 |
| FAQ/Help |
| Calendar |
| Search |
|
#1
Mar 22, 2007, 04:57 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Hi everyone
My pdoc has at last decided to switch me over to Lamictal from Epilim (sodium valproate) after much persistance from myself that Epilim is causing me a lot of weight gain, and I am not feeling good about it! He is starting me on 25mg a day and increasing over several weeks, in the meantime reducing the Epilim. Is or has anyone taken Lamictal for BP2 and how did you get on with it? Have read about the rash thing and thats its good for bipolar depression but that's it really - oh and of course it doesnt cause weight gain!! Thanks |
|
#2
Mar 22, 2007, 08:05 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
I do not know if I had spoke to you or another member, but do not fear Lamictal, I've had a huge success with it for a few years, in fact I'm at 150mgs per day. It's a great mood stabilizer (anti-seizure med) and does not cause weight gain. Depakote can cause weight gain and fatigue for some, another reason why I switched, besides other negatives.
All of this is of my own experience, and there are others here that can share their experiences. I wish you luck with this. I'm logging off, my computer is acting weird and sending me all weird warnings. Hope to be back here soon.
__________________
|
|
#3
Mar 22, 2007, 09:12 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
I have taken lamictal for years now. I take 275 mg a day. I ramped up very slowly and have never had an issue. I guess it is like any other med it works well for some and not others. It has been good for me though. Good luck with it.
__________________
 |
|
#4
Mar 22, 2007, 09:32 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Best mood stabilizer for me!
no side effects and I am losing weight while on it! I was manic after the holidays and started taking geodon to bring me back down usually I then swing too low but not this time. I thank the lamictal for that. Hope it works out for you too! bizi
__________________
lamictal 2x a day haldol 2x a day cogentin 2x a day klonipin , 1mg at night, fish oil coq10 multi vit,, vit c, at noon, tumeric, caffeine Remeron at night, zyprexa, requip2-4mg |
|
#5
Mar 22, 2007, 09:33 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Hi Babs,
I started Lamictal for bipolar II about 6 weeks ago. I am up to 100 mg a day. I feel like my moods have evened out some-I was depressed when I started taking it. I haven't felt any increase in appetite--which is a good sign to me. I hope it does something good for you and addresses your weight concerns. meta 
__________________
Bipolar disorder with very long depressions and short hypomanic episodes. I initially love the hypomanic episodes until I realize they inevitably led to terrrible depressions. I take paroxetine, lamotrogine and klonopin. |
|
#6
Mar 23, 2007, 10:48 AM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Thanks for all your positive replies. I have just got the instructions from my pdoc as follows to my GP, copy to me:-
Medication: Sertraline 100mgs mane. (havent a clue what "mane" means) Depakote SR to be reduced to 500mgs once daily and then stopped after 3 days. After a wash out period of 4 days, start on Lamictal 25mgs once daily for 2 weeks, followed by Lamictal 50mgs for another 2 weeks, followed by Lamictal 100mgs as the maintenance doseage until I am reviewed by pdoc on 14 May. He also said:- my patient is aware of the possible side effect of a rash developing during the initial stages of starting Lamictal which hopefully are reduced by the slow titrating schedule. So - does this all sound like a good starting point? I am a bit worried about continuing with Sertraline though and am not sure if he wants me to, so have phoned and left message. |
|
#7
Mar 23, 2007, 02:03 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Yeah, definately contact him/her on the Sertraline, and any other question(s) you may have. The titration of the Lamictal he or she is doing is correct, they start with 25mgs and very gradually work you up to a point (dosage) that is therapeutic for you.
I'm wishing you lots of luck,patience,healing and inner peace with this. Take care, DE
__________________
|
|
#8
Mar 23, 2007, 03:27 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Wow! I feel completly insane! I'm 600mg of Lamictal. However, this is working real well for me. No side effects at all. I too gradually increased to this amount. This is the max that should be taken. Several doctors have said that I'm the most exteme person with bpd they've ever treated. So I must take higher doses than most. I'm on a few other meds as well to properly treat me. I hate taking this handful of pills every morning to be functional and stable. But it IS worth it! Life without meds is just too destructive and unmanagable. Anyway, Lamictal is a wonderful med for those that respond well to it.
__________________
It's not how hard you fall. It's how you pick yourself up again. |
|
#9
Mar 23, 2007, 06:15 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Lamictal is a wonderful medication. I am one of the very, very few people who developed a rash with it. I want to point out the rash can occur at any time. I had been on it for over three years and was doing great when my rash started. My family Dr. was stymied and it wasn't until I went in for my normal pdoc appt that I was told it was due to Lamictal. I doubt you'll have a reaction since it happens so seldom, but definately wanted to let you know it can happen at any time during treatment.
Jan
__________________
I still dream and I still hope, therefore I can take what comes today. Jan is in Lothlorien reading 'neath a mallorn tree. My avatar and signature were created for my use only and may not be copied or used by anyone else. |
|
#10
Mar 24, 2007, 02:05 AM
|
||||
|
||||
|
this sounds like a great plan...
what do you think? bizi
__________________
lamictal 2x a day haldol 2x a day cogentin 2x a day klonipin , 1mg at night, fish oil coq10 multi vit,, vit c, at noon, tumeric, caffeine Remeron at night, zyprexa, requip2-4mg |
|
#11
Mar 24, 2007, 04:10 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
I too am on Lamictal for BPII. I started at 25mg/day at night and am up to 150mg with a stopping point of 200mg. It has taken at least 4 weeks to get up to 100mg. I also take 10mg of Lexapro and 250mg Seroquel and am happier than I have ever been. I hope the Lamictal keeps working for you.
|
|
#12
Mar 28, 2007, 04:49 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
I've been on Lamictal for bp 1 for about 6 years & just had it increased from 200 mg daily to 300 due to some breathrough depression I've been having. Been very happy with it, but I take a bunch of other stuff so it's hard to tell what is causing what result. It is a very common drug for bp.--Suzy
|
|
#13
Mar 31, 2007, 09:14 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
I am being started gradually on it too. At first it was 25mg every OTHER day for 2 weeks. Then 25mg every day for 2 weeks. I have just started taking 50mg every day for 2 weeks and will then see my pdoc again on the 12th. As you can see in my signature that I'm on many other meds too. My pdoc initially took me off of my Lexapro when she started me on the Lamictal, but I went on a horrible crying spell so she put me back on it. I guess I don't have enough Lamictal in my system yet to help with the depression part. Hope things go well for you. I'm glad to hear so many good things about it!!
__________________
Tegretol XR 800mg Geodon 240mg Lexapro 20mg Lamictal 50mg Klonopin 2mg This is the cocktail that helps keep me sane each day. |
| Reply |
This is an old thread. You probably should not post your reply to it, as the original poster is unlikely to see it.|
|
Similar Threads
|
||||
| Thread | Forum | |||
| Lamictal | Psychiatric Medications | |||
| Lamictal | Bipolar | |||
| Lamictal | Psychiatric Medications | |||
| lamictal? | Psychiatric Medications | |||
| Lamictal ?'s | Psychiatric Medications | |||
My Support Forums is the online community that was originally begun as the Psych Central Forums in 2001. It now runs as an independent self-help support group community for mental health, personality, and psychological issues and is overseen by a group of dedicated, caring volunteers from around the world.
Linear Mode
