[Cimarron]

I was wondering if maybe Lamictal is not going to work for me. I've been taking 150 mg for years along with 1000 mg of Depakote. Had my ups and downs. Went off Depakote and upped Lamictal to 200mg because of suicidal depressive episode. Been at 200mg for 2 weeks and I'm now in the worst depression of my life. I'm worried because this med. seems to be a miracle for almost everyone. I can't even function well enough to take care of my little boy. Just wondering if I can go up in my dose or do I have to wait longer for the increase to kick in. I'm really suffering and losing all hope of feeling better.

[sadgirlsdontcry]

first of all, i'm sorry you're suffering.

it was the same thing for me. i got so horribly depressed (i was taking lamictal alone for about 6 months) and i just couldn't take it so i went off, haven't gotten any new meds ever since.
it's been almost a year off my meds now and i do feel like i should go back to my psych and work out a solution but i don't know, i'd rather be crazy than depressed aha

maybe you could try other meds? talk to your doctor and work out a solution that'll actually help you.

[wildflowerchild25]

Just because it works for others doesn't mean it will work for you. I would explore the possibility of other meds or maybe adding an antidepressant if you can take them. I couldn't take lamictal due to side effects and I was disappointed as well.

[Cimarron]

Thanks so much for your replies. I'm going to see the Doctor tomorrow.

[Cimarron]

Originally Posted by sadgirlsdontcry

first of all, i'm sorry you're suffering.

it was the same thing for me. i got so horribly depressed (i was taking lamictal alone for about 6 months) and i just couldn't take it so i went off, haven't gotten any new meds ever since.
it's been almost a year off my meds now and i do feel like i should go back to my psych and work out a solution but i don't know, i'd rather be crazy than depressed aha

maybe you could try other meds? talk to your doctor and work out a solution that'll actually help you.

I'd rather be crazy then depressed too. My husband wouldn't agree of course...ha ha! Being depressed is such a horrible feeling. I look yucky too. No one wants to be around a yucky sad person. I don't even want to be around myself. I shall see what tomorrow brings.

[*Laurie*]

I'm glad you're seeing your doc tomorrow. Yes, Lamictal works for a lot of people. It didn't do a thing for me.

[Rose76]

Lamictal did nothing for me. I'm not sure if I ever tried depakote. I would suggest you give up on stuff that is not working. I would further suggest that you give up, for now, on meds directed at bipolar disorder. Start trying meds specifically aimed at depression. I know they say antidepressives can trigger mania, but depression is so painful, it's worth the risk, IMHO.

Tricylics work for me. Also Remeron (mirtazepine), which is chemically similar. (It's a quadricyclic.) Not that any drug us a cure. But amitriptyline made a dramatic improvement, even though I was convinced it wouldn't help.

I believe that most people with depression have something going on other than inside the brain's neurochemistry. I believe that most depressed people have an approach to life that is not working for them. A lot of the components of that may be things that you literally can't change . . . things that have become hard-wired. But see what you could change . . . some circumstance that you could alter. For instance, I learned that I could feel a lot better by not working nights.

There may be some responsibility that you need to let go of. Of course, I know you do need to care for your child. Maybe there is something else you could give up. Or maybe you need to add something. Going back to school greatly helped me a few times. (I went in and out of school a lot.)

As for Lamictal, it, together with Lexapro and Depakote, caused me to become physically off-balance. In fact, I fell twice -- hard falls, too, and hit my head both times. I have bruise ribs from the one on June 6 -- 8-9 weeks later I still take Ibuprofen to sleep at night due to the pain. The pain is down from a +7 to about a +2 on a scale of 0-10.

I felt like the off-balance walking was old age -- I'm 75 -- but guess swat? It's not. Now that I'm off those, I walk pretty darn fine for my age. I do chair yoga, standing yoga, and lift hand weights, too. I started weights at 2 lbs. Now I am up to 7lbs in some moves. I have a nice row of little colorful weights lined up against my wall. I love weight lifting!!!! Very "uplifting" -- ha ha ha . Pun intended. I'm on Latuda. Not sure how well it's working. Will see my new pdoc next week. My problem with the others has been extreme HYPOmania. Not full blown mania.

I have ordered a book called Dr. Weininger's Anger Workout Book. I saw a copy of it at the psych ward library. Hope it works well for controlling my rages and irritation. I've been fine the last 1-1/2 days.....

[Unrigged64072835]

I liked Lamictal because it didn't give me that many side effects, but it wasn't controlling my moods that much. Bodies work differently with different medications. I'm on Latuda now and it seems to be okay.

[Cocosurviving]

I started Lamictal 400 mg a few years ago and it helped my depression. But the following year SAD was back. Last year I was tapered off it and put on Zoloft. I take a mood stabilizer and a AP too.

[Cimarron]

Thanks for all your responses. I started Lithium yesterday. I'm starting to feel better. Maybe the Lamictal kicked in or the idea that I finally decided to try Lithium has given me hope for stability.

Rose76 I agree that with depression their could be something going on other than inside the brain's neurochemistry. For me there is a ton going on and there ale=ways has been. My Pdoc always asks if there is any significant change or major event going on in my life that is causing me distress and I say no. If something did change I know I would feel better.

[jmariah001]

I take 200 mgs a day of lamictal. I was at 100 but I was also on depakote. I was taken off depakote because of side effects. My doc then raised the lamictal to 200. I am not sure if it is working good or not, I feel myself slipping a little. I use to been on 4 psych meds now I only take 2. Lamictal and paxil. I have only been on these two meds for a month. We'll see what happens.

[xRavenx]

Lamictal is a hit or miss for a lot of people. I take 400 mg, because 200 mg just wasn't cutting it anymore. For me, it has no side effects, which is important to me. As far as mood stabilization goes though, while it keeps me more level than how I'd be feeling otherwise, I still get episodes on it where my antipsychotic meds need to be upped.

I do know that Lamictal took me a while to take effect, and it has such a long tapering process. I hope you continue to feel better.