[MJLouise]

So my dad ended up passing away. He had a second annurydm burst and second stroke while still in the hospital. I’m still in the USA handling his affairs. And I need to get myself ok I can’t function like this and there’s no one else to do all this. My brother was living with my dad when this all happened and he’s very disabled-more than me. He has a genetic disability and s severe learning delay. So I’m setting him up to live with my other brother but I have to get him a case worker and get him on social security and social services. I know how to do all this but my own issues are making it to hard.

The Lithium the German PDoc put me on has been holding my head above water and I had labs done that showed my lithium level was only .3 taking 450mg. So I added another half a pill like she recommended but it started really bad insomnia. I’m not severely depressed but am still mild to moderately depressed. The insomnia has been almost a week straight so I’m wonder did any of you get insomnia when raising the dose and did it go away?

I’m thinking of sticking to 450 mg lithium and asking the dr to add lamictal instead of more lithium. I didn’t take the extra half pull of lithium yesterday (225mg) and my sleep was back to normal last night.

Anyone else experience this?
Any of you using the combo of lithium and lamictal?
-Melissa

Hi Melissa. I'm so sorry to read of your dad's passing. My condolences to you and your family. You obviously do have a lot of arrangements to handle. Funeral issues themselves can be tough to handle, but other issues on top of it is surely much tougher. But you say you know what to do. I'm so glad of that. Can your one brother handle some of the contacts with social security and social services, too?

Of course I have no idea what is causing your insomnia, but I think that the stress of everything could potentially be a part of it. Not just medications. I am not qualified to recommend medications, but a low Lithium level is something of concern. If you like the idea of adding Lamictal, do talk to your psychiatrist about it, but know that Lamictal is a medication that must be added very slowly at low doses. It is crucial to add Lamictal slowly to avoid a potential dangerous rash. Would you consider asking your psychiatrist about a temporary medication that could help with sleep? There are several possibilities that are more often helpful than low dose Lamictal. Again, such medications could just be very temporary.

I can't speak for others, but Lamictal has never helped me with sleep. Even at high doses.

If stress is your main cause of insomnia, please do what you can to also use therapeutic coping tools.

All the best

I've never taken lithium, so can't answer that, but wanted to extend my condolences on the loss of your father. Wishing you the best of luck that the things you have to do go as smoothly as possible.

[MJLouise]

Originally Posted by BirdDancer

Hi Melissa. I'm so sorry to read of your dad's passing. My condolences to you and your family. You obviously do have a lot of arrangements to handle. Funeral issues themselves can be tough to handle, but other issues on top of it is surely much tougher. But you say you know what to do. I'm so glad of that. Can your one brother handle some of the contacts with social security and social services, too?

Of course I have no idea what is causing your insomnia, but I think that the stress of everything could potentially be a part of it. Not just medications. I am not qualified to recommend medications, but a low Lithium level is something of concern. If you like the idea of adding Lamictal, do talk to your psychiatrist about it, but know that Lamictal is a medication that must be added very slowly at low doses. It is crucial to add Lamictal slowly to avoid a potential dangerous rash. Would you consider asking your psychiatrist about a temporary medication that could help with sleep? There are several possibilities that are more often helpful than low dose Lamictal. Again, such medications could just be very temporary.

I can't speak for others, but Lamictal has never helped me with sleep. Even at high doses.

If stress is your main cause of insomnia, please do what you can to also use therapeutic coping tools.

All the best

Yeah taking the extra half pill and asking for something to help me sleep is a good idea too. Especially if it’s temporary. Thanks for the idea I’m calling my dr tomorrow. My other brother the one not disabled is really overwhelmed they just had a baby and he’s 28 and has no idea who to talk to or what to do. My son had a diagnosis of autism and childhood focal epilepsy so I know the process. My son is great now 14 only very mild disabilities left he’s off of his IEP for school. Lots of hard work in speech, social skills it, pt, and staying on top of his education with tutors , private school and often homeschooling. But in the process of helping my son I’ve eorked with Resources for Accessible Living and Sovial Services. I also understand all my brothers meds and doctors. My brother just wouldn’t know where to start. But he’s willing to live with and help him with day to day life. I just have to set up his services. It could be what’s keeping me up though I do feel very overwhelmed.

I think if I get my sleep figured out I’ll be able to cope better.
Thanks for your condolences me and my dad were very close. I miss him a lot.

[downandlonely]

So sorry about your dad and all the stress you're going through.

Yes, check with your doctor. I take lamictal, and it hasn't done anything for sleep. Trazodone works well though. You can ask your doctor about it.

I would advise against getting an over the counter sleep aid. You can get them without a prescription, but some of them are way too strong. I took one once and I was groggy and falling asleep all the next day.

[Wild Coyote]

Hi Melissa,
Deepest sympathies on the loss of your father.

Lamictal can be a helpful mood stabilizer. As far as sleep is concerned, Lamictal has insomnia as a possible side-effect. I don't think my sleep pattern is worse than before Lamictal, granted my sleep pattern needs a lot of help.

I hope you will find the meds and doses most helpful to you.


WC

[jaysmotogp]

Sorry to hear about your father.
I dont take lamictal but do take lithium 900mg a day it has never effected my sleep though.

[~Christina]

I’m so sorry for your loss, such a hard difficult time

I’m guessing the situational part is most likely trashing your ability to sleep.

Lamictal has to be titrated very slowly to lessen the risk of Steven Johnson Syndrome (SJS) rash.

I would take the prescribed Lithium.

When push has come to shove and I haven’t slept for days I take a dose of NyQuil and it “ usually” gives me at least a handful of hours. They now have just the sedating med in a bottle. Maybe worth a try, not days in a row tho.

I hope your able to get things set up and things fall into place with as little trouble as possible.

[MJLouise]

Do any of you who take lithium also have severe panic snd anxiety that’s calmed by lithium? It’s been like a zen pill my anxiety is really almost gone and no anti anxiety meds have ever worked for me. The regular gen practitioner dr said it could be my anxiety how my hypomania is expressed. I talk to my pdoc again over telehealth in a few days about whether or not to stay on the higher dose of lithium. Thanks for your condolences and your input.

[Guiness187055]

I was on lithium for a few years until I went toxic at 1200mg a day due to dehydration. They pulled me off of it and the rest of my psych meds in the hospital. End result I went psychotic ended up chained to a bed and sent IP. Needless to say I don't take lithium anymore. Sorry to hear about your father.

[FriendlyJoe]

Originally Posted by Wild Coyote

Hi Melissa,
Deepest sympathies on the loss of your father.

Lamictal can be a helpful mood stabilizer. As far as sleep is concerned, Lamictal has insomnia as a possible side-effect. I don't think my sleep pattern is worse than before Lamictal, granted my sleep pattern needs a lot of help.

I hope you will find the meds and doses most helpful to you.


WC

I'm on the same med. But I feel no different than before. I'm always sad and nothing is interesting or fun anymore. Everything I use to like doesn't make me happy. Feel like I'm at a plateau in my life. Good news, got a new Dr. Out of my medical network so I'm having to pay all out of pocket. I was just disgusted by the level of care that's approved my medical insurance. I wouldn't suggest that place no matter what. Having a good Dr is key, and I even can tell im worse than I ever have been in years.

[MJLouise]

Originally Posted by Guiness187055

I was on lithium for a few years until I went toxic at 1200mg a day due to dehydration. They pulled me off of it and the rest of my psych meds in the hospital. End result I went psychotic ended up chained to a bed and sent IP. Needless to say I don't take lithium anymore. Sorry to hear about your father.

Yikes what a horrific experience!! Thanks for sharing. I’ve been monitoring my levels but will def try yo avoid dehydration. I read about that occur get but thought it was rare. My blood levels hardly anything right now at 450 mg only .3 blood level.

[~Christina]

I was borderline toxic when I dumped it I want my kidneys and thyroid to work as designed

You do have to really increase your fluid intake. I hope your Pdoc advised you on this.

Good gauge is .... your weight cut in half and than many ounces in fluids daily plus helps losing weight if that’s something helpful.

[nikon]

so sorry for your loss