[RainyDay107]

For those on bipolar meds, this may be of interest and my apologies if this is redundant. I’ve been offline but #2 came out this afternoon:

1) There’s a new version (prior 2015) of the “Nursing 2019 Drug Handbook.” It’s available on Amazon.

I’m not a nurse but I find it extremely helpful...it goes way beyond any info you’ll find online or on the tear sheet attached to your prescription bag.):

https://www.amazon.com/Nursing2019-D...dp_ob_image_bk

2) Today, the federal government MedWatch released a new warning about Lamictal. I don’t have a link (E-mail notification), but it likely will pull up on a Google search of “Lamictal MedWatch” and “HCL” or “immune system.” I will not be going off it, but good to know.

3) Today, my psychiatrist gave me a brochure for DNA testing and it is supposed to help with determining which meds may be best and/or if your existing meds’ dosages are too high or two low.

He reminded me absolutely nothing, it seems, is private anymore (e.g., Facebook recent news). He said some of his patients do not want to take the test for privacy concerns and he respects that. I have decided to decline at this time,

I have concerns about health insurance or what drugs I “should” and “should not” be prescribed. Rock and a hard place with privacy issues, Big Pharma, DEA, insurance, etc. vs. Getting the Meds Right

I may change my mind, but not in the near future. My pdoc said I’d need to schedule a “non-Pdoc” appointment for two cheek swabs. (It’s not that OTC genetic testing sold at Walgreens, CVS, etc.)

Google “GeneSight” if interested. They even offer financing so no one “can’t afford” it.

[SorryShaped]

I took the gene test you mentioned. Cluster f*** with the insurance and they want to bill me the entire test. Not happening. I'll tell them to simply destroy all records with me in them or give me my results as payment for being in their database.

[~Christina]

Thanks so much for the info!!!

Lamictal isn’t just about the “ rash”

Yikes... That lamictal thing sounds scary. I'm on lamictal right now, but like you, I'm going to stay on it.

Here's the link for anyone interested: https://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/.../ucm605628.htm

[Shazerac]

I never took lamictal because my body will get a rash just thinking about a rash. Any med that “might” do it, will do it for me. I dont intend to bother with the genetic testing thing. I’ve tried just about every med there is and I know what works for me. The last thing I need is a test result saying I should be taking something I don’t want to take!

[Zigy]

Originally Posted by bluebicycle

Yikes... That lamictal thing sounds scary. I'm on lamictal right now, but like you, I'm going to stay on it.

Here's the link for anyone interested: https://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/.../ucm605628.htm

Scary indeed. Though I've been on in for 10 months now, up to 300. I guess, since nothing happened so far, I should be OK.

But something makes me very dizzy and it starts about 1h after I take morning meds. I suspect Lamictal. I need to talk to my doctor about lowering the doze perhaps.

I heard the gene test isn't worth it at all because it only tells you how quickly you metabolize them, not whether it'll be effective or cause certain horrendous side effects. Correct me if I'm wrong. I haven't researched it because frankly I don't care. I know what meds make me crazier, which make me pass out in the shower, and which actually work and are tolerable.

If we relatively recently found that out, imagine what else they're going to find out about the stuff we're putting in our bodies every day in the next coming years...

[Fuzzybear]

Meds do scare me.. (my rash ) I wish I could take Seroquel, but all the listed side effects.. yikes
(Sorry if this isn’t helpful - I have empathy for ... with meds)

[emgreen]

I'm on 400 mg. of Lamictal per day. While serving as a warning if certain symptoms present themselves, I wonder if the article is referring to events which are extremely rare...such as the rash? If anyone has this info I'd be glad to hear about it. I hated being on lithium because of the monthly blood tests & it's affect on kidney & liver function. It seems no matter what one takes there's a risk associated! Can't win!

[SorryShaped]

I was on 400mg lamictal for a long time. Not anymore. Most people never stop taking it. The literature and prescriber's info says something to that effect

Asians are more likely to experience Lamacil fatality. It is still rare, but I never read this.

I’m part Asian and it is hard to tell, but the psychiatrist that tried to prescribe it to me never asked race, although two of the medical centers I go to now ask.

[Unrigged64072835]

I did the GeneSight test, because my pdoc wanted to know why most meds wouldn't work for me. The fact that I couldn't metabolize a lot of them was rather interesting. Medicare paid for the whole thing, so that was useful.

I'm no longer on Lamictal because it didn't work. I didn't have any of the side effects, though.

People are different, so YMMV.

[Pookyl]

I wish I could take Lamactil. Unfortunately, it did nothing to control my mania so I was switched to Lithium.

[*Laurie*]

Originally Posted by bluebicycle

Yikes... That lamictal thing sounds scary. I'm on lamictal right now, but like you, I'm going to stay on it.

Here's the link for anyone interested: https://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/.../ucm605628.htm

WTF??