[monochromatic]

Finally saw my pdoc today (THANK GOD), and she prescribed lamotrigine, which I am so excited about - because I'm currently not on anything except the AD, which is what made them realize I was bipolar in the first place because I'm having a bad reaction.

Question is, I remember my pdoc telling me she was starting me on 25mg, but when I got the prescription it said "take 25mg twice daily", which is essentially starting me at 50mg.

I emailed her, but she usually takes a few days to reply. Is what they put on the bottle typically what the doctor writes? Is 50 mg too high to start on? (I know about the rash).

I'm just nervous. I know none of you are doctors, but what do you think I should do?

I would take the 25 until you hear from your dr, no sense in going up faster than she would want you to go.

[Mental reward]

I started on 100. 50 twice a day. But better to be safe than sorry I think

[Zabine]

i would do 25..........

[monochromatic]

Okay, I will start with the lower dose. Hopefully she contacts me soon.

She also gave me a sample pack of abilify to take if I can't sleep. I'm googling and that seems super weird... has anyone heard of that? She told me it was basically like a tranquilizer. She told me to only take half a pill, so that'd be like, 1mg.

[nachocheese]

Abilify made my lip twitch. It drove me nuts. I have been on lamotrigine 200 mg twice a day for a few years and it does wonderfully for me. I also take restoril when i cannot sleep. I hope the lamotrigine works for you too. Best of luck!

[monochromatic]

Thank you!

My pdoc starts me on 25mg and I stay on that for a week. Then every week I raise the dose 25mg. Takes forever to titrate up, but I've had not problems with rash or other side effects.

[A Red Panda]

I did 25mg for two weeks, then 50mg for ages as both my pdoc and I were out of town at different times, and then 75mg for two weeks, and then 100mg. haha. It's been a long haul.

[AnxietyGirl916]

I started on 25 mg, then moved up to 50mg. I've been pretty stable on 50mg. She added an AD which helps. I take my Abilify at night because it makes me sleepy. I also take Klonopin for anxiety and insomnia at night.

[Rzay4]

I started that today too, my podcast said 25 mg for 2 weeks then 50 mg after that.

[Andysmom]

I started at 25 and have gone up by 25 every week. I am at 150 now I think they do it slowly because of the rash.

[SillyKitty]

I started at 25 for a week or so, then went to 50, 100, 150, 200.

[BipolaRNurse]

I wouldn't use the Abilify unless you absolutely can't sleep. It is an atypical antipsychotic, and while there's nothing wrong with taking one, you don't really want to start TWO new meds at once because if something goes sideways, you won't know which med did it (or if it's the combination). Just my two pence worth.

[BPPrincess]

I started on 25 mg and now up to 50 mg I think in a couple weeks it will be increased to 100 mg. I take my meds at night but now I'm getting these constant headaches, not too sure if they will go away or not but they are a pain in the *****.

[BipolaRNurse]

Originally Posted by BPPrincess

I started on 25 mg and now up to 50 mg I think in a couple weeks it will be increased to 100 mg. I take my meds at night but now I'm getting these constant headaches, not too sure if they will go away or not but they are a pain in the *****.

The headaches usually go away after a few days. I've gotten them every time I've titrated up, but they're only annoying....a couple of Tylenol usually do the job.

[cocoabeans]

The first time I started lamotrigine I started at 25mg and went up by 25 mg every week.

It seems I like to up and quit medication a lot. The second time I started lamotrigine, we did 50 mg/week.

I don't know if this is the third time or what but I'm starting at 50 mgs again and still worried about the rash.

[bronzeowl]

I think 25mg would be safest.

I started on 25 for one week, then 50 for another week, then 75 for two, then 100... and I'll be continuing down this path. I don't know many people who started at 50. I've heard that the rash might be related to starting high dosages too fast. Not sure how true that is or not, but I stumbled across a few web pages that said that when looking Lamictal/lamotrigine up before buying it. (I hate being an uninformed buyer!)

The headaches usually go away after a few days. I've gotten them every time I've titrated up, but they're only annoying....a couple of Tylenol usually do the job.

So Tylenol is safe to use with it? Goody! I kept forgetting to ask my doctor and those headaches sure are a pain.

[Phoenix_1]

I got my first prescription for lamictal on Thursday. The pdoc said 25 mg for 2 weeks then 50 mg for 4 weeks, then I see him again to see how I'm doing.

Another question: Morning or evening? I haven't slept the last two nights since I began taking it, so I'm switching to a morning dose. Last night I took it at 9 pm, today at 3 pm, and tomorrow I'll do 9 am. I wanted at least 18 hours between doses.

Originally Posted by Phoenix_1

I got my first prescription for lamictal on Thursday. The pdoc said 25 mg for 2 weeks then 50 mg for 4 weeks, then I see him again to see how I'm doing.

Another question: Morning or evening? I haven't slept the last two nights since I began taking it, so I'm switching to a morning dose. Last night I took it at 9 pm, today at 3 pm, and tomorrow I'll do 9 am. I wanted at least 18 hours between doses.

I take my lamictal in the morning all at once. Currently I am taking 200mg. No problems with being unable to sleep. No side effects at all actually.

[monochromatic]

I take mine in the morning and the evening. I'm now up to 100mg. It made me groggy at first, but no side effects (at least that I can tell).

[CT-615]

About a month ago (beginning of September), I finally talked with my psychiatrist regarding my anxiety, mood swings, lack of sleep, lack of focus, irritability. She said it was likely due to anxiety from my job (good office gig, but not challenging for me making it unbearable) and probably not a bi-polar disorder.

She prescribed Lamictal, 25mg to start (I am also on Focalin daily). A week in I felt like what I think a normal feels like.

She wants to continue to increase the dosage to the recommended levels, slowly.

I don't want to increase it at all. I have already traded alot of my drive and creativity for stability, and do not want to lose what I have left. My symptoms were never worse than moderate at worst.

Has anyone experienced issues with staying at a minimum dosage?

[Rainey11]

Make sure you are very aware of the rash side effect. My podcast always told me if I got a rash in my mouth to head straight to the ER. Besides that I've been on it for 13 years and it has been a lifesaver for me.

[monochromatic]

pdoc has me splitting mine. Right now i'm taking 50 morning and 50 evening.