[Azalysa]

Saw my pdoc today. Since the Wellbutrin that he added to my cocktail of Zoloft and Depakote (along with Ativan as needed) has not stabilized my moods he prescribed Lamictal today with the plan of phasing out Wellbutrin and eventually the Depakote/Zoloft as well.

I've just done a bit of reading online about Lamictal and only see one reference to it on the forums. Some of the info I read concerned me a bit, specifically a rash that could occur and to wear a medical bracelet in case of emergency.

Thank you in advance to anyone who has any info on this med.

[DaveyJones]

Yeah, I was on Lamictal for a while...it really seemed to help. I have stopped taking it for cost reasons since I got out of the hospital.

Several people at my NAMI groups rave about it, though. This one fellow said that this was the first holiday he wasn't hiding from everyone else, credits it all to Lamictal. he's been taking meds for bipolar for 40 years, said it was the only one that ever really did him any good.

You have to ramp up on it slowly, though.Some people are allergic to it. I didn't have any trouble, though. Your pdoc will hook you up.

Good luck with it, hope it works wonders!

DJ

[Azalysa]

Ohhh, thank you SO much Davey! That puts my mind more at rest to hear that good report!!

My pdoc did say Lamictal had to start on a low dosage and build up over 5 weeks - he provided a starter package to me that has the dosage/day all mapped out on it.

Looking forward to feeling better!!!

i'm on lamictal, wellbutrin, prozac and cytomel. my lamictal dosage has stayed the same for several months. we've upped the wellbutrin and now i can't sleep. BUT, i think that the cocktail that i'm on now is really helping me. my lows are worse than my highs and i think i may see a light at the end of the tunnel on the lows. xoxox pat

[Azalysa]

Thanks Pat!

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
...i think i may see a light at the end of the tunnel on the lows

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

Great news! I'm looking forward to seeing that end of the tunnel light with you!!

{{{{Pat}}}}

[bipolar_bear]

I am on lamictal and have been for a long time. I ramped up ultra conservatively and didn't have a problem. It works well for me and I hope you have the same success. Good luck.

[darkeyes]

It's a fine medication, and as all meds. manufacturers are required to list all cases, this does not mean everyone will have such side effects or all of them listed.
Plus it is so important that your doc slowly titrates till he or she finds what is therapeutic for you,for me it is 200mg's a day, everyone is different. Like Depakote works well for others, it was a nightmare for me, extreme fatigue, fell asleep twice while driving during the time I had been on it. The Lamictal has not caused this with me, I've been taking it about 3yrs or more.
I've been told by my pdoc,gp, pharmacist, and the anesthitician (sp?) this summer (when I had nasal surgery) that wearing a seizure bracelet was not necessary. The med is used for epilepsy, but when used as a mood stabilizer, the dosages are much lower than an epileptic's and plus if you are not an epileptic, I've heard as I stated above that it is not necessary to wear one. Just relaying the info I have been reading,told from several docs and kinds of docs, too. I've heard Lamictal is now even being use for some migraines sufferers, it always amazes me when a med has a multi purpose. I'm sure the researcher's like that too, when med formulas are created.
I wish you lots of luck with this.

DE

[lenjan]

looooove my lamictal, wouldn't trade it for the world, takes a long time to find the "right" dose, though. gl

candy

[Azalysa]

{{{{BipolarBear, DE, Candy}}}}

I am becoming more encouraged the more input I get am and getting excited that something just *might* work - especially when I had begun to reach a point of wondering if any med would help anymore.

DE, thank you so very much about the info re: the medical bracelet. I almost choked when I read that, but is understandable if someone is epileptic and taking the med for that reason.

I had an appointment with my T. today and she also said wonderful things about this med.

Ok...let's get this mood thing stabilized so I can get back to my regularly scheduled life!!

[Nicholas]

I've been on Lamictal for about 5 months. This has been the best drug I've every been on (Lithium, Depakoate, Tegretol, Neurontin). I've gotten no side effects luckily and it's help with the depression as well as the mania. It's changed my life in unimaginable ways. I'm on a pretty good cocktail now - Lamictal, Lexapro, Focalin, Strattera (also have ADHD), Xanax. The past 5 months have been the best in over a decade.

[Azalysa]

Hi, Nicholas...nice to meet you!!

Thank you also for your experience with Lamictal.

I've just completed my first week (slowly building up) and I can tell a lifting of my mood. Others around me say I'm looking better. Yeaaa!

Ever since reading/hearing about the *possible* rash side effect I've felt "itchy" - lol - but no visible rash.

I *have* been getting intermittent chills. No fever. Anyone ever had that reaction?

EDIT UPDATE: Since I wrote this I researched the med again and it indicated both "itching" and chills as "call-your-Dr.-immediately" side effects. ACK!

However, pdoc said what I described are both normal side effects, will go away, and stay on meds. Whew!

[DaveyJones]

Just curious how the Lamictal was going. It made me giggle reading your last post here--I was scratching all over the first few weeks, sure I was allergic. No bumps or anything happened, though, so I decided I was paranoid!

DJ

[dpadilla89]

i had the rash while i was hospitalized....

not good!

deb

[Azalysa]

Heya Davey!

Awww, thanks for being so sweet to check up on me!

Yep, the itching and chills went away! (Color me paranoid...lol) I've just completed my 2nd week of 25 mg every other day and start the next 2 weeks of one every day to work up to 2 a day. My mood is starting to drop again, so I hope the increase in dosage helps.

Hope things are well with you.

Ack Deb...was it the rash they had to take you off Lamictal for??

[samsara]

Any sign of a rash, let your doc know right now. That's the biggie with lamictal. Don't change soaps, detergents, fabric softeners, lotions etc while you are staging onto lamictal so if you do get a rash you can be fairly sure it is from the drug. It's a rare side effect but one that should be taken very seriously.