[yellow_fleurs]

Hi so I recently had a mixed episode from lexapro and was started on lamictal 25 mg, to be increased slowly. Been on it for a week, and have gone from very depressed, to euthymic for a day, to very irritable/can't sit still/increased negative thoughts for the rest of the week. I was acting hypomanic and running around doing things and talking with increased speed one of the days. I wonder if anyone has experienced something like this? Being less stable after starting on lamictal? Did it even out eventually? Thanks

[Blueberrybook]

I'm on Lamictal, and I didn't notice being more unstable starting it, but I think I was also put on Seroquel with it. What dose do you take? Side effects are different for everyone; I still get them but usually fewer than a lot of people.

[UpDownAround]

I was hypomanic for weeks when I first started it.

[Scooter9]

I cycled between manic and depressed throughout the day while I was starting it. Things stabilized once I hit 200mg - it was like night and day at that point: went from cycling to steady stable after that. It was worth it.

[yellow_fleurs]

Thanks everyone! This is the only medication I take currently. It is good to know it got better for some people, though, because I am getting discouraged!

The beginner doses don’t do a thing until you reach your therapeutic dose which is different for each person.

The start is a slow build up to prevent the allergic reaction called the lamictal rash. Too much at once can trigger it in certain people. It is a pretty serious thing, so one has to be careful at first, but it is the best stabilizer for me. I hope it does for you too for I find it has the least side effects.

[Unrigged64072835]

You're on a very small dose. It may take a while until you're on a therapeutic dose. Basically what AC2 said.

[Distorted Me]

Lamictal is the only psych drug that as worked for me so far. I went through 6 others with Depakote being the only other one I could tolerate for more than 2 weeks. Even that was fairly miserable though.

I'm at 100 mg Lamictal currently. Without a doubt I am more stable than any time in the last several years. I can't wait to get to 200-300 mg or wherever I cap out at.

[DeFyYing]

I personally didn't get any benefit from Lamictal. I titrated up to 200mg after 3 months and I was still in a mixed episode. Idk maybe I had to pair it with something else to control the mania, but I still felt depressed from the mixed episode anyway. It's a shame since everyone seems to love it

[ItsWhateverNVM]

Originally Posted by yellow_fleurs

Hi so I recently had a mixed episode from lexapro and was started on lamictal 25 mg, to be increased slowly. Been on it for a week, and have gone from very depressed, to euthymic for a day, to very irritable/can't sit still/increased negative thoughts for the rest of the week. I was acting hypomanic and running around doing things and talking with increased speed one of the days. I wonder if anyone has experienced something like this? Being less stable after starting on lamictal? Did it even out eventually? Thanks

When I start Lamictal this is exactly what happens to me. I will rapid cycle just like you have. I thought it was just me! It seems to be what the starting dose of lamictal does to me, because when I get to 200mg I'm pretty stable. I felt stable enough to think I didn't need it anymore and stopped. Made a few hypomanic mistakes after that and realized I needed to go back on my meds. Right now I'm going through the starting doses and I've been rapid cycling, but I know once I get to 200mg I'll probably be fine again. Currently I can't sit still and have negative thinking.

[UpDownAround]

I answered earlier about getting hypomanic when I started. That levelled off and it has been working great for about a year.

[Blueberrybook]

Oh, and I don't think my pdoc ever had me on that low a dose of Lamictal or if she did, she went up weekly quickly to 100 mg and later more. I finally started doing better at 300 mg for awhile, then it had to be upped to 400 mg, 200 mg twice a day.

[Pookyl]

I was trialled on Lamictal 3yrs ago for 3mths when I was extremely manic. It had no affect on it, so I was taken off it pretty quickly and put onto Lithium.

[yellow_fleurs]

Originally Posted by ItsWhateverNVM

When I start Lamictal this is exactly what happens to me. I will rapid cycle just like you have. I thought it was just me! It seems to be what the starting dose of lamictal does to me, because when I get to 200mg I'm pretty stable. I felt stable enough to think I didn't need it anymore and stopped. Made a few hypomanic mistakes after that and realized I needed to go back on my meds. Right now I'm going through the starting doses and I've been rapid cycling, but I know once I get to 200mg I'll probably be fine again. Currently I can't sit still and have negative thinking.

Thanks so much for this! It helps to know it is not just me, because it is making me feel a little crazy trying to keep up with these rapid mood shifts. My pdoc doesn't think it is related to the med and more that I recently discontinued the lexapro and it is all part of my illness. It is really difficult to be sure, but I remain hopeful that on a higher dose it will work either way. It is encouraging it helped you. Hope that you don't have to deal with the rapid cycling too long.

[yellow_fleurs]

I really appreciate all of these response and it has made me feel much less alone to hear about everyone's experiences, positive or negative. I am still shaken up from my lexapro experience which almost landed me in the hospital, so my resilience for med side effects is kind of low. Just need to focus on getting to a therapeutic dose and take it one day/mood at a time. You all are the best

[*Laurie*]

Originally Posted by AlwaysChanging2

The beginner doses don’t do a thing until you reach your therapeutic dose which is different for each person.

The start is a slow build up to prevent the allergic reaction called the lamictal rash. Too much at once can trigger it in certain people. It is a pretty serious thing, so one has to be careful at first, but it is the best stabilizer for me. I hope it does for you too for I find it has the least side effects.

This ^^^ is entirely correct.

You will most likely not feel stable until you've been on Lamictal for 4 to 6 weeks. Hang in there!

[BipolaRNurse]

I remember being very unstable when I first went on Lamictal. My moods were all over the place and one time I even texted my oldest daughter in the middle of the night saying I was going to OD. I didn't know that this was possibly a side effect of the med, I just told myself I was depressed and it was "normal". Didn't even think to call my pdoc. Funny thing was, it got better once I started titrating up, and within a few weeks I was much better. I'm sure glad I hung in there, but if I'd known then what I know now I'd have raised the alarm by calling my pdoc the next morning.

[yellow_fleurs]

Originally Posted by BipolaRNurse

I remember being very unstable when I first went on Lamictal. My moods were all over the place and one time I even texted my oldest daughter in the middle of the night saying I was going to OD. I didn't know that this was possibly a side effect of the med, I just told myself I was depressed and it was "normal". Didn't even think to call my pdoc. Funny thing was, it got better once I started titrating up, and within a few weeks I was much better. I'm sure glad I hung in there, but if I'd known then what I know now I'd have raised the alarm by calling my pdoc the next morning.

Yikes, that sounds like a bad experience. I am glad it worked for you eventually and that you stayed safe!

You can call the psychiatrist and ask for something faster acting to get your symptoms under control while you waiting for Lamactil to work.

They know what to do.

Originally Posted by key tones

You can call the psychiatrist and ask for something faster acting to get your symptoms under control while you waiting for Lamactil to work.

They know what to do.

I know....those were very long starter weeks, why would they do that? At least prescribe seroquel with it at first so that I can sleep through it.

[yellow_fleurs]

Originally Posted by key tones

You can call the psychiatrist and ask for something faster acting to get your symptoms under control while you waiting for Lamactil to work.

They know what to do.

Thanks, they ordered Klonopin PRN. Fortunately right now I don't need it, but want to have it on hand in case it gets unmanageable again.