[billie69]

after years of being to counsellors and psychiatrists i was finally told that there is bipolarities to my personality(or words similar...i cant really remember) and have been put on lamotrigine.
can anyone tell me does that mean i have bipolar and what are your experiences with lamotrigine?

[Cthomas]

Never been on the med you listed but i AM bipolar. Its a rough ride without meds, i will say that. But you can get undercontrol and feel "normal". The manic episodes, not having to have so much sleep and wanting to do "everything" or feeling like im in "superwoman mode" where i can conquer the world. Those are GOOD. then the crash. sleep for days, depressed, cant get anything accomplished. not much else. I have mood swings, major ones.

Ive been fortunate to find the right meds for me. and i also take a lot of vitamins which makes a huge difference in how i feel. Hope you can feel better soon. Keep posting.

Colleen

[madisgram]

welcome to pc billie69! this is a good site for info as well as support. don't know about your med they put you on..but there are sites as well as here that can give you more info on it. another suggestion is to use the home page of psychcentral to read more about bipolar. there are similarities and differences in all of us that are bipolar. i tend to be more on the depressed side and my mania is either an agitated state or what other people just feel normally. i was told that medication and therapy was the key for success dealing with the bipolar and for me that has worked really well. i spent many years trying to hide how depressed i felt and outwardly acted happy, etc. it took soo-o much mental energy to do that. thankfully now i am stabilized and do have episodes of depression or agitation but they are mangeable for the most part. the pdoc sometimes tweaks my doseage during those times. so hope you will find more answers-knowledge empowers us- even tho sometimes we feel we're on a roller coaster that we wish we could get off.

[billie69]

thanks guys
i thought i would feel releived when i got a diagnosis but i feel the opposite and i also have to tell my mom who i dont get on well with that i need medications coz i cant afford it myself

[onlymedid]

Hey Billie69,

I am on Lamotrigine and it has helped me tremendously! My roller coaster ride has smoothed out.

Just keep in mind that it takes time for it to start working, so don't get too frustrated.

I wonder if there are coupons or discounts you can get so you don't have to ask your mom?

I hope things work out for you.

[MSUKate]

I took that.......lamotrigine and it worked great for me.

Too bad i got the rash.

[noah24]

THE rash is very rare. Most all rashes are innocuous, harmless. I and others have experienced cognitive problems w lamictal (Lamotrignine) so be cognizant of this. Mine dramatically increased when I went from 100mg to 200mg. The problems I experienced were inability to remebr common words, names and express myself. It is ok but still present sopmewhat at my 100mg dose.

[Visioneer]

Welcome to the club, Billie.

I am switching from Olanzapine and Wellbutrin to Lamotrigine because of significant weight gain (30 pounds). I am EXTREMELY worried about THE RASH (Stevens-Johnson Syndrome). I have heard that it is very uncommon, my Pdoc says only .3% of people get it. It is still a very scary prospect.

Wikipedia says:

"5 to 10 % of patients will develop a rash, but that only one in a thousand patients will develop a serious rash. It is thought that one in 50,000 exposed patients may die from a rash."

Of course me with my overactive imagination and tendency to worry that the worst is yet to come thinks I'll be that one :P

Anyone else have experience with this drug? I have read that some people will have a hard time concentrating, while others seem to gain clarity.

MSUKate, what was the rash like and what happened afterward (how were you treated, etc.)?

[drummergrl]

Originally Posted by noah24

THE rash is very rare. Most all rashes are innocuous, harmless. I and others have experienced cognitive problems w lamictal (Lamotrignine) so be cognizant of this. Mine dramatically increased when I went from 100mg to 200mg. The problems I experienced were inability to remebr common words, names and express myself. It is ok but still present sopmewhat at my 100mg dose.

These are only FOUR of the examples of inner feelings I had before I was properly diagnosed 3 years ago. After 30+ years of suffering with no answers to my behaviors, I finally found someone who knew what they were doing!! lol............I tried several types of meds. but to no avail, they didn't do the trick. I changed doctors two years ago, and I am now on the cocktail of Luvox(depression) and Lamictal(mania). I tell all that it's the difference b'tween night and day for me. I can finally get thru the day w/o an episodic mode. I don't say I have all good days, as Lord knows you never know who you're going to be from one day to the next. That's how this disorder manifests itself. It'll drive you crazy sometimes!! My roller coaster ride isn't GONE, but it's slowed down enough for me to get off once in a blue moon!!
TAKE YOUR MEDS. IT'S THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO FOR YOURSELF!!!!!

[deliquesce]

my pdoc told me when i gave lamitrogine/lamictal a trial that if the rash was going to happen - it would probably happen within 2 days of starting the drug. he said of course it can develop at any stage, but that the peak time would be when you just started it. so if you're clear after a few days, you don't need to worry about it so much, just be aware that it's a possibility.

lamitrogine is meant to be particularly useful for bipolars who mainly struggle with depression as part of their illness. i did find that it helped a lot in this regard, but eventually i moved on to an anti-depressant which helped more.

[rkba97]

I'm taking Lamotrigine (Lamictal). I believe that it usually treats epilepsy, but it's been found to treat bipolar too. This is the only mood stabilizer my pdoc has prescribed me (just increased to 150 mg daily). I personally have no real complaints about it, but all meds work differently with everyone.

When I started on the starter kit, with the 25 mg, I had no appetite, and I slept very well. When I iincreased to 50 mg, I still had no appetite, and I was up all night. When I increased to 100 mg, I decided to start taking it in the morning, to avoid the insomnia. I was just increased to 150 mg and my appetite has gone away again, but really besides that I haven't experienced any side effects. I did read that one side effect is a stuffy nose, which I have had constantly since I started on the Lamictal, but my pdoc didn't even know that was a symptom and thought it was kind of strange. So maybe I had the stuffy nose before then and just didn't realize it. Who knows.

Anyway, it could be that if the Lamictal does stabilize your mood swings a little, then it could be bipolar. But it took my pdoc 4 years of observation to finally diagnose me (partly due to heavy drinking, which I have finally been able to stop). But they didn't diagnose you already? Then maybe they're waiting to see how the mood stabilizer affects you before they officially diagnose you. I'd ask your doctor what the plan is, if you're confused, and if you're not sure that you've been diagnosed or not.

Good luck! Let me know how it goes, I'm always curious about other people's experiences with Lamictal.

RK

[niecy440]

Originally Posted by madisgram

welcome to pc billie69! this is a good site for info as well as support. don't know about your med they put you on..but there are sites as well as here that can give you more info on it. another suggestion is to use the home page of psychcentral to read more about bipolar. there are similarities and differences in all of us that are bipolar. i tend to be more on the depressed side and my mania is either an agitated state or what other people just feel normally. i was told that medication and therapy was the key for success dealing with the bipolar and for me that has worked really well. i spent many years trying to hide how depressed i felt and outwardly acted happy, etc. it took soo-o much mental energy to do that. thankfully now i am stabilized and do have episodes of depression or agitation but they are mangeable for the most part. the pdoc sometimes tweaks my doseage during those times. so hope you will find more answers-knowledge empowers us- even tho sometimes we feel we're on a roller coaster that we wish we could get off.

How do you reply

I've been on Lamictal for about 12 yrs. (300 mg.--150 a.m/150 p.m). It has been very helpful for me. I haven't had any negative side effects, but my doc did increase the dosage VERY SLOWLY & even after about 5 yrs. I got a rash & called her to check it out. It ended up being a reaction to the sunscreen I was using, but I wanted to be careful!!--Suzy

[French Empress]

About Lamictal, i plan to go on this, i wonder what anti dep is most effective and if there are others things to take with it.
Psy doc very elusive about it, probably readind the manual...
Can any1 inform me?

Thank u, love urselves and care well.

[French Empress]

Happy st Paddys day, paddym!
I m gonna try it then and hope this mde comes to an end soon,

Cant stand this downwards spiral anymore.
Tomorow, i get the prescriotion and get started.

Cheers mate, take care3

[kittenkirk]

I was on Depakote, Lamictol, Geodan, Paxil and Topamax. I gained 65lbs and still was not living life. I did (what I don't recommend) drank after 8 years and went off the meds entirely. I went back to work (mania) working early and staying late. This went well for awhile until they stopped the overtime. Now I can't get to work. I'm depressed and I need some suggestions to get back on the beam. I want to be up rather than down....and this is week 3 now I'm sitting on the couch at 2:49 pm in the afternoon....thinking what should I do?
This is not in response to the last posting only and add on.
Please help!
Kathy

[Phoenix17]

Hey I have been taking lamictal for 2 yrs now and it seems to help still have mood swings just not as bad.

[Crazynurse]

Just a suggestion Billy...but as an RN I worked in an Oncologist office and had alot of contact with Drug Reps...most drug companies offer a med program based on income where you can get your drugs directly through them at a greatly reduced rate or free. Your Dr. should be able to help you out with this...you can bet the Drug Reps are on his doorstep weekly !!!!