Lamictal not helping with racing thoughts

Does anyone taking lamictal still experience racing thoughts? This is one of my biggest problems. I went up to the 50mg Aug 23rd, and last night I kept having racing thoughts/intrusive thoughts, even while me and my boyfriend were intimate and it was very frustrating trying to stay in the moment with him..I even started crying because of it.

Could this be a sign my dosage needs to be higher or that I need to add something else to help with that?

It could mean you need a med change, it is always good to keep in touch with your pdoc. I take lamictal but I also take symbyax which quiets the racing thoughts (most of the time) and helps me sleep. Best bet, make a call.

took 300mg to completely stop it for me ... but I keep my xanex handy also .... hope it gets better ....

Took me at least 300mg for them to stop. 50mg is definitely a small dose but your doctor is probably slowly upping it due to SJS possibilities. Hugs.

Lamictal works more so on the depressive end of Bipolar. it never helped my racing mind.

It's very possible as your dose is being titrated up that it will relieve much of the racing mind your struggling with.

What coping skills are you using to help manage the racing thoughts?

It took 400mg to help stop mine, and it has been working quite well at that. I still have to combine it with my arsenal of mental coping skills. Most days that is enough. Sometimes you just have bad days. On those, distraction is my only friend such as PC.

Lamictal was really for my depression. If I was having problems with racing thoughts, I really needed an AP to stop that.

Yes, Lamictal mostly treats bipolar depression, not mania or the anxiety that comes with it. Usually an anti-psychotic helps with mania, or lithium or depakote. I am taking 400 mg of lamictal and am experiencing mostly mania and little to no depression.

You're on a low dosage, it could take time and an increase for it to help. I'm on Depakote and it works great for mania symptoms

Christina: Honestly I havent learned any coping skills for racing thoughts, and it hasnt been discussed in counsling yet. What do you do to cope?

I have been trying to meditate for years and the racing thoughts has been an obstacle. I dont know if this is something that is recommended or not. Sometimes I beatbox out loud or sing tunes I make up on the spot because it feels soothing but I dont know if Im just a weirdo that likes music or if it means anything lol

I make up songs all the time, and rhythms. For me, it's usually a sign of mania. But everyone is different.

Coping skills are not one size fits all , so its best to try all kinds and find out what helps you the most.

Breathing exercises are a huge help and pretty easy for most everyone to learn.
Mindfulness .. My favorite
Exercise
Yoga
Meditation...there are many types
Distractions Distractions Distractions TV shows, Silly you tube videos
Adult coloring Mandala's ..Very helpful and fun.
Any kind of hobby.
Wander your neighborhood or park taking pics camera or cell phone.
Cleaning for me is a huge help in dealing with racing mind

I enjoy doing many of the things you have listed so I guess I should basically try to do something during these times? I feel like when Im doing things, and as I said even when being intimate with my boyfriend, the racing and intrusive thoughts disrupt what Im doing making it hard to concentrate on what Im doing. Mindfulness is the key to everything really its just hard to slow things down sometimes. Thank you

Your Welcome I hope you find something that will help. Racing thoughts are just exhausting.

I am on Lamictal and it hasn't really done anything for my racing thoughts. I take a combination of that, Klonopin, and Zyprexa to calm them enough so that I can actually get to sleep at night. Everyone is different, though.