Lamictal

~Christina · Apr 25, 2019, 12:43 AM

So as a few of you might remember i quit Latuda about 6 weeks ago now. No problem or hiccups. My brain is now working sans med

So my next will be getting off Lamictal. I take 300mg xr so I can’t just cut into pieces. Maybe just take it every other day then decrease to ever 2 days and so forth

It’s really is a seizure medication anyway.

I take doxipin for sleep at night, I take 100 mg I can always cut to 50 then zero.. I will have to watch if my hellish insomnia comes back full force , but it’s what I want to

I do not plan to discuss this with my Pdoc. Why you ask ? My Pdoc and T have never seen me off meds. I’m not foolish enough to think I do not have Bipolar. But my Pdoc will probably try to talk me out of it as expected. But it’s my life and I’m not going Willy nilly being reckless about my wanting off meds

I take a lot of medical issues meds and had another one added a couple weeks ago for my bone density test show my bones are weak. So fosomax once a week for 5 years.

I really think it’s time to just cut all meds, all these chemical I take daily. I feel my body needs a Med vacation to allow my body to adjust sans all medication.

Will I climb and crash ? It’s of course a possibility.

I have never once over the last 9 years been truly wanting off every single Med so strongly.

I am just unhealthy I have never felt so physically unhealthy.

I vacuum my house yesterday and I literally had to go to bed as I was weak as a new born kitten for 2 hours !!!!!!!!! I laid there until I finally able to actually get out of bed. I wasn’t even able to make dinner last night.

The only medications I plan to continue taking is my symbicort inhaler for my Asthma and Xanax for help sleeping.

The rest I’ll just stuff them in a drawer with all the other **** I quit taking over the last 9 years.

So yeah this is my plan , my husband will keep an eye on me if I don’t notice a change.

So yeah here I go ~

Ember_42 · Apr 25, 2019, 01:27 AM

You can get a cheap pill cutter at a pharmacy. It won't cut perfectly but it can be done. I had to do this for a while because my pdoc wouldn't prescribe a dosage that didn't require a half pill. You can half, then quarter, then every other day. Just do it slow.

sarahsweets · Apr 25, 2019, 03:16 AM

Why do you want to come off your medication?

Wander · Apr 25, 2019, 03:45 AM

It is totally understandable that you want off almost all your meds considering your physical health situation, and wanting to see what you are like off meds after so many years on them. Your body, your choice. Are you going to stagger it so you come off one med at a time? And with the Lamictal I would try and reduce as small a dose as possible week by week. Many have no issues coming off, but you sure will know if you do (SJS -rash etc). I recently had my dose bumped up 100 mg while IP. The pdoc wasn't going to wait as I was in such a bad state. Lucky for me I noticed nothing. I have also gone off it in the past 50mg (sometimes 100 mg) every week wish. I was itchy but nothing else. No one knows how you will react.

Can I ask what other meds you are coming off? Be safe. I wish you all the best and hope your physical health improves.

Apr 25, 2019, 05:44 AM

I was on 400mg of Lamictal and my pdoc said it was ok to cut the dose in half to 200mg. I've been on 200mg for about a month and all is well. Not saying it works for everybody or that you should do it, but at least reduce the dose before you do the every other day thing.

fern46 · Apr 25, 2019, 08:24 AM

I wish you all the best with this. I wish you could tell your doc and have him work with you to meet your goals. I can understand why you are making the changes you are though. Hopefully you will be able to get the physical health you desire while maintaining your mental stability. Hugs.

wildflowerchild25 · Apr 25, 2019, 09:10 AM

I thought you were med free a few years ago? Did your pdoc and T not know about that?

In any case I wish you good luck. I can understand why you feel the way you do, and I support you. You are a great friend. I hope everything work out for you! Just be careful coming off lamictal, I’ve heard it’s dangerous to go cold turkey off that led. Taking it every other day sounds like a good start.

Travelinglady · Apr 25, 2019, 09:49 AM

Yes, please taper off this drug, dear one.

Nammu · Apr 25, 2019, 10:21 AM

Totally understand. I did the opposite. I quit the lamictal about a year and a half a ago. I cut them in half, then in quarters, then spaced out the quarters. Then I could feel again, no more flatness. Glad you have your husband to watch over things, that support is important.

MickeyCheeky · Apr 25, 2019, 04:03 PM

I understand what you mean, ~Christina, and I'm so sorry that you're going through all of this!

I completely agree with what all the other wise, wonderful posters have already wisely said better than I ever could! Please DO try to back off and scale your Meds before quitting them altogether! Quitting meds altogether can be VERY dangerous for your own health! Just be careful, ok? I'm sure you will be! I'm glad you have your husband taking care of you and watching over you! From what you wrote it seems like you alread know how to act and what to do! Good for you! Be proud of yourself for that! If there are ANY PROBLEMS AT ALL or ANY PROBLEMS ARISE I'd suggest to talk to your Pdoc about all of this and see how it goes from there! Hopefully he/she will be able to help you! You're a STRONG, WONDERFUL PERSON! I PROMISE YOU THAT! PLEASE REMEMBER THAT! WISH YOU GOOD LUCK! Let us know how it goes! Sending many hugs to you, ~Christina!

~Christina · Apr 25, 2019, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ember_42

You can get a cheap pill cutter at a pharmacy. It won't cut perfectly but it can be done. I had to do this for a while because my pdoc wouldn't prescribe a dosage that didn't require a half pill. You can half, then quarter, then every other day. Just do it slow.

My Lamictal is extended release so it can’t be cut. But thanks

~Christina · Apr 25, 2019, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sarahsweets

Why do you want to come off your medication?

This isn’t a rash decision. Between my psych meds and physical illness meds I am ingesting ALOT of chemicals daily and regardless of warnings on mixing with drugs ABC. They are all going to have reactions. Having such a poly Med long list I feel indeed that I at least need a chemical break for physical body to get a freaking break.

~Christina · Apr 25, 2019, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wander

It is totally understandable that you want off almost all your meds considering your physical health situation, and wanting to see what you are like off meds after so many years on them. Your body, your choice. Are you going to stagger it so you come off one med at a time? And with the Lamictal I would try and reduce as small a dose as possible week by week. Many have no issues coming off, but you sure will know if you do (SJS -rash etc). I recently had my dose bumped up 100 mg while IP. The pdoc wasn't going to wait as I was in such a bad state. Lucky for me I noticed nothing. I have also gone off it in the past 50mg (sometimes 100 mg) every week wish. I was itchy but nothing else. No one knows how you will react.

Can I ask what other meds you are coming off? Be safe. I wish you all the best and hope your physical health improves.

My Lamictal is extended release so I can cut the actual pill back but I can come off it by take one skip one for a week or so then do every other days. The chance if SJS is almost nil coming off it.

Thanks

~Christina · Apr 25, 2019, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluebicycle

I was on 400mg of Lamictal and my pdoc said it was ok to cut the dose in half to 200mg. I've been on 200mg for about a month and all is well. Not saying it works for everybody or that you should do it, but at least reduce the dose before you do the every other day thing.

My Lamictal is 300xr so cutting is not a option , dropping dose every other day then after a bit go 3 days and so forth. Thanks

~Christina · Apr 25, 2019, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fern46

I wish you all the best with this. I wish you could tell your doc and have him work with you to meet your goals. I can understand why you are making the changes you are though. Hopefully you will be able to get the physical health you desire while maintaining your mental stability. Hugs.

Once I am off meds and the half life is passed then allowing 3-4 weeks for my brain to function sans meds is the goal. Thanks

~Christina · Apr 25, 2019, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildflowerchild25

I thought you were med free a few years ago? Did your pdoc and T not know about that?

In any case I wish you good luck. I can understand why you feel the way you do, and I support you. You are a great friend. I hope everything work out for you! Just be careful coming off lamictal, I’ve heard it’s dangerous to go cold turkey off that led. Taking it every other day sounds like a good start.

Hiya !

Yes I was Med free for almost a year and other then a few days here and there I was doing very well and physically I felt tons better, so I think it’s time for a chemical break.

Thanks for your support

~Christina · Apr 25, 2019, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Travelinglady

Yes, please taper off this drug, dear one.

Yes I agree 100% going slow is needed.

Thanks

~Christina · Apr 25, 2019, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nammu

Totally understand. I did the opposite. I quit the lamictal about a year and a half a ago. I cut them in half, then in quarters, then spaced out the quarters. Then I could feel again, no more flatness. Glad you have your husband to watch over things, that support is important.

Yes ! I want to feel again I think Lamictal is blunting me.

Thanks

~Christina · Apr 25, 2019, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MickeyCheeky

I understand what you mean, ~Christina, and I'm so sorry that you're going through all of this!

I completely agree with what all the other wise, wonderful posters have already wisely said better than I ever could! Please DO try to back off and scale your Meds before quitting them altogether! Quitting meds altogether can be VERY dangerous for your own health! Just be careful, ok? I'm sure you will be! I'm glad you have your husband taking care of you and watching over you! From what you wrote it seems like you alread know how to act and what to do! Good for you! Be proud of yourself for that! If there are ANY PROBLEMS AT ALL or ANY PROBLEMS ARISE I'd suggest to talk to your Pdoc about all of this and see how it goes from there! Hopefully he/she will be able to help you! You're a STRONG, WONDERFUL PERSON! I PROMISE YOU THAT! PLEASE REMEMBER THAT! WISH YOU GOOD LUCK! Let us know how it goes! Sending many hugs to you, ~Christina!

Thank you so much for the support Mickey

~Christina · Apr 25, 2019, 05:12 PM

Thanks everyone for the support it means a lot.

Here is the list of meds I take.

Lamictal xr 300 mg
Tenex 2 mg Qhs
Doxepin 100 mg Qhs
Xanax 1mg
Lyrica 150mg BID
Gabapentin 900 if need be.
Flexiril 10 mg BID
Atrovastain 20mg
Symbicort inhaler BID
Albuteral as needed
Enbrel 50mg injection once a week
Foxomax once a week

Plus all the vitamins : a multi, melatonin , vit D , Super B’s , calcium, magnesium, potassium, Tumeric and coral calcium.

And of course I have metabolic syndrome thanks to psych meds. Never needed a cholesterol Med until put on psych meds.

I also have a fatty liver found in a ultrasound thanks AP Weight gain.

So yes I feel for my overall health there need to be some major changes to happen and sooner rather than later.

Victoria'smom · Apr 25, 2019, 05:37 PM

I would talk to your GP to taper off the lamictal since it can't be cut. Know it'll take a while to stable out. Just hold on. We're here for you. What are you doing about your pain?

fern46 · Apr 25, 2019, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ~Christina

Once I am off meds and the half life is passed then allowing 3-4 weeks for my brain to function sans meds is the goal. Thanks

I'll be thinking good thoughts for you. I just read the list of all the meds you are on. I can imagine a break would feel freeing!

~Christina · Apr 25, 2019, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miguel'smom

I would talk to your GP to taper off the lamictal since it can't be cut. Know it'll take a while to stable out. Just hold on. We're here for you. What are you doing about your pain?

My GP altho agreed that it would be wise to get off some but when I asked him in the past he of course told me handle it with Pdoc

I only have Lyrica or very limited gabapentin for maybe twice a month for a day

Thanks