[Kalliope]

<font color="purple"> </font> Good Morning everybody! I've been officially diagnosed as Bipolar recently and I wanted to meet others like myself. I wrote in the general introductions forum that I don't have any support groups near where I live so thought this would be a good place to meet others and vent when I need to.

I'm having a really good week so far ever since my doctors took me off all medications last week (Lamictol/Adderall/Seroquel). Lets just see how long this lasts before they decide to put me back on.

[agony007]

welcome to pc kalliope!!!

you've come to the right place for support. there are many great people here willing to listen, lend advise and support when you need it. though i have to admit i am little worried about the fact that you were taken off all your meds. were they not helping you at all? in any case as long as you feel well that is what counts.

-agony007

[Kalliope]

Thanks for the warm welcome agony007!

Actually, I posted on the drug questions forum asking for help regarding the meds I was on. I talked about the symptoms I was experiencing while on Lamictol/Adderall and if these symptoms are common. Nobody's responded yet, but it is a tough question if you're not a doctor. I hope that someone might have an answer for me since I can't see my pdoc till the 27th.
I'm both Bipolar/ADD and I was on Lamictol and Adderall and I started having really bad psychotic episodes (i.e. hurting myself, screaming, squirming around on the floor, crying endlessly...) so I decided to stop taking the Lamictol.

I was on Adderall in highschool and it seemed to work okay for me so when I got put back on it a month or so ago, I decided the symptoms couldn't have been caused by this med. I was already familiar with it which is why. I had little bouts of depression, sort of the same, but not nearly as bad when I was taking it in highschool.

Anywho, the worst psychotic episode happened on the 1st last Sunday night and my hubby ended up taking me to the hospital, which was my worst nightmare come to life. I stayed in a psych ward for a night and a day then was released to come back home. The doctors at the hospital speculated that the Adderall was causing these awful symptoms so weaned me off the pills. I've been just happy ever since. Of course it's only been like 5 days, but I feel better. The doctors say if I continue to get well after 2 weeks then its safe to say the Adderall was the culprit of my "episodes". Lets see how things go and wish me luck!

[bizi]

This does sound like an awful experience for you and scarey.
very glad that you are feeling better.
I have never heard of anyone having a reaction to lamictal like this...were you started on the smallest dose and being titrated up? what dose were you on?
lamictal is such a good mood stabilizer,(anti-depressant qualities as well) I wish it had worked out for you. Ask your pdoc about it again, jsut a suggestion.
It too worries me that you are off all your meds.
hang in there and keep us posted.
bizi

[DoubtingThomasina]

Welcome to the Newbie club...I recommend the post "The first 48 hours of Bipolar Disorder" ...insightful...very insightful...

[Kalliope]

Thanks for your support Bizi and DoubtingThomasina.
To answer your question Bizi, I started out on 25mg of Lamictol and never progressed from there. I started out taking just 1 tablet/night for about a week then was told to start taking 1 tablet in the morning and 1 again at night. So I kept this up for a couple weeks until I started having really terrible manic depressive episodes, usually at night. This started the day before I started taking the Adderall but it worsened when I was on Adderall. It's weird, because after I stopped taking these medications, I've returned back to my happy self again.
A counselor I'm seeing asked me how sure am I that I'm even Bipolar. I told her I had several professional opinions that I am and since it's usually hereditary, and my dad has Bipolar/ADD, it's very likely I've developed it too. Right now I feel very manic (i.e. rapid speech, can't sit still, can't wait to go back out shopping...). I'm happy now but I'm dreading the day I fall back down again.

Thank you DoubtingThomasina for your request to check out the post you mentioned. I can't wait to see it! Please take care of yourselves!