[Nammu]

I know many here have been or they are on lamictal, has anyone ever gotten edema from this? I get the weirdest side effects and since coming to this crisis stabilization unit ( supposedly voluntary although I was given a choice between the hospital and here, when I wanted to go home that first day I was given a choice to stay or be sent to a hospital) it is open, as in not locked that's the big plus. I was started on latuda, lamictal, propranolol, prazine and ambien recently. They were going very slowly with the do to my past experiences with meds, the latuda helped most of the mixed symptoms but after two months I was only up to 50mg a day lamicatal and increasingly suicidal so they bumped it to 100mg and one week later they are bumping it to 200.

Yesterday my legs and feet started swelling until I looked like I was wearing puff boots. It is Listed as a rare occurrence but I'm wondering if anyone has experienced this and if it might be temporary? Also kinda wondering if the food here might be influencing this? It is typical American institutional fare, canned veggies, canned fruit, frozen mystery meat and instant foods. At home I eat stuff like quinoa, couscous, real veggies so I was wondering if maybe the change in diet might be partly responsible and this is temporary? Lamicatal is a huge hope for me but I need to get up to a dose that will start working on this depression. I really want this to work as there's not many other options. I can not take any AD or I'll go loony and straight to a locked unit for mania.

The Pdoc here said no question I'm bipolar 2, and this really is the best drug. I'm really counting on lamictal to work, I'm so disappointed. The staff here of course discounts the idea that the food is responsible, but it's all filled with sodium, I think, it's all highly processed. I'm hoping this is temporary. L

Anyone here also have xperience with deep depressive episodes but can't take AD? What helped? Any thing to give me hope would be appreciated.

[SirIsaacNippington]

Hi,

I'm sorry about your side effects -- I'm very sensitive to meds myself. Latuda gave me too much Akithisia, all though propranolol helps with that. Also, I could not commit to eating enough calories every time I took the med, it was too much trouble.

What state are you in? I'm in California. I have found hospitals to actually be better than "crisis houses" for me -- the so called "crisis house" is usually a privately owned house with a county contract, and they have been filthy and overcrowded.

I think food can definitely contribute to our illness -- it's amazing how health care institutions can provide such unhealthy food.

[wildflowerchild25]

I am med sensitive as well. I gave lamictal a shot but it blurred my vision. I was taken off after three weeks. Didn't have the edema. I also realize now being off of it that it caused severe, paralyzing anxiety. I thought that was due to my situation but since I stopped the lamictal it has returned to my "normal" general level.

As for the depression I have to rely on APs to keep me out. Seroquel worked but was too sedating. Geodon is sort of working a little bit. Pdoc wants to try invega next.

I hope you stabilize soon! They don't have unlocked crisis units where I live.

[Nammu]

This is a really nice unit, it's limited to one week and 16 people at a time. So far 95% of the staff are really great! just one bad apple in the bunch and when we complained about it they called her on her attitude! that was amazing! Never seen that happen at a hospital here. I live in Texas.

[Honeydew1]

I take Cogentan (sp), it helps with side affects. I take just 2 mg. I'm also on Geodon 40 mg and Lamitcal 100 mg. I find it interesting that you said it heighten your anxiety, wonder if that's what's causing my anxiety?
I tell you what, living two separate lives being Bipolar 2 is weird. My pdoc asked once isn't the Geodon helping you sleep? Yes, when I'm down, no when I'm up. So is it working, you tell me.
Gonna down some Cold and flu Nycel (sp). I hope it keeps me asleep until Monday when I talk with my pdoc about getting on a low dose of Serqual to help me sleep and help with my down, a Depression times.

[DarkTangles]

I never had the edema issue when I was on lamictal, but ended up coming off of it anyway because it wasn't working for me. I haven't been able to take ADs, either, for the same reason - drug induced mania - but with my recent plunge into suicidal depression, I had Brintellix added at the lowest dose with the hope that my mood stabilizer would keep the mani symptoms in check. So far, it doesn't seem to be working, though :T

Up until this recent episode, the latuda I'm on did work really well to treat the bipolar depression.

[moremi]

My legs did the same thing. I didnt notice it until I went to squat down in my closet and my legs wouldnt bend. They took me off that day.

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[moremi]

Oh and I couldnt take most antidepressants. The first one my body tolerated was pristiq. I handled it well and it worked for awhile. The worst depression I had though it was abilify that pulled me out and rather quickly.

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[MagicsMom]

It might just be temporary. Lamical has been a lifesaver for me and I've had no side effects from it. Latuda and Abilify make me manic.

High sodium diets can cause edema.

Hopefully they figure it out. That doesn't sound good.

[Nammu]

For complicated reasons I didn't get my meds fri night and my legs went back to normal today, so by tomorrow I'll find out if it was the lamictal or the food. Can't wait to get home Tuesday and eat some real food.

Thanks everyone who replied, it helps me not feel so alone in the struggle to find a balance between meds, therapy and a life.

[swheaton]

I took Lamictal for a couple of years. I didn't care for once I realized it wasn't stabilizing me.