[pawn78]

Quick summary.
I have always resisted my diagnosis, and I never sought treatment from a doctor, for multiple reasons.

Anyway, December 2013, I went into a depressive stage, and I realized that my Bipolar was back, and that I am going to have to deal with this the rest of my life.

In january, I started using cannabis to help stabilize my mood. At first, it worked wonders! I thought I'd found the perfect medicine! I felt good, relaxed, not as irritable, etc.

Well, after a couple months of daily use, my tolerance got ridiculous, and it was getting expensive. Not only that, but I have to go to work, and can't smoke at work, so I was basically only medicating part-time. Plus, its illegal, expensive, and I really don't like to have to smoke so often to stay "medicated".

Anyway, this is what finally led me to see a Psych. I told him about the cannabis use, and he asked, "does it help?" I replied, "yes, but only for a couple of hours, and I don't think its a good option longtime.... expensive, illegal in my state, can't take it at work, etc, etc.
The doc suggested I can keep using it, but taper it down as I taper up the Lamictal.

Anyway, tomorrow I up the Lamictal to 50 mg, and I am stopping the cannabis use also, I have already cut it way back, so I don't get heavy withdrawal symptoms. Its been great to have something that helps, but I in the past, cannabis has helped me go into manic stages, etc. So I am happy to be switching to a doctor's psychotherapy and prescription drug(s).

GOODBYE, you've been very helpful, Cannabis....hope you become a legal prescription worldwide soon.

[LacunaCoiler]

I was in the same boat you were in a while back. I had to smoke more to get it to work and help with my mood. Eventually, it got too expensive, it's illegal, and my gf wasn't going to date a pothead. I agree with you and hope that it will one day be a legal prescription at least in the U.S. it really did seem to help take the edge off my mania.

But good lock and god speed! Hopefully, you will find that Lamictal helps just as good. I'm on 200 extended release (1 pill in the morning and 1 pill at night) and it's worked wonders for me. I still get manic but it's bearable. Best of luck!

[Skitz13]

I did very well when I was smoking weed. In fact I did so well I really thought the doctors were wrong about my diagnosis. Weed was my medication but then ended up with 2 problems, BP and an addiction problem. I too have been on Lamictal for over a year now. Stopped the weed and the med is working absolute wonders for me. My hope is that it works for you too. In this world of BP we do what we need to do to survive. :hug

[pawn78]

First day coming off, not too bad. I got realty irritable and cranky around afternoon, but I'm coping ok,.. A few more weeks of ramping up the Lamictal,

[hamster-bamster]

I would not taper down cannabis until you are taking Lamictal at 100 mg at least and for a while, but if your dr suggested cross tapering and you are feeling fine, continue what you have been doing. In general, there are three ways to switch from drug A to drug B -

Discontinue A and start B
Continue A while you ramp up B and only then stop A
Taper A down and B up

Which option to choose depends on many factors, including interactions between A and B. Cannabis and Lamictal do not produce untoward interactions. I guess your pdoc simply opted for middle ground.

[Talanic]

I used to smoke before I got diagnosed. Started in 9th grade then got diagnosed and stopped when I was 18. I smoked for a lot of reasons honestly. I was dealing with a lot of nausea along with what I know now to be bipolar symptoms. It helped a decent amount. If I felt sick, mentally sick, or just a little down I'd smoke and it would help relax me. But it was honestly a gamble. 50% of the time I'd get bad depression. There was more times then I could count where I'd smoke and just end up crying and laying on the floor too depressed to move for hours. But for the other 50% of the time I'd feel much better after smoking. I was desperate to feel better at least once or twice so I kept doing it for a long time. Would smoke everyday for the most part. There where times where I would even smoke myself to oblivion where I would literally be unable to really communicate with people around me just to distract myself. But as people have said, smoking can get expensive so that was one reason why I stopped. Once I started meds my pdoc said I had to stop smoking because of the meds. So I haven't smoked in 4 years. Every now and then I still wish I could smoke a little, but hey... what can you do?

I really hope things work out for you. Meds can suck at times and I have my moments of being really pissed off about everything I have to take. But it's like what Plzsti said"

Originally Posted by Plzsti

In this world of BP we do what we need to do to survive. :hug

and at least they are designed just for people like us. Keep us posted!

[pawn78]

Originally Posted by hamster-bamster

I would not taper down cannabis until you are taking Lamictal at 100 mg at least and for a while, but if your dr suggested cross tapering and you are feeling fine, continue what you have been doing. In general, there are three ways to switch from drug A to drug B -

Discontinue A and start B
Continue A while you ramp up B and only then stop A
Taper A down and B up

Which option to choose depends on many factors, including interactions between A and B. Cannabis and Lamictal do not produce untoward interactions. I guess your pdoc simply opted for middle ground.

I agree with your advice. The main reason I stopped the cannabis so soon is that I am going into a manic phase.
Cannabis is a miracle for my depressed phase, but it is dangerous for in a manic phase!!! It has escalated my mania before and helped produce psychosis.

For January to April I was depressed and the cannabis worked great, but now I think it's not helping as much, and may even be detrimental to me in a manic phase.

Plus, I am very stable right now.

[monkeybrains21]

I used to smoke a lot. All day everyday. Went to work and school. Decent grades work was fine. I only stopped after my sister died cuz I started having severe panic attacks and there was no more reality. All I heard were sirens. Or I thought I heard sirens, don't really know. I started seeing things and hearing everything. I still hear everything. But then with the sirens I thought I heard police entering the building guns drawn and I could hear the click of them cocking their guns ready to shoot.

I did not have an addiction. I stopped on the drop. Pot didn't make me here and see things, I always could it just amplified it. I went through no withdrawal. Cigarettes on the other jab were another story. I did have that addiction but with any addiction for me I really am mind over matter. It's there I get irritable but I just like flip a switch in my head.

[pawn78]

I see my doctor June 11, by then I'll be up to 100 mg of Lamictal.

If my irritability gets worse, I can always get some more weed... Don't want to, but I am a cranky, irritable person today.., ughh.

[pawn78]

Hamster-bamster was right on, I should have planned this better, I should have not stopped until I was up to at least 100mg of lamictal.... 50 mg isn't doing squat, and I am aggravated as hell lately.

[pawn78]

This month I learned that bipolar 1 is ...
"A deadly disease in some cases, it has a 20% mortality rate. But it can be effectively treated." These are the word of myPsych.M.D.

He even "off the books" recommended I continue to take the legal risk and use cannabis, instead of taking nothing, since taking nothing is extremely risky.

It really put things into perspective for me, how serious my condition is.

[pawn78]

I think I'm going into hypomania/mixed state.
It's bearable right now, and I am really banking on the Lamictal once I get to 200 mg.

At what point should I call the doctor? Where does "light hypomania" end and "serious mania" begin?

I am not sure what the line is?

[Curiosity77]

I think if you are wondering whether your hypomania is getting serious it's time to call the doctor. The line between hypomania and mania is blurry, and even severe hypomania can put you at risk. If it gets worse you could lose control, and then you won't be able to make the call. I hope that helps.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[pawn78]

Originally Posted by Curiosity77

I think if you are wondering whether your hypomania is getting serious it's time to call the doctor. The line between hypomania and mania is blurry, and even severe hypomania can put you at risk. If it gets worse you could lose control, and then you won't be able to make the call. I hope that helps.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Actually that does help. I don't think it's serious yet, but I am noticing the signs early this cycle. In the past I wouldn't think about it at all until it was too late.

Now I am much more self-aware of my condition and symptoms,

[haleylaurel]

im in the same boat....except i can't seem to make myself want to stop smoking. i just love the relaxed feelings i experience instead of all the crazy emotions. it turns my brain off. it makes me feel so good.

but its been masking the bipolar disorder for like 2 years now...

[pawn78]

Well, I am back on the herb. I feel MUCH better, like 100 times better. But I know if I use it for too long, i will go manic, and I can't have that, so I am still planning on stopping when the Lamictal gets to 200 mg, maybe sooner.... Lamictal goes to 75 mg on Thursday.

[Espurr1989]

I had to give up weed when I had my first psychotic break about two months ago. It really scared me and I want to try to do everything I can to manage this to the best of my ability. My husband and a few of our mutual friends smoke daily, so it's pretty rough sometimes, because weed makes it to where I can interact with people without feeling like they are taking a piece of my soul with each interaction, but I know it's best for me in the long run. I am in the process of getting my diagnosis and I'm still learning about what different mood phases feel like, so I am giving up every kind of substance, aside from caffeine, which takes the edge off of the Seroquel so I can function during the day.

[wing]

The problem is, weed is still illegal and if you go back to it you open yourself up to all kinds of ramifications again...like jail or losing your job. Be patient till it's legal. And the irritability could be anything, including a mixed episode coming on. Being high could've masked those symptoms. You've been off the weed long enough to be free of it for good, stay strong and carry on!

[pawn78]

I am staying on the cannabis until the Lamictal is up to 200 mg. even my doctor suggested it's a good idea, as the cannabis helps with my mood tremendously.
It's legal for presciption in 14 states, only a matter of time...

But yeah, I am really hoping the Lamictal helps with my mood, I need a more stable medication than cannabis, so that is the plan.

[littlemiss44]

Pot helped me so much with my depression...I suffer from bp2 among other things and the depression has been hard to treat. I used weed for about a year and after a while I noticed it was making me anxious. But it helped me relax and it made me feel happy. I decided to stop using it last November because it was expensive and the anxious feelings. I know I could get my card if I wanted to but I've decided to let me psych meds do their work. I've had trouble getting out of the depression because I drank for over 20 years while suffering since I was 16. Alcohol is horrible when you suffer from bp depression and it makes it much worse. I've not drank in over 2 years and I feel so much better. I've had a hard time getting out of the depression and that is where pot helped me the most. I also think I started getting paranoid from smoking it. Who knows someday I might smoke again. I'd probably choose not to do it daily tho. I've been on lamictal for 10 years and I love it. It really helps stabilize my shifting moods. I take 200 in am and pm. I think it's good that you are using both for now till you reach a therapeutic dose. Keep up the good work. You know what's best for you.

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk

[pawn78]

Hey friends, I am just updating this thread I started. I finally quit the cannabis! At 200mg Lamictal, the irritability has finally been quelled!
I had mild withdrawal symptoms for about 48 hours, since my brain was used to swimming in cannabinoids every day for several months, but today I'm feeling much better. I am seeing my Pdoc on Monday, and I am going to request to go up to 300 mg lamotrigine. I tried 300 just to see, and it's helping BIGTIME, I don't even have any cravings today!
I am so happy, I was getting smokers cough, and draining my finances from using weed, and now I finally found something better!
Thank chemists for discovering lamotrigine!!!
My dealer will miss my cash, I'm sure, but I won't miss spending it.

Today is a good day.