Is It This or Is It That

I'm very confused at this point. Maybe some of you have some information that can clarify.

I was prescribed Lamictal 2 months ago because I was in a mania. (I'm also taking Cymbalta, Klonopin, and a low dose of Seroquel for sleep and prn for anxiety.)

I thought Lamictal was a mood stabilizer, as in...stabilizes mania and also helps with depression symptoms. But I've been reading on some sites and apparently, Lamictal is prescribed more for bipolar depression than for mania.

???

Yet, my experience is that the Lamictal has controlled my mania to a point at which I feel blah. Just...sleepy all day and mildly depressed. Also experiencing some pretty nasty anxiety, at times. Lamictal has been very helpful for chronic back pain (of all things!).

So- is this medication for mania or is it for depression?

I was prescribed lamictal as a mood stabilizer. I was asked after I'd gotten off it if I had noticed a mood boost. It is typically started for those in bipolar depression but it's a stabilizer overall for bipolar.

I've always been told it's a stabilizer.

It's a stabilizer with anti depressant qualities.

Thanks for each of your replies.

So, what exactly does "stabilizer" mean to you?

It is prescribed for both. Stabilizer is just what it sounds like, keeps you from the mood extremes.

Yeah, that's exactly what I thought. But then I read a lot about Lamictal and it seems that's it's indicated primarily for bipolar depression, not for mania. That's why I'm confused.

Lithium is a mood stabilizer for mania

I’ve read the same thing—that Lamactil is for the type that is depressed most of the time and has hypomania because it helps more with the low side.

Have you tried lithium? The lithium took care of most of my anxiety, and the gabapentin really helps with the rest of the anxiety except for reactive spiked here and there. It is an amazing combo. I was so anxious my whole body hurt.

I take just 100 mg gabapentin in the morning to address morning anxiety so I can relax a little and still work, then 600 mg in the afternoon and 600 mg at night to sleep.

I recently read gabapentin is great for bipolar anxiety. There are many reviews on drugs.com for bipolar.

I stopped the low dose Seroquel a couple of weeks ago (tapered) for sleep because I don’t need it anymore now that the gabapentin dose has been worked out.

Oh, nevermind about the lithium—I see you already replied in another thread it is toxic for you and you pdoc stopped it.

I hear many really good reports about Gabapentin. I don't know why no pdoc has suggested it for me.