[Hashi/bipolar mom]

I've been dealing with the fallout from my last manic episode last May (finally diagnosed with BP in June). Yesterday was a big day in trying to make a decision on what consequences everything will have. I thought I was ready but obviously I'm not. I had nightmares when I did sleep last night. I've been a screaming/crying mess today. I've put my husband and son through so much and they are still sticking by me and love me. I feel like I don't deserve any of it. Instead of dealing with the consequences for the next year to two years, I just want to end it. I know that is selfish as well.

I was doing good on the 60mg of Latuda, but my legs have started bothering me. It's very uncomfortable and then you add it onto the other stress, it just magnifies everything! I feel like I'm about to have a mental breakdown. I have a call into my therapist to see if she can fit me in early this week. Also, I call into my pdoc for meds to help with the RLS.

What meds have helped you with RLS due to a drug treatment? I just needs words of encouragement right now.

[BeyondtheRainbow]

Have you been on cogentin? It's typically good for movement issues caused by meds. Propanolol can be too but since you're on clonidine that might be out for you since it's another BP med.

[Hashi/bipolar mom]

Oh, I didn't realize Propanolol was a blood pressure med as well! Hmmmm, interesting. I haven't heard of Cogentin. I've been looking at Nuerontin (Gabapentin) online. It's supposed to help plus I really need something for my joint pain. It's gotten really bad since I've been off Cymbalta. However, I take Lamictal and I think that dose would have to be adjusted if I add it since they are both epilepsy meds.

I'm just so tired of trying out meds and dealing with life!

[BeyondtheRainbow]

I don't think there is any interaction between neurontin and lamictal. Nope, I checked. So it shouldn't affect your dosing at all. It's ok to take 2 drugs from the same class. Sometimes they affect each other but they usually don't. Those two are really different with side effect profiles so that would also help them not affect each other. Depakote and lamictal require lamictal dose to be lowered b/c depakote raises the levels but that's the only interaction between anti-convulsants I can think of (and I always took them in pairs b/c I was always on Depakote when I was motoring through those drugs).

Propanolol is Inderal which I think used to be a really commonly used blood pressure med and then newer ones came out and it doesn't seem to be used nearly as often now. I'm not sure why. I took it for tremors for a long time and never had trouble with it and I usually have a really low BP so have to be careful with meds that lower that. I also remember my grandma being on it. Which means it's at least 25 years old which may be why it's not in favor so much now.

[Nammu]

I'm on the lamictal(200), propranolol(20,2X), latuda(80) combo with ambien(20) and melotoion(10) for sleep. It's working well for me.

...and synthroid for mt thyriod issues from the lithium

[Hashi/bipolar mom]

Originally Posted by BeyondtheRainbow

I don't think there is any interaction between neurontin and lamictal. Nope, I checked. So it shouldn't affect your dosing at all. It's ok to take 2 drugs from the same class. Sometimes they affect each other but they usually don't. Those two are really different with side effect profiles so that would also help them not affect each other. Depakote and lamictal require lamictal dose to be lowered b/c depakote raises the levels but that's the only interaction between anti-convulsants I can think of (and I always took them in pairs b/c I was always on Depakote when I was motoring through those drugs).

Propanolol is Inderal which I think used to be a really commonly used blood pressure med and then newer ones came out and it doesn't seem to be used nearly as often now. I'm not sure why. I took it for tremors for a long time and never had trouble with it and I usually have a really low BP so have to be careful with meds that lower that. I also remember my grandma being on it. Which means it's at least 25 years old which may be why it's not in favor so much now.

Ok you can't go IP, I need you here on the board (I know, I'm being selfish!). You are making me feel better! I'm hoping my pdoc calls back tonight and will call something in for me, because I can't be taking my husbands meds. He needs them for his essential tremors.

Oh, I also got in early tomorrow morning with the therapist. I'm sure I'll be a crying mess, pacing the floor (with my legs).

[Hashi/bipolar mom]

Originally Posted by Nammu

I'm on the lamictal(200), propranolol(20,2X), latuda(80) combo with ambien(20) and melotoion(10) for sleep. It's working well for me.
...and synthroid for mt thyriod issues from the lithium

Are you taking the Propranolol due to RLS from Latuda? I'm really liking the Latuda except for the RLS. That drives me nuts! Literally! Ambien, melotonin, etc don't help me sleep at all! Oh, and the Latuda doesn't make me sleepy either. I'm back to my Clonidine for sleep and Benadryl. Maybe the Gabapentin would help with the sleep too. Have you been on it?

[Nammu]

I take the propranolol for anxiety I don't know if the lauda causes any RLS because I stated both at the same time. It's great for anxiety far better than any benzo I was ever on.

[scatterbrained04]

Lamictal/Neurontin is a very common drug combination, so I wouldn't worry too much about needing to lower Lamictal.

[BeyondtheRainbow]

Glad to help. I'm starting to feel like I'm not going anywhere. Waiting on my pdoc to get to get to the end of her day when it is something important always feels like waiting for Christmas when you are 5.

Gabapentin made me really sleepy on a normal dose and still makes me a little sleepy (as defined by sleepy for me which isn't much) on a small dose. Most people adjust to a higher dose; I did not so I stayed sleepy. I also sent an email about my pdoc (her name starts with J and I was trying to email my friend Julia but the auto-address thing filled in my pdoc and I didn't notice) to my pdoc and also sent someone an email saying "jsa;fsdoijfasd". This is an unusual response fortunately. I just think it is funny, not trying to scare you because really and truly it was an unusual reaction.

I'm glad you reached out to your therapist. It's ok to be a mess. I just got that lecture Monday in fact .

[Hashi/bipolar mom]

Originally Posted by Nammu

I take the propranolol for anxiety I don't know if the lauda causes any RLS because I stated both at the same time. It's great for anxiety far better than any benzo I was ever on.

I wish it did that for me, but I've only taken it about 3 times and a small dose.

[Hashi/bipolar mom]

[quote=BeyondtheRainbow;4902753]Glad to help. I'm starting to feel like I'm not going anywhere. Waiting on my pdoc to get to get to the end of her day when it is something important always feels like waiting for Christmas when you are 5.

Gabapentin made me really sleepy on a normal dose and still makes me a little sleepy (as defined by sleepy for me which isn't much) on a small dose. Most people adjust to a higher dose; I did not so I stayed sleepy. I also sent an email about my pdoc (her name starts with J and I was trying to email my friend Julia but the auto-address thing filled in my pdoc and I didn't notice) to my pdoc and also sent someone an email saying "jsa;fsdoijfasd". This is an unusual response fortunately. I just think it is funny, not trying to scare you because really and truly it was an unusual reaction.

Response:

You are going IP! Everything will be fine and you'll be in good hands. We're just going to miss you on here! I guarantee Gabapentin won't make me sleepy! I've taken meds that normally knock people out and I'm wide awake. I seem to always have atypical responses to meds. Now, if that does happen, I'm going to do a "snoopy dance" and take it at night. LOL

Oh yeah, so happy to see my therapist. I LOVE HER! She is like a mother type counselor. Love that!

[BeyondtheRainbow]

I usually react the opposite of how I'm supposed to which made my gabapentin experience even more funny. I was pretty much completely out of it the whole time I had to be on a higher dose (I had a very bad akathesia after having surgery and wound up IP and that's what they used but I had to stay on it for some time, the entirety of which I was loopy). Fortunately everyone had a sense of humor about my loopiness. Maybe you'll get lucky with it. I've been on med combos that made my family dr say that he'd never seen anyone on so much of one med that was OP and awake and then he got to the 2nd high dose of sedating med and just laughed. So maybe it will make you sleepy too .

[B2008]

I'm recently diagnosed BD last November but have had issues much longer great Hubby of 8 years and 4 kids! I have had severe rls and plmd for 6 years now I've been on neurotin but and requipt but they both made me too sleepy neurotin I felt drunk only took one lol. after 2 years on the requipt my symptoms got so bad I started on it three times a day. I could barely stay awake. I take tramadol now for the past 4 years. 50 mg three times a day. The best thing about it is you don't have to wait for it to build up. Instant relief! Rls is debilitating and for me when not treated affects my mental state so badly! I hope you find relief!

No matter how small, a positive change deserves to be celebrated!

[Hashi/bipolar mom]

Originally Posted by B2008

I'm recently diagnosed BD last November but have had issues much longer great Hubby of 8 years and 4 kids! I have had severe rls and plmd for 6 years now I've been on neurotin but and requipt but they both made me too sleepy neurotin I felt drunk only took one lol. after 2 years on the requipt my symptoms got so bad I started on it three times a day. I could barely stay awake. I take tramadol now for the past 4 years. 50 mg three times a day. The best thing about it is you don't have to wait for it to build up. Instant relief! Rls is debilitating and for me when not treated affects my mental state so badly! I hope you find relief!

No matter how small, a positive change deserves to be celebrated!

My pdoc won't give me a narcotic. I can only have a small dose of Xanax as needed. I'm an alcoholic so it's too much of a risk.

[raspberrytorte]

I think you should try gabapentin. Other than making me bloated and gain ten pounds of water weight I really like it. Makes me feel very relaxed. Helps my anxiety. Better than a benzo! And it makes me sleep like a baby. Hugs, hashi!

[B2008]

I forgot tramadol was switch to the narcotics list last year. I'm an addict too, meth, but I've been clean 15 years so I guess that's why my doc is ok with my meds. You can try over the counter things like muscle rubs, Epsom salt baths before bed, no caffeine after 3 or earlier if possible. Vibrating pads were my savior when prego. The ones for your back. Even the icy hot patches I would stick on my calves. Any sleep medications made it worse like over the counters that benedryl in them as most of them do and even prescription sleep pills ambien, there was another but I forgot the name. mine is dopamine receptor related and in my whole body if yours is mild you might be able to use Otc methods for relief.

No matter how small, a positive change deserves to be celebrated!

[jacky8807]

I think high doses of neurontin do that to everybody myself included and some
Family of mine. I was straight up dumb and out of it and dropped everything in my hands lol.it went away after a while. I have been on up to 3200 daily
I hear the leg thing goes away with latuda too
Unfortunately I think some things have to just be waited out! No fun at the time though!

[Hashi/bipolar mom]

Originally Posted by raspberrytorte

I think you should try gabapentin. Other than making me bloated and gain ten pounds of water weight I really like it. Makes me feel very relaxed. Helps my anxiety. Better than a benzo! And it makes me sleep like a baby. Hugs, hashi!

Maybe it won't make me bloat since Latuda makes me dehydrated! LOL

[Ocean Swimmer]

If the Latuda is causing the rls, are you up for stopping that? Take something that helps you with minimum side effect that you can deal with. Nerountin was one of the hardest drugs I ever weaned off of in my life. Not all users are alike. But for me it was a nightmare.

[Hashi/bipolar mom]

Originally Posted by Ocean Swimmer

If the Latuda is causing the rls, are you up for stopping that? Take something that helps you with minimum side effect that you can deal with. Nerountin was one of the hardest drugs I ever weaned off of in my life. Not all users are alike. But for me it was a nightmare.

We've tried Lithium, Depakote, etc. I'm actually liking the Latuda except for this one side affect.

[raspberrytorte]

Originally Posted by Hashi/bipolar mom

Maybe it won't make me bloat since Latuda makes me dehydrated! LOL

I think you'll be fine. I'm pretty sure I'm having an abnormal side effect from it, like I'm the only person in the entire world to have weight gain on it.

And I know it's from the gabby and not seroquel because I went off the gabby for a few weeks and started deflating. Lol!

[raspberrytorte]

Originally Posted by Ocean Swimmer

If the Latuda is causing the rls, are you up for stopping that? Take something that helps you with minimum side effect that you can deal with. Nerountin was one of the hardest drugs I ever weaned off of in my life. Not all users are alike. But for me it was a nightmare.

Have you ever gone through benzo withdrawal? Was going off gabapentin comparable? I'm really worried about this.

[Hashi/bipolar mom]

It depends on the Benzo levels you have been taking. The worst weaning I had was off Cymbalta! It took me 6 months!!! It was horrible! So, my doctor called in Propranolol 30mg x 3 a day. It looks like it's more Akathisia than RLS. I read the symptoms and it does seem to be general restlessness too. Like I can't sit still. It took me 90mg through the day to head it off! The pdoc actually had the Latuda rep in her office when I called. The Latuda rep says it lasts about two weeks and then usually goes away. They said that Propranolol is the best for it. Man, I don't know if I can handle another 10 days or so! It's MISERABLE!!!!

[Disorder7]

It also depends on the length of time you've been on a benzo. It doesn't take that long to hit tolerance and start having interdose withdrawals.

If you're not taking Xanax on a regular basis, then you're smart and at least you won't have to worry about that.