[bizi]

HI there!
fairly new to posting again here, did years ago.
Wanted to throw this question out there.
I am bp1. 53 and heading toward menopause.
Is lamictal useful in higher doses for hypomania.
Is it truly a mood stabilizer or just useful for depression?
I take 200mg a night, (pdoc thinks it is sedating)
Once last year she wanted to double it during a time when I was hypo(I refused because I thought it would be stimulating)
now recently she increased it to 100mg in the am and 200mg at night.
(We thought it might help with a low level of depression)
I have been hypo again related to a decrease in geodon. So I backed off the increased lamictal. Just taking the 200mg of lamictal.
With the increase again of geodon 80mg twice daily I have returned to a more sane life, drinking less but still on the computer alot.
I take .5mg of klonipin at night to sleep. and many other supplements/vitamins.

what do you think about lamictal?
bizi

[pirilin]

Welcome back.
Lamictal is an anticonvulsant approved for BP by the FDA.
Most people consider they are taking Lamictal, and in reality are taking Lamotrigine.
Which is the generic formulation, but it's not the same.
It has proven different in pacients with epilepsy. The intended target originally.
Whereas Lamotrigine does not prevent seizures as well as the brand name.
With that out of the way, Either one is supposed to be good for depression.
But not for a deep depression. Not for strong mania either.
I've been taking Lamotrigine for about four years and was manic 90% of the time.
I was at 200mg. Now 100mg and tapering off. I think it stopped working for me.
I'm in a 10 month depression and it didn't pull me up. I'm on Lithium now.
Still tweaking to find the right dose, but feeling better.
My opinion is that it is an antidepressant pretending to be a mood stabilizer.
I'm wary now of medications with no side effects.
Some find it sedating, some activating, it does neither for me. My .02.

[seoultous]

I love lamictal. It has been a good drug for me with few if any side effects. I have been on it for more than 7 years. I am BP2 and my episodes are depressive rather than manic. For the most part I am stable and I credit the combination of lamictal and abilify with that.

[piano97]

I always thought I got a little hypomanic everytime I increased the dose, which I don't remember but was 4 or 5 times until I got to 200.

I think it's meant for preventing depression. Won't help much with mania. Though in theory if you're a rapid cycler (I am) by preventing the depression you may be able to prevent the bounce back mania.

Either way, I've had both depressive and manic symptoms on it. And am thinking about asking MD to taper off. I asked about a month ago and he said let's wait 6 months and talk.

[wiretwister]

lamictal pulled me out of depression ... for sure ... now at 400 mg trying to stay more up than down ... so far so good ... no side effects I am aware of ...

[wiretwister]

must have double posted ... sorry

[kindachaotic]

Was a good med for me till in the throws of menopause.
First had to cut down then switched to mornings instead of nighttime coz it was messing with my sleep & bad dreams.
Now am tapering off to see how i do.
Am trying to use some natural supplements instead.

Never thought I'd try to do this but things change with age>moods...

The only experience I have with lamictal was it was very sedating for me. I would be driving, feel like I was falling and "wake up" behind the wheel. Scary! I was very physically sick at the time so maybe that contributed to my personal level of sedation. I don't know why my doctor used it (bipolar or maybe we still thought depression at that time). I didn't click well with that PDOC and didn't feel he explained things. He even got upset when I asked how it worked. I hope you get it figured out and find what works for you.

[wiretwister]

Originally Posted by ElsaMars

He even got upset when I asked how it worked. I hope you get it figured out and find what works for you.

read the paper that comes with it ... no one really knows how or why it works ...

[ComfortablyNumb5]

I see mixed things about lamictal here. Some find it stimulating and take it in the morn and others prefer to take it at night. I tried it but got mixed episodes with dysphoria from it and will never try it again while others swear by it. Meds act differently for each person.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[bizi]

Thank you all for your replies.
Hoping that I get a few more.
Have heard that some can get hypomanic with dose changes...
I too thought it did not do anything for mania.
bizi

[violetgreen]

I got so many side effects even at fairly low doses, and didn't get any positive effect that I could notice. So, I did the happy dance when my pdoc switched my meds.

[gina_re]

Originally Posted by RxQueen875

I see mixed things about lamictal here. Some find it stimulating and take it in the morn and others prefer to take it at night. I tried it but got mixed episodes with dysphoria from it and will never try it again while others swear by it. Meds act differently for each person.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It's definitely activating for me, but still not sure if I like it yet. It's been about six months...

[Shadesofdark]

For me lamictal (the real thing, not generic) is good for depression and mood swings. I take mine after eating and really have no side effects. I like it and think it makes a difference. Like anything, different folks need different amounts, for me 300+ seems to work. Your mileage may vary.

I've always read how it's good for the depressive end if things, but not much help in the other direction. Also that most (certainly not all!) find it a bit activating, if they notice anything. But. Just this week, I've come to wonder...

I missed doses a couple times, back to back. The first was my main dose, which would be lamotrigine and wellbutrin. The second day, I missed the pm dose, which is just the lamotrigine. I was noticing feeling rather driven -- an upward swing in energy and some other hypo indicators. Which is curious. It certainly wouldn't be from missing the wellbutrin(!) So maybe the lamotrigine is doing more "keeping a lid on it" than I would have thought. I don't know. Just found it curious. Will be taking notice if this was just an anomoly.

[bizi]

I had always taken the lamictal at night but also take klonipin to sleep.
I question about the 100mg in the am dose.
Since I am finally becoming more stable on the increased geodon. I am afraid to take the 100mg in the morning.
my pdoc thinks I am taking it.
I increased my geodon on my own and this upset her greatly.
I am afraid to tell her that I am not taking the 100mg in the morning dose.
Actually I have had this same pdoc for 14 years. I think I was her first bipolar patient. And I don't think she has a grasp of my meds.
I have a love hate relationship with her.
I drink too much and she thinks I am an alcoholic but am not.
AUD alcohol use disorder is all over my chart.
If I change pdocs they will see her notes and may call.
I would really like to see someone else.
bizi

[MusicLover82]

I took Lamictal for 8 years and it worked great for me until... I got the dreaded RASH!! Apparently that rash can be a sign of a deadly allergic reaction. I ended up in the hospital because the rash was so bad, my doctor put me on a high dose of STEROIDS and no replacement mood stabilizer or anything. So for the first and only time in my life and went full-blown manic! I had to be hospitalized from the steroid-induced mania. :-P Thankfully, my psychiatrist got me straightened out in three days. That being said, Lamictal is a great mood stabilizer. Just stop taking it if you develop a rash. My rash was like hives, FYI.

[otherg]

I've been on Lamictal and the generic lamotrigine. My pdoc considered the theraputic dose for mood stabilization to be 200mg. The first time around I couldn't tolerate more than 150mg of Lamictal without getting debilitating headaches. Switched to valproic acid for a few years until the generic was available. I tolerated 200mg of lamotrigine--no headaches. That worked well as a stabilizer for a couple years. Then I had a couple of weeks where I missed a dose here and there which resulted in 3 nights of no sleep and a panicked upward swing. Went up to 300mg daily--150 in the morning and 150 at night. That's been good so far, but I noticed I get very irritable if I take my morning dose even a few hours later than usual.

I take 100 mg Lamotrigine and 20 escitalopram. Works good for me. I was on 150 at one point but 100 is enough.

No side effects of any kind.

[bizi]

Thank you for responding. So it really does seem individual.
Golly should I flip a coin?
bizi
I am still running a bit hypo, on the computer way too much.

[zijax]

I have found it does nothing for rapid cycling, mania or depression associated with this sub-genre of bp. Huge weight gain and no serenity. I was on 300mg and am now slowly coming off of it because it doesn't work and is a fat drug though it claims not to be. Read up on the reviews of patients who took it and got fat. There are plenty. I'm very angry at this drug.

[bizi]

Thanks for your reply,
sorry that you feel it caused you weight gain.
I have heard others say it is weight neutral.
I have gained weight over the past 5 months because of hypomania and drinking and eating too much. Now that my meds are better increased geodon I have regained my ability to not drink and watch what I eat and have already lost 2 pounds in a couple of weeks. It will take me some time to lose these 20 pounds that I gained. I have taken lamictal for 10 years and I yo yo diets. so hard on my body.
again thanks for your reply.
bizi

[raspberrytorte]

Lamictal has been the only med I've tolerated long term. I've been on it going on five years now, though I've really had to increase the dose, from 200mg to 400mg, so if it poops out again I'll probably have to try something different. No side effects.

[bizi]

Originally Posted by raspberrytorte

Lamictal has been the only med I've tolerated long term. I've been on it going on five years now, though I've really had to increase the dose, from 200mg to 400mg, so if it poops out again I'll probably have to try something different. No side effects.

So you took it for the anti depressant effects?
bizi