[henrydavidtherobot]

I don't think that the Lamictal is working. It's really hard to drink on it and so I think that maybe it's a bad idea to be on it in a college town. Do you guys take medicine? What has/has not worked for you?

[BlueInanna]

I'm ok drinking on it (i think - its prob a no-no). I take it too far sometimes...Like crying spells in a nice restaurant or yelling at people. But I'm better than I used to be. I used to close down the bar, puke for hours, & hungover for days... But that was before meds & maybe a 1-2 yr period in my early 30s. I don't drink everyday.

[CantExplain]

If you do decide to come off your meds, do it gradually. I've seen people stop all their meds at once and it's not pretty.

[redfaux]

Lamictal didn't work well for me I got lethargic and had a hard time getting out of bed. Respiridone made my hormones go crazy so I got off that after a year. While I was on lamictal they put me on an antidepressant and ended up having a manic break down in the middle of the quad in college. I was on abilify for a while which I really like but we hit our deductible really early that year so when I get to get it in the new year I was sent into a panic when they wanted 500$ for it. Now I'm on welbutrin twice a day. Its cause some issues and I've been rapid cycling since I really started being good about taking it twice a day but I don't want to go back to a meds doc and it hasn't harmed anything quite at this point so I'm ok living with it for now. Though I may try to go meds free later in 2014 depending on how it goes in my new house.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

[~Christina]

If you do quit make sure you have a tool box full of coping skills and are able to actually use them when needed.

Good luck

[gayleggg]

Why don't you discuss it with your doctor. There may be other options. Of course, drinking with any of them is not a good idea. Maybe one is okay but I wouldn't drink more than that, it's bad for your liver.

[Trippin2.0]

I honestly don't think that's a good idea at all actually.

Like Christina said, you need a boatload of coping skills, and even then its not easy, trust me.

From what I've read you're not too keen on using dbt skills and you like to down the booze quite often. So I don't think quitting meds is the answer for you when you're drinking on top of a bp and bpd combo.

It can lead to bigger badder chaos among your friends, as well as using booze to self medicate.

I think you should rather speak to your pdoc about adjusting your meds, maybe lamictal isn't the one for you.

[kittlies]

I've noticed since being off lamictal, that I can't hold my alcohol like I did on it- I get out of control and embarrass myself even faster.

[henrydavidtherobot]

Thanks for the feedback. I have an appt with my P next week. In just scared to hurt my liver or be a drunk instead of a casual drinker. I don't want to stay inside and never do anything on a weekend night. Everyone here drinks. I'd get lonely.

[henrydavidtherobot]

Also, I'm trying to move over seas in two months, so I don't really have the time to try a bunch of different stuff to see what works :/

[monochromatic]

Just curious - does drinking on lamictal make alcohol more or less potent?

Also, is it supposed to reduce the effects of lamictal the next day?

TL;DR: what happens?

[Victoria'smom]

okay, When we drink (maybe 1-2x a year) I skip the lamictal that morning. I did not drink in college but I was at all the parties. Being the bar tender and DD makes people not really realize. I always made virgin drinks (The alcohol starts boiling first. If you put a thermometer in the pot as you boil, you would see the boiling start at about 185 because it's half water and half alcohol. By the time the thermometer reaches 212, all the alcohol is gone.) and label it mine I gave it to others that where too drunk too. Most of the time it tastes the same, try it.

[henrydavidtherobot]

Drinking on Lamictal is more potent.

It's not a matter of taste. It's a matter of boredom.

[~Christina]

Your drinking because your bored ???? Thats not a good thing , but you probably know this .

[Confusedinomicon]

I don't think moving in 2 months is a valid reason to give up on meds.

Is there any hobbies you can partake in?

With any psychiatric drug, reducing alcohol intake is a must. If you're drinking on a constant basis, it might be good to participate in therapy. If you aren't ready to make the commitment, that's fine, too. It helps to have a relationship with a potential support and work on other stuff before committing to anything like sobering up. You can learn how to cope with the mundane first.

Also moving to be with a love one does not fix problems. Especially if they have to work and youre alone/don't know anyone and stay online for long hours. Being proactive and getting involved will help you more. I know this from experience.

[henrydavidtherobot]

I studied abroad this summer. I had a hypo manic and then a depressive period and it was incredibly tough on me. I had to talk myself out of hurting myself. So what happens if I'm on a med that makes it worse? I won't have time to ween off one med and then build up the other in my system.

I have PLENTY of hobbies. But I'm not going to just play around by myself all of the time. People go out. To be honest, most people I've met who don't drink have been lame. I live in a college town. That's what people here do. One of the biggest problems with me is that most people are too boring for me.

I attend therapy weekly. I'm not moving to be with anyone. I'm moving for a job.

All I'm trying to do is make the best decisions with the cards I've been dealt :/

[Trippin2.0]

Originally Posted by henrydavidtherobot

People go out. To be honest, most people I've met who don't drink have been lame. I live in a college town. That's what people here do

I understand now, I'm sorry I've been so hard on you where alcohol is concerned. Maturity cannot be forced upon someone regardless of age, you have to grow into it yourself, and at your own pace.

I just hope you don't accumulate any regrets on your way there.

[steelfang]

Originally Posted by Trippin2.0

From what I've read you're not too keen on using dbt skills and you like to down the booze quite often . . .
It can lead to bigger badder chaos among your friends, as well as using booze to self medicate.

I second this. Be very careful when tapering off meds. I impulsively quit antidepressants during my first manic episode because I though I was cured. It was not pretty.

[henrydavidtherobot]

I don't think I'm immature, per say, I'd prefer to not go out and party. But, I suppose if I can't bring myself to stay in every weekend alone then maybe it's a sign of a lack of maturity, idk. I'm excited to be overseas because everything will be so exciting that I won't get bored and won't have anyone to invite me to a party.

I promise that I'll talk to my doctor first and taper off if I decide to do it.

However, being around my alcoholic family this weekend is a good reminder/wake-up call.

[Trippin2.0]

Originally Posted by henrydavidtherobot

I don't think I'm immature, per say, I'd prefer to not go out and party. But, I suppose if I can't bring myself to stay in every weekend alone then maybe it's a sign of a lack of maturity, idk.

I didn't use the word "immature" because you refuse to stay dry and alone weekends.

I used it because of your reasoning behind drinking.

I use it because you lack foresight, the "bigger picture" hasn't occurred to you yet.

* Like getting your act together while you're still young which will help you be better prepared for whatever huge-a.s.s. bipolar/borderline shyt hits the fan in future...

* Example stop or atleast tone down the frequency of the boozing and get your meds sorted before blaming them for not working. Also learning how to have sober fun because it increases impulsivity and leads to "bad" behaviour for you, which leads to rocky/painful relations between you and your friends.

I use the word "immaturity" because your main priority is fitting into a drinking culture, because according to you "drinking is all anyone does here", and that you are convinced nobody can stay sober at a party sober people are supposedly "lame" because you've met 2 of these.

Nobody is asking you stay home alone and not get invited to parties. I get invited to parties all the time and everyone knows I don't drink. I'm not even on meds, I just choose to not, except for New Years eve.

People invite me because I'm fun to hang out with, I sing and dance and hava good ole time, just as good as the friends who are drinking.

If people didn't want me around because I don't get drunk with them every weekend then they're not the type of people I want to be associated with.

I have standards

So it really wasn't meant as a jab at you or anything negative like that, its just an observation that your priorities and reasoning are not of the mature type just yet, and that's ok.
Like I said, we all get there at our own pace and on our own route.

I'm really glad you're going to speak to your dr before quitting. I remember it well, it really is no joke, especially once your body is accustomed to or dependent on a cocktail, then things can go south pretty fast, and that's WITH a truckloada coping skills.

[(JD)]

Please discuss this with your doctor first. First. If you have legitimate reasons (such as the need to drink alcohol) then it should be no problem convincing your doctor. But in any case, your doctor is the one responsible for your prescription and assumes (well, why not?) that his patient (you) is taking it according to plan. It would be unreasonable for you to go off it without the doctor's knowledge--and may be dangerous for you to do so without doctor's help.

I hope you make a good decision.