[menmymania]

I'm coming down off of a mania streak the last few months and the pdoc gave me Lamictal, been on it a few weeks and my headaches are like a knife splitting my brain, lasts for 2-3 seconds several times a day. Ughhh! I'm used to Mania highs and craziness, now I'm coming down and feel depressed today. No energy, tired, had panic attack in my sleep last night woke up and took xanax. Ughhh again, this is so hard! I don't like destroying my life with mania but the lows are sooo low my body doesnt want to get it together today.

Help!

[gardenergirl]

Originally Posted by menmymania

I'm coming down off of a mania streak the last few months and the pdoc gave me Lamictal, been on it a few weeks and my headaches are like a knife splitting my brain, lasts for 2-3 seconds several times a day. Ughhh! I'm used to Mania highs and craziness, now I'm coming down and feel depressed today. No energy, tired, had panic attack in my sleep last night woke up and took xanax. Ughhh again, this is so hard! I don't like destroying my life with mania but the lows are sooo low my body doesnt want to get it together today.

Help!

I'm sorry you're suffering right now. When I was on Lamictal, I had those headaches for about a week or two, then they went away. They would come back with each dose increase, but again, they went away fairly quickly.

good luck

gg

[theama]

Headaches is a common side effect with lamictal; I don't know about panic attacks though (I feel for you btw, panic attacks are horrible). Lamictal should take care of some of your depression, but it does nothing for your mania; it only works on depression.

I've been on Lamictal for two months, and after only two weeks I had significantly improved - I went from being a suicidal and paranoid mess to being well.. almost normal! I'm also extremely tired though, I know some others who have had the same reaction to Lamictal - I have pretty much zero energy these days. My doctor couldn't help me with that, so I'm popping herbal suppliments but it doesn't seem to be helping.

But those things vary from person to person, and you will have to endure 2-6 months of upping the dosage, and then you can see if it's at all helping you.
You should have a doctors appointment again pretty soon if you've just started, talk to him/her about the things you've experienced. If the medication isn't helping you, then there's no reason to continue taking it - but talk to your doctor about that. Finding the right medication takes ages.

[Direction]

I see that you are new to PC...are you still reading responses...it took a lot to ask and post for the first time...

I am taking lamictal...I don't remember headaches; however, I had severe body aches...so sore I could only lightly sit on the edge of my bed...

Lamictal is helpful in many ways...hopefully you have seen some information about it here at PC...

Besides Lamictal, I take an anti-depressant, and an anti-anxiety...it has given me the most stability so far...not really interested in changing anything at least not yet...

Stay with it...stay talking...stay posting...