Posted by linnette on November 13, 2003, at 17:31:24
In reply to Re: Lamictal side effects » katia, posted by Flipsactown on November 13, 2003, at 16:46:26
Hello all,
Just wanted to give you and all an update.. I am somewhat new here, and I read the posts as often as I can. I never know whether to start my own post, or whether to add to a thread. I don't want to butt in, and hope it doesn't appear that way. I have been trying to keep up on all of your posts, and I hope I am not sounding self-absorbed by writing this.
I am now at 200 mg of lamictal and I notice the irritability thing for a few days when I go up on my dose. I am completely off the zoloft, and the nortriptyline, but have had to add back a bit of neurontin (only 300 mg/day) for the anxiety and sleep. I was on neurontin before, but at much higher doses, and it made me sort of stupid, but the combo seems to be working well this time. It helps with the sleep I notice.
Last week was a real emotional roller coaster, then had about 4 good days, but am now in a funk. I am hoping that it subsides and is just part of washing the other meds from my system. But when I feel this way, I just cry and cry and I think about every "bad, awful or stupid" thing that I have ever done, as well as a tremendous amount of guilt that I know is out of proportion to what I am ruminating about. I find that a lot of my feelings are tied up in my past behaviors while either hypomanic or depresses.
I also feel as though I may never get stable. I am in a mixed state right now. I can have tons of energy and get things done, during which time I can hear a song or something will set me off and I will just be in tears. I am hoping that this subsides as my dose of lamictal kicks in. It may not be such a bad thing to get sad, but I notice sometimes that something will set me off, and it just goes from there.
On the flip side, on a GOOD day I notice increased energy, sleeping less (although I should be sleeping more, as my sleep patterns dictate my moods a lot) my appetite is better, (I don't care about food much when I was depressed or hypomanic). I am thinking much clearer. I seem to be getting my usual interests back also, like listening to music for instance. I am praying that these good effects are not the result of coming off of the other meds.
Also if I am late on my dose I get very irritable and/or teary. I am finding that alcohol, even glass of wine is out of the question. As is caffeine. It will usually send me into a tailspin. I can do without both though.
My question is how long it takes for a therapeutic dose to kick in? I have now been at 200 mg for only a week. I have been on the lamictal since September 8th. Is it better to split your dose or take it all at once. Not sure about the half-life of lamictal, do you know?
Anyway, take care all, and wishing good things to all. Thank you all for your input...I try to read the posts every couple days.
linette
poster:linnette
thread:238206
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031111/msgs/279484.html