way while you are increasing the dosage,
you feel that you are maintaining 100% effectiveness with memory, why
not ask your psychiatrist to hold you at that point?

I found that I functioned just fine on a much lower dosage than the
daily recommended amount. You might, too; it's worth talking to your
psychiatrist about, in my view.

Remember that the best way to manage this illness in my view is to take
a pro-active role in our health care. Changes in our diet make a big
difference; for example, eliminating caffeine, chocolate, and sugar made
a big, big difference in my alertness and sensitivity. Getting a sufficient
amount of sleep at regular intervals is a real necessity in caring for ourselves
in this illness.

I think you will probably find it one of the best medications out there; I hope
so, and I hope you will be very active in watching your diet, getting your
sleep and exercise.

Good wishes.

[wotchermuggle]

When I was on Lamictal (lamotrigine) I had issues with being able to find the right words to the simplest things.

An example would be that when I was on vacation, I saw a beaver on the side of the road. I tried to tell my mom about the beaver but I couldn't recall the word "beaver". My mind searched other terms (rat, dog, cat, etc) but I knew they weren't the right word.

It wasn't terrible in that it affected my everyday life to the point I would stop taking the meds.