[SecretGarden]

Pdoc has mentioned lamictal today. Seems I cycle but as he says my lows are incredibly low and my highs are oh..about what most people feel normally.

I am currently on no meds after leaving lexapro for cymbalta which was a bust several months ago. Have been feeling on the crappy side more than not.... In the distant past I was on a cocktail of meds... including eskolith and nortriptylene and I was just doped up I think. Not real. I think that eskolith provided it's function but I do not wish to feel doped up ... as I wish to live life better instead of just surviving.

Can someone give me thoughts on lamictal and maybe even compare it to eskalith or the like... if possible? What am I looking at here? Any thoughts?

Appreciate it folks. TIred of feeling like crap but then again I suppose I just am a gal who will perpetually need something. I suppose I feel better about that when I am on a functional med. lol

[Direction]

I don't have any particular thoughts - other than I've read up on the drug using their web site.

I'm in the process of waiting to get my meds changed and the T is confirming a misdiagnoses and that his initial diagnosis is Bipolar (previously by someone else diagnosed with depression/anxiety) - he mentioned this drug as one that he usually sees the p-doc prescribe.

[DePressMe]

I have been on lamicatal for awhile to stabilize some mood swings. I have found it helpful and I don't seem to feel doped up. I am glad I found lamicatal--out of all the meds it seems to slow me down the least.

[SecretGarden]

Thank you for your response DePressMe.... I need something I do believe... I certainly do swing and sometimes fast. My pdoc said that he would start with lamictal and if needed go to noratin? not sure... on top...

Have a good eve.

I had been on 200 mg of Lamictal for 5 years & had no side effects & it helped a lot with the depression. I am taking several other meds, as well. I recently ended up being in a pretty bad depression suddenly so my Lamictal has been upped to 300 mg--seems to help--Suzy

[DePressMe]

I preferred the lamictal over the neurotin--neurotin did make me feel a little tired. He may be talking about putting them together? The lamictal takes forever to titrate up to a regular dose--over a month. But, I think the wait is worth it.

I too take a cocktail of drugs--just the lamictal alone is not enough for me. It keeps my moods from swinging too much but I still have to have an antidepressant....well, and an antipsychotic. But, right now, I am pretty darn happy with my meds.

[darkeyes]

I take 200mgs a day, and this med has never made me feel "doped" up, where there had been other meds that did.
It also does not cause weight gain, like a lot of other mood stabilizers do.
Lots of luck with this.

DE

Neuontin was my drug

lol, and you know me and my aversion to drugs. That one I loved. Took it with Prozac and took it at bedtime; it provided a wonderful night's rest and I fell asleep naturally and stayed asleep all night. Loved it!!

[onlymedid]

I am on Lamictal and have just had my dosage reduced from 200 to 150mg and this is the first time I have ever really felt any type of dizziness or anything.
Nothing major, but enough to notice.
I am glad I found lamictal as it has stabilized my moods, as well. I have tried many different medications, but I am glad to have found this ONE that does the trick!
Good luck!

lamictal didn't make me feel doped up. in fact, i liked it. am taking gabapentin for nerve pain now and that is probably why i feel "sleepy and unmotivated".......

[SecretGarden]

Thank you everybody. He is thinking lamictal to start and maybe will add on neurotin... but first things first. I am so glad to hear your reportns on the lamictal. I also did find the link here and was pleased to see positivity there as well.

I am feeling a little hope at the moment. This is good.

I have not heard alot of feedback on the libido thing so I suppose if folks are not complaining that lamictal does not get in the way?

Thanks...

[darkeyes]

It is known not to affect libido, my case of lacking one has nothing to do with Lamictal.
I think if a person has good health, but needs a mood stabilizer, there may be little problems, but then depending on the med and if it is recorded as causing problems, stuff like that is documented while meds are going through clinical trials,etc.
Everyone is different, and have different priorites, mine would be to take the med(s) and be stable rather than unstable, but that's just me.
I wish you luck with whatever you and your pdoc decide works best for you.

[SecretGarden]

Thank you.

[Direction]

Thank you Secret for asking...the responses are helping me feel a lot more comfortable...

[UCLAFan]

I have Epilepsy and i use that. I have been on it off and on for a few years. with no real problems. But it has not helped my depression. I use it for seziure control and it has at least worked well for that. So i'm going to start taking serquel.I wish it would help my depression. But it has not for me really.But i think i just need someone to talk to etc. Just went to a DR today about my depression problems. Went years ago but stopped going.

[niko851]

<font color="#000088"> LOL on the libido comment. Apparently we share that in common as well, i.e. lack thereof w/out ANY medication intervention.

I was put on Lamictal today (200MG) on top of all the others. What I don't understand is how/why the P-docs are RX'ing all these epilepsy drugs; i mean there's only so many things a drug can do. If this was the case, there sure as heck wouldn't be as many.

I will re-post elsewhere about this question of mine, since i am VERY manic right now and have been for well over a week (will post in the BP forum), and hopefully i'll find the answer(s).

I swear I'm just a walking guinea pig..... Nice to hear from ya as well. Hopefully I won't let the episode(s) get the best of me and all will start falling back into place...
Niko </font>

[SecretGarden]

Thanks Direction... appreciate your support.

Niko and UCLA...

My impression as to what Lamictal is to do for me is not necessarily as an antidepressant per se but actually just keeps things from getting too high or too low. It is like to regulate the extremes. In my case I am hoping it will mainly clip my lows and how fast I dive down... which seems to be my forte....unfortunately.

So... I suppose that is kind of an antidepressant but different. Ha. Still figuring this out.

Actually after getting off meds for a bit, prior to the nosedive, my libido was kickin' and I have to say that I enjoyed that and would miss that after a reawakening of that. (Hope not TMI)

Niko - Keep working with your pdoc to find the right mix and know that if you find something that works, celebrate. Keep asking the questions as that is how we find answers. Good luck.

[SecretGarden]

Direction.... I am on day 5.(still just at 25mg).... So far so good. Have you decided to give it a whirl?

I am feeling better but as the Memorex commercial would say... is it me or .....Lamictal. Hopefully a combo and we are both working.

[Direction]

I've seen my new T 3 times in the last 2 weeks - still waiting to see pdoc - I have an appointment Monday, May 7th.

Based on what T and I have talked about - I'm feeling that is the direction pdoc will take me. T indicated that he has seen this prescribed for similar people.

I think a combo - thanks for the chuckle...

[darkeyes]

Your doc jumped right to full dosing, and didn't titrate in 25mg increments? Most pdoc's titrate to help reduce any side effects and to arrive at the lowest therapeutic dose, hope all goes well for you, it is really agreat med for Bipolar-II.
They have been using meds for epilepsy for migraines, and Bipolar, probably other disorders too, that I have yet to read about. I do not know the technical answer to "why?" they are using it for various things, but it is the way the med effects the brain's "electrical firing" I guess sort of like electrical current balancing, affecting neurotransmitters?
Perhaps one of our psychopharmacologists can provide you with the real technical/scientific explanation, I'd copy it here from my various sources to help, but I have to get on the road.
My brother says he's doing well with it as he's weaning off his long time succesful med.
I wish you luck with it.
Oh, and again my lack of libido issue has nothing to do with me being on Lamictal, it started way before any of the meds I take, plus for me, my sanity is more important.

[SecretGarden]

I think the lamictal is doing well though I am still on minimum dosage. day 7 I think. I have feeling a bit anxious but that might be what I am going through in therapy but thought I would ask. Also I do not sleep the 8 hours I am familiar with ... but maybe I do not need that much. Thoughts?

[darkeyes]

The anxiousness can be a few things, are you weaning off a previous med? There may be this "crossover" thing, till you achieve the full therapeutic dose, most pdoc's will try to get one at the lowest therapeutic dose vs taking more than the patient needs to achieve "balance/stabilization."
And as you mentioned, therapy, when begining therapy or changing to a new T, that may create some anxiety or even the process of accepting DX (es) and starting the working(s) with it can stir some angst.
It's always best to keep in touch with the prescribing pdoc, explain what you are feeling, it may be a matter of dose changes.
Awhile back, I was feeling a low, asked the pdoc if we should go up another 25mg from my normal dose, we tried it and I ended up getting slightly agitative/anxious, sooooooo I called him and we agreed to stay on my usual dose, and wait a little bit, also talk with him or a therapist if things weren't returning back on track.
There are times we can shortly go through various moods, and it doesn't mean we are headed towards any episodes, everyone, disorder or no disorder experience different feelings/moods, it's when they aren't just a passing thing or are starting to consume us, that some sort of professional intervention may be needed, may come in a form of meds and/or talk therapy combined.
Check this out with your pdoc, see what he or she has to say about what you are experiencing, just to help assure yourself if this is to be expected and is only temporary.
Meanwhile, always feel free to come here, to PC, and talk to us.
Please take care now,
DE

Lots of luck with this, and keep the faith.

((((((((( SecretGarden ))))))

[SecretGarden]

I have been on various meds but have been off all psych meds but ativan to sleep for a 2-3 months.

We are in a confrontation time and working on core issues. Big time. So anxiety might well be warranted. (that would be in the category of accepting new dx or in my case- realities.. ) I have an appointment tomorrow with my pdoc who is also my T. We will talk. The packet he gave me has one more week at this dose and then I go up...

The anxiety is not everpresent but I just have some deja vu from an unfortunate time of my life and that is kind of scarey. I do not think of using the ativan very much ... but have a dab a couple mornings this week when I have woken early as I have taken the week off. I have tried to keep busy this week ... as part of my rehab? process.

Anyhow, will talk to my pdoc in the morning....

Thank you for your thoughtfulness in answering me and all that you shared.

Lamictal never caused any problems with sexual feelings or perfomance with me.

[SecretGarden]

Thanks.