Home Menu

Menu


Reply
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old Sep 11, 2016, 11:01 PM
Pastel Kitten's Avatar
Pastel Kitten Pastel Kitten is offline
Grand Member
 
Member Since: Oct 2015
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 972
I've been on lamictal since December, and have been taking 200mg for a few months now. I feel that the energy has been sucked out of me and I'm left with little motivation. When I do have motivation, it's not for long. I know I'm supposed to figure out how to become motivated again without relying on hypomania but I don't quite feel right like I'm too low down. Has anyone else experienced this on lamictal? My therapist thinks I need another med added on top of it. An antidepressant, maybe...? Since I'm on a mood stabilizer, it shouldn't trigger hypomania as far as I know. I just want to get back into the swing of things.
__________________
Do at least one thing you enjoy each day.

Feeling run down on lamictal

Dx: BPD, OCD, GAD, and PTSD traits
Rx: Lamictal 200mg and 0.5mg Ativan as needed



"Now I can see all the colors that you see."
Hugs from:
Fuzzybear, xRavenx

advertisement
  #2  
Old Sep 11, 2016, 11:38 PM
Coffeee Coffeee is offline
Member
 
Member Since: Jul 2016
Location: Santa cruz
Posts: 406
I take mine with abilify and I haven't noticed those side effects.
Thanks for this!
Pastel Kitten
  #3  
Old Sep 11, 2016, 11:47 PM
Rabbity9's Avatar
Rabbity9 Rabbity9 is offline
Junior Member
 
Member Since: Sep 2016
Location: The Upper Midwest
Posts: 21
Lamictal acts more like an anti-depressant that doesn't trigger mania than an actual mood stabilizer. Lamictal isn't an anti-mania drug, so I don't think it would prevent hypomania if you added an anti-depressant. I'm not a psychiatrist, but one of my closest loved ones takes lamictal, so I've done a lot of research on it. I do know that said loved one felt pretty dulled for a while, but felt a lot better when he reduced his dose, so maybe that's an option worth discussing.
Thanks for this!
Pastel Kitten
  #4  
Old Sep 12, 2016, 07:33 AM
bioChE's Avatar
bioChE bioChE is offline
Magnate
 
Member Since: Aug 2016
Location: New York
Posts: 2,075
I've not noticed that particular side effect with Lamictal. I've been on it for ten years with a combo of various ADs and APs.
__________________
Meds: Latuda, Lamictal XR, Vyvanse, Seroquel, Klonopin

Supplements: Monster Energy replacement. Also DLPA, tyrosine, glutamine, and tryptophan
Thanks for this!
Pastel Kitten
  #5  
Old Sep 12, 2016, 08:08 AM
gina_re's Avatar
gina_re gina_re is offline
Grand Magnate
 
Member Since: Jun 2012
Location: East Coast
Posts: 3,537
I was put on Lamictal when I was in the hospital last year. I don't think it has done anything for me except spend more money for another prescription.
Thanks for this!
Pastel Kitten
  #6  
Old Sep 12, 2016, 11:10 AM
Theseus Theseus is offline
Member
 
Member Since: Jan 2014
Location: USA
Posts: 164
I have little to no motivation either and am always tired. I've been on Lamictal 200 mg for 6-8 years now. Personally I think it's nastier than the literature says. Yet I am afraid to get off it (I understand it's a slow taper) for fear I may become worse and/or revert to my former self. I don't think I can blame Lamictal entirely, but I think it's part of my butt-draggin'
Thanks for this!
Pastel Kitten
  #7  
Old Sep 12, 2016, 01:02 PM
Fuzzybear's Avatar
Fuzzybear Fuzzybear is offline
Wisest Elder Ever
 
Member Since: Nov 2002
Location: Cave.
Posts: 96,637
__________________
Thanks for this!
Pastel Kitten
  #8  
Old Sep 12, 2016, 01:20 PM
scatterbrained04's Avatar
scatterbrained04 scatterbrained04 is offline
Magnate
 
Member Since: Feb 2015
Location: Ohio
Posts: 2,868
After I had been on Lamictal a couple of years, I started feeling extremely tired and low energy all the time. I'd also feel spacey after taking it. And had horrible acne. It was terrible.

Trileptal has worked out way better for me.

Also, have you had your thyroid levels checked to rule out other causes of tiredness?
Thanks for this!
Pastel Kitten
  #9  
Old Sep 12, 2016, 01:44 PM
xRavenx's Avatar
xRavenx xRavenx is offline
Magnate
 
Member Since: Jun 2016
Location: U.S.
Posts: 2,586
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pastel Kitten View Post
I've been on lamictal since December, and have been taking 200mg for a few months now. I feel that the energy has been sucked out of me and I'm left with little motivation. When I do have motivation, it's not for long. I know I'm supposed to figure out how to become motivated again without relying on hypomania but I don't quite feel right like I'm too low down. Has anyone else experienced this on lamictal? My therapist thinks I need another med added on top of it. An antidepressant, maybe...? Since I'm on a mood stabilizer, it shouldn't trigger hypomania as far as I know. I just want to get back into the swing of things.
Lamictal can be a strange medication, because it seems to affect everyone differently. Sometimes I feel low energy on Lamictal, other times I feel hypomanic, although usually it does help prevent episodes in me. Since you've been on it since December though and you still don't feel right, it definitely sounds like it's time to explore your options with your pdoc.

I see in your signature you wrote you are possibly BP2, so maybe Lamictal would be less likely to trigger hypomania in you if you've never been full-blown manic before? I made the mistake of trying to convince my pdoc once to put me on an antidepressant to help with the depression/low energy since Lamictal was not doing enough once. She was reluctant and worried it would put me into hypo/mania, but decided we could give it a try. It was the worst mistake ever. I experienced full-blown mixed mania and paranoia, so no more traditional anti-depressants for me since they can trigger mania/hypomania even with a mood stabilizer. This is just my personal experience though. Everyone is different. Hopefully your pdoc can go over the benefits and risks of various options to decide what to try. It's tricky and sometimes trial and error to determine what's best at the time.
Hugs from:
Pastel Kitten
Thanks for this!
Pastel Kitten
  #10  
Old Sep 12, 2016, 09:47 PM
Anonymous45023
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Quote:
Originally Posted by scatterbrained04 View Post
Also, have you had your thyroid levels checked to rule out other causes of tiredness?
Also good to get your vitamin D levels checked. Lots and lots of people are vitamin D deficient, and a couple of results of that can be fatigue and low mood. My level was very low, and with bringing it up (doctor's prescription for initial once a week high dosage for a few weeks, followed by daily OTC regular dosage), I did notice having more energy. (Yea!) So definitely worth checking out!

As for Lamictal, I've been taking it for 8 years and didn't notice it really affecting energy, but everyone's different. As for add-on ADs, my psych absolutely won't put me on any SSRIs (very problematic for me), but I've had welbutrin added sometimes. It's varied between none, 300 mg or 150 mg depending how things are going. Good old med adjustments )
Hugs from:
bizi
  #11  
Old Sep 13, 2016, 11:35 AM
Pastel Kitten's Avatar
Pastel Kitten Pastel Kitten is offline
Grand Member
 
Member Since: Oct 2015
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 972
Quote:
Originally Posted by xRavenx View Post
Lamictal can be a strange medication, because it seems to affect everyone differently. Sometimes I feel low energy on Lamictal, other times I feel hypomanic, although usually it does help prevent episodes in me. Since you've been on it since December though and you still don't feel right, it definitely sounds like it's time to explore your options with your pdoc.

I see in your signature you wrote you are possibly BP2, so maybe Lamictal would be less likely to trigger hypomania in you if you've never been full-blown manic before? I made the mistake of trying to convince my pdoc once to put me on an antidepressant to help with the depression/low energy since Lamictal was not doing enough once. She was reluctant and worried it would put me into hypo/mania, but decided we could give it a try. It was the worst mistake ever. I experienced full-blown mixed mania and paranoia, so no more traditional anti-depressants for me since they can trigger mania/hypomania even with a mood stabilizer. This is just my personal experience though. Everyone is different. Hopefully your pdoc can go over the benefits and risks of various options to decide what to try. It's tricky and sometimes trial and error to determine what's best at the time.
I'm so sorry to hear about your experience that sounds very frightening. No, I have never experienced full blown mania. I'm not even entirely sure if I've had true hypomanic episodes (though they sure seemed it) or if they were a result of BPD...but either way that elevated state seems so gone, like something of the distant past. My pdoc didn't know if I was bipolar anymore, after diagnosing me with BPD, because she herself never witnessed me hypomanic since I was ultra rapid cycling. I don't have a new pdoc yet and I'd really like to hear his/her opinion on the matter and hopefully get on a better med plan or have lamictal adjusted.
__________________
Do at least one thing you enjoy each day.

Feeling run down on lamictal

Dx: BPD, OCD, GAD, and PTSD traits
Rx: Lamictal 200mg and 0.5mg Ativan as needed



"Now I can see all the colors that you see."
Hugs from:
xRavenx
Thanks for this!
xRavenx
  #12  
Old Sep 13, 2016, 11:39 AM
xRavenx's Avatar
xRavenx xRavenx is offline
Magnate
 
Member Since: Jun 2016
Location: U.S.
Posts: 2,586
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pastel Kitten View Post
I'm so sorry to hear about your experience that sounds very frightening. No, I have never experienced full blown mania. I'm not even entirely sure if I've had true hypomanic episodes (though they sure seemed it) or if they were a result of BPD...but either way that elevated state seems so gone, like something of the distant past. My pdoc didn't know if I was bipolar anymore, after diagnosing me with BPD, because she herself never witnessed me hypomanic since I was ultra rapid cycling. I don't have a new pdoc yet and I'd really like to hear his/her opinion on the matter and hopefully get on a better med plan or have lamictal adjusted.
Thank you. ((HUGS)). I hope you are set up to see your new pdoc soon to address this so that you can both come up with a plan. Wishing you well.
  #13  
Old Sep 13, 2016, 04:20 PM
jmariah001's Avatar
jmariah001 jmariah001 is offline
Member
 
Member Since: Jul 2008
Location: Geneva, Ohio
Posts: 267
I am currently taking lamictal and there are days were I will literally sleep all day. Others have told me I act like a zombie when I am on it. I am on so much medicine that I don't know if it is the lamictal or a comb of meds. I will have to pay closer attention to my symptoms.
__________________
DX: BPD, Bipolar NOS, GAD, and ADHD
RX: Trintellix, Lamictal, Rexulti and Buspar
Reply
Views: 1191

attentionThis is an old thread. You probably should not post your reply to it, as the original poster is unlikely to see it.




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:21 PM.
Powered by vBulletin® — Copyright © 2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.




 

My Support Forums

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.

 

Helplines and Lifelines

The material on this site is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment provided by a qualified health care provider.

Always consult your doctor or mental health professional before trying anything you read here.