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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by paintmom on June 4, 2005, at 19:56:36
In reply to Re: Best wishes to my friend B-Cat » paintmom, posted by barbaracat on June 4, 2005, at 13:10:48
thanks for the reply:)
what are some bp meds that DON'T cause weight gain???
thankspaintmom
Posted by barbaracat on June 6, 2005, at 12:36:36
In reply to Re: Best wishes to my friend B-Cat, posted by paintmom on June 4, 2005, at 19:56:36
Topamax supposedly. I only lasted a few weeks because it was too activating. Lamictal, but there's the rash which I got. It is difficult. I have to exercise like crazy which is a good antidepressant in it's own right, but sometimes I just don't have the time to manaically work out. Try trolling this site:
www.psycheducation.org
It's a real goldmine with links leading to links forever. You'll eventually come upon everything you probably ever wanted to know about BP here.
- BarbaraCat
> thanks for the reply:)
> what are some bp meds that DON'T cause weight gain???
> thanks
>
> paintmom
Posted by paintmom on June 6, 2005, at 15:55:56
In reply to Re: Best wishes to my friend B-Cat » paintmom, posted by barbaracat on June 6, 2005, at 12:36:36
> Topamax supposedly. I only lasted a few weeks because it was too activating. Lamictal, but there's the rash which I got.
what do you mean by activating....
I can't sleep....and I am really not that tired considering...how was lamictal for sleep....
thanks for the site...gonna look....paintmom
Posted by barbaracat on June 7, 2005, at 11:51:28
In reply to Re: Best wishes to my friend B-Cat, posted by paintmom on June 6, 2005, at 15:55:56
>
> what do you mean by activating....
> I can't sleep....and I am really not that tired considering...**That's what I mean by activating. Trouble sleeping, feel speedy and revved up. I have anxiety disorder along with bipolar and have to be careful with things that speed me up.
>>how was lamictal for sleep....
**At each new level of a higher dose of Lam I felt activated, almost hypomanic. Didn't need as much sleep, a bit wired but in an enjoyable way. Then it would smooth out. I was able to maintain pretty well at 75mg for around 6 months, which is a fairly low dose. Along with the lithium, it was a very good combo. Then my Mom died suddenly and I went into a very bad tailspin and my pdoc raised the dose. At 125mg I started getting very itchy which is an impending sign of the rash, although neither I nor my pdoc realized it at the time (we were looking for a 'rash' not itchiness).
Raising it even higher did not help with the anxiety/depression/panic and the rash became worse. I eventually discontinued it becaue it just stopped being effective. I went on Nortriptyline and that worked well to pull me out of a very bad place.
I'm now taking Cymbalta, a SNRI, because I've discovered that I need an AD, although most definitely with a mood stabilzer on board. I hope it doesn't go the way most other meds have gone, that is, to poop out. But I think lithium stabilizes things so I've got my fingers crossed this good trend continues.
> thanks for the site...gonna look....
**Yes, it's a good one. What are you currently taking/feeling? - BCat
>
> paintmom
>
>
Posted by paintmom on June 7, 2005, at 16:39:44
In reply to Re: Best wishes to my friend B-Cat » paintmom, posted by barbaracat on June 7, 2005, at 11:51:28
thanks
I have BPII, anxiety....really bad sleep problems,....apnea...and chronic fatigue syndrome.
I am extremely med sensative....I am on tiny amounts of drugs....
less than 5mg of buspar
5mg lexapro
a smidg of elavil....it helps with the sleep but started pooping out and makes me gain weight...
I was on 100 mgs of topamax and felt great.....but activated.....was only getting 3-5 hours of sleep a nite...and broken sleep at that...which is insane for me with the chronic fatigue...yet I didn't feel that bad.
So yesterday ...we lowered the topamax to 50 and I took a little bit of tamazepam to help me to sleep....I slept 8 hours....I couldnt believe it.
I went to my P doc today...and she was like..."well you want to sleep and you dont want to gain weight...so that doesn't leave me many choices" Are those unreasonable requests????? She wanted to put me on lithium but I am reluctant cause of the weight gain....I'm gonna try adding OMega 3's to the topamax and see how that does...
She also upped my AD
This med stuff is such a bummer.
thanks for your help
Paintmom
Posted by barbaracat on June 7, 2005, at 21:24:41
In reply to Re: Best wishes to my friend B-Cat, posted by paintmom on June 7, 2005, at 16:39:44
Well, we sure sound similar. I'm BP, probably BP-I because of the severity, have sleep apnea, really bad insomnia and fibromyalgia! Do you use a CPAP for the apnea? When I use it I notice a vast improvement in the fibro pain and fatigue. It took a while to finally get used to it. At first I'd get a panic attack every time and didn't use it for a year. Finally started taking - temazapam - of all things, along with Ambien, to take the edge off the panic and it did the trick. I now like the gentle whish sound of it and fall asleep sooner, but I wake up feeling like my nose is being suctioned up all night.
I really love lithium. It's made the biggest difference in my life. I only take a small amount, 600mg, which is far below the 'therapeutic window' which is a bunch of crap in my opinion and no one should be forced into taking the high levels required to reach it. Taking more makes me have tremors and nauseous. One thing I've heard many places is that lithium and lamictal are the only true mood stabilizers in the way they affect the electrical potential of the neurons. Depakote also but in a different way. I hated depakote but some people find that it works well, especially with anxious bipolar. It sent me into a very lethargic crabby depression instead.
I too am extremely sensitive to most meds. Not so much to benzos. It takes alot to knock me out and I'm sure a dysfunction in my GABA receptors is probably behind alot of my problems. However, my pdoc is sympathetic to my need to avoid anxiety states since this is the key to managing the rest, and prescribes a variety of benzos to rotate to avoid some of the inevitable tolerance.
One other suggestion is to get your hormone levels checked. You don't have to be in menopause to have rollercoaster hormones and most of us in the mid-thirties and beyond could use extra progesterone. It comes in a cream and the best is ProGest, a natural form. It's definitely an anti-anxiety hormone, helps with sleep and CFS and fibro. Most doctors don't do hormone testing and don't believe in saliva tests, which are the best ways to get your levels. Naturopaths are usually the one's up on this. It might not hurt to try some and see. - Barbara
> I have BPII, anxiety....really bad sleep problems,....apnea...and chronic fatigue syndrome.
> I am extremely med sensative....I am on tiny amounts of drugs....
> less than 5mg of buspar
> 5mg lexapro
> a smidg of elavil....it helps with the sleep but started pooping out and makes me gain weight...
> I was on 100 mgs of topamax and felt great.....but activated.....was only getting 3-5 hours of sleep a nite...and broken sleep at that...which is insane for me with the chronic fatigue...yet I didn't feel that bad.
> So yesterday ...we lowered the topamax to 50 and I took a little bit of tamazepam to help me to sleep....I slept 8 hours....I couldnt believe it.
> I went to my P doc today...and she was like..."well you want to sleep and you dont want to gain weight...so that doesn't leave me many choices" Are those unreasonable requests????? She wanted to put me on lithium but I am reluctant cause of the weight gain....I'm gonna try adding OMega 3's to the topamax and see how that does...
> She also upped my AD
> This med stuff is such a bummer.
> thanks for your help
> Paintmom
Posted by paintmom on June 10, 2005, at 22:25:50
In reply to Re: Best wishes to my friend B-Cat » paintmom, posted by barbaracat on June 7, 2005, at 21:24:41
OK
I am buying the Progest cream because I tried some old cream I had here and I don't know I think I felt better..its probably too quick...but it made my skin soft...:)
I have a good feeling about this...I can feel the ZZZ's already:)
Posted by barbaracat on June 11, 2005, at 18:18:28
In reply to Re: Best wishes to my friend B-Cat, posted by paintmom on June 10, 2005, at 22:25:50
Not too quick at all. I know when I'm on the low side because I get more fibro symptoms, leg cramps and insomnia. I'll get relief within an hour of dosing with progesterone cream. You can put it on your face too. There used to be a high quality skin cream called 'Eterna 27' and the 'secret ingredient' was progesterone!
> I am buying the Progest cream because I tried some old cream I had here and I don't know I think I felt better..its probably too quick...but it made my skin soft...:)
> I have a good feeling about this...I can feel the ZZZ's already:)
Posted by Miriamne on July 8, 2005, at 10:59:00
In reply to Re: Best wishes to my friend B-Cat » paintmom, posted by barbaracat on June 11, 2005, at 18:18:28
I'm a recently returned member of this site with a question about a Lamictal side effect.
I've been taking 200 mg of Lamictal/day for several years, with good results. My dr has always emphasised that I need to be concerned if I get a skin rash. Just recently I went up to 250mg/day, and my skin seems to be reacting to any slight irritation. I have a welt on each forearm-- they seem to be getting larger, itchier and ickier by the day. When I put band-aids over them, the skin under the sticky part of the band-aid turned red and itchy, too.
I use an estrogen patch, and that skin area turned bright red and hot to the touch. So now I don't know which is worse, to continue to irritate my skin, or remove my source of estrogen (not a pleasant thought.)
I have calls in to my shrink and my gyno, but I would love to hear from anyone, medical or otherwise, who has experience and knowledge of the skin problems associated with Lamictal. I understand that the rash can be extremely serious and I don't want to take the risk of this getting worse.
Many thanks for any help!
Miriamne
Posted by KayeBaby on July 8, 2005, at 11:41:49
In reply to Lamictal Skin Rash, posted by Miriamne on July 8, 2005, at 10:59:00
> I'm a recently returned member of this site with a question about a Lamictal side effect.
>
> I've been taking 200 mg of Lamictal/day for several years, with good results. My dr has always emphasised that I need to be concerned if I get a skin rash. Just recently I went up to 250mg/day, and my skin seems to be reacting to any slight irritation. I have a welt on each forearm-- they seem to be getting larger, itchier and ickier by the day. When I put band-aids over them, the skin under the sticky part of the band-aid turned red and itchy, too.
>
> I use an estrogen patch, and that skin area turned bright red and hot to the touch. So now I don't know which is worse, to continue to irritate my skin, or remove my source of estrogen (not a pleasant thought.)
>
> I have calls in to my shrink and my gyno, but I would love to hear from anyone, medical or otherwise, who has experience and knowledge of the skin problems associated with Lamictal. I understand that the rash can be extremely serious and I don't want to take the risk of this getting worse.
>
> Many thanks for any help!
> MiriamneStop taking the Lamictal immediately and go to see a dermatologist today.
I had the SJS rash but caught it early and what you describe sounds like it.
I don't want to be alarmist but this is serious!
Take care of yourself.
Kaye
Posted by Miriamne on July 8, 2005, at 12:07:55
In reply to Re: Lamictal Skin Rash, posted by KayeBaby on July 8, 2005, at 11:41:49
Dear Kaye:
Thank you so much for your message. I just got off the phone with my shrink, who told me to reduce the Lamictal every 3 days till I'm off it and see if it makes a difference.
Does seeing a dermatologist help me get rid of the rash in addition to stopping the meds?
I appreciate your advice and concern.
Miriamne
Posted by KayeBaby on July 8, 2005, at 12:12:09
In reply to Lamictal Skin Rash, posted by Miriamne on July 8, 2005, at 12:07:55
A dermatologist would be more familiar with the SJS. I just wouldn't play around with it.
Some people get a mild rash that resolves itself but I would want to be under a Dr's care in case it is SJS.
Good Luck!
Kaye
Posted by barbaracat on July 8, 2005, at 13:44:22
In reply to Lamictal Skin Rash, posted by Miriamne on July 8, 2005, at 10:59:00
I got SJS quite badly ending up with a visit to the hospital. The interesting part is that I got it after I'd been off Lam and was taking another drug. I know it was Lam that was the instigator and primed the pump however.
My symptoms began at 125mg with intense itchiness, a stinging bitey feeling especially in my scalp. My skin felt sensitive and raw and was irritated by anything - a watch band, a collar. I didn't actually get a rash at that time but felt externally and internally inflamed.
My doctor didn't seem too concerned because it wasn't an actual rash and kidded I must've caught fleas from my cats - Ha ha - but to lower the dose anyway. It scared me and I simply stopped taking Lam with no negative mood effects, thankfully. Two months later I started a sulfa med which I've never had any reactions to before and within a week was covered in blisters inside and out with true Stevens Johnson Symdrome. I've now developed allergies to most kinds of antibiotics and any drug whose side effects include erythema, or skin rash.
The thing with erythema is that is can take many forms. A simple rash is annoying, can look like chicken pox or small red dots, many forms. It becomes serious when it moves into the mucous membranes, mouth, intestines, genitals, ears, and then it becomes Stevens Johnson. From a simple rash, SJS develops with prolonged exposure to the allergen, plain and simple.
Any kind of skin sensitivity should be taken very seriously while on Lamictal. Titrating down "to see how it goes' sounds like a sensible idea util you realize that once the inflammatory reaction appears on the surface of the skin, you have developed an allergy and taking the allergic substance even in a small quantity puts great burden on your immune system.
> I'm a recently returned member of this site with a question about a Lamictal side effect.
>
> I've been taking 200 mg of Lamictal/day for several years, with good results. My dr has always emphasised that I need to be concerned if I get a skin rash. Just recently I went up to 250mg/day, and my skin seems to be reacting to any slight irritation. I have a welt on each forearm-- they seem to be getting larger, itchier and ickier by the day. When I put band-aids over them, the skin under the sticky part of the band-aid turned red and itchy, too.
>
> I use an estrogen patch, and that skin area turned bright red and hot to the touch. So now I don't know which is worse, to continue to irritate my skin, or remove my source of estrogen (not a pleasant thought.)
>
> I have calls in to my shrink and my gyno, but I would love to hear from anyone, medical or otherwise, who has experience and knowledge of the skin problems associated with Lamictal. I understand that the rash can be extremely serious and I don't want to take the risk of this getting worse.
>
> Many thanks for any help!
> Miriamne
Posted by Miriamne on July 8, 2005, at 19:33:08
In reply to Re: Lamictal Skin Rash » Miriamne, posted by barbaracat on July 8, 2005, at 13:44:22
Well, I must say you all have my attention with regard to this rash. I will get back with my shrink and try and resolve this with my family doctor/and or a dermatologist. "Teams of doctors, working round the clock...", as Jerry Seinfeld put it.
I'm not thrilled about stopping my meds and my estrogen. The patch had really helped with some other problems. Whether I can go back to it is something else I'll have to find out, I guess, but for now it seems wise not to mess with anything on my skin.
Thanks again.
Miriamne
Posted by barbaracat on July 8, 2005, at 20:12:18
In reply to Lamictal Skin Rash, posted by Miriamne on July 8, 2005, at 19:33:08
I use sublingual hormone drops which I like alot. They're custom formulated and bioidentical. I get mine from Women's International Pharmacy. It avoids the skin thing and you can also get your progesterone and any other hormones mixed in, avoiding the problems in absorbing orally.
Please don't go off your hormones if you can help it. Taking them orally is not optimal but until you get this rash thing cleared or opt for sublingual, at least you'll have something. I was taking Estrace and Prometrium, both bioidentical vs. synthetic, and they worked well enough before I switched to cream and then to sublingual. Messing with your hormone levels is guaranteed to send you into the emotional crap-hole in a big way. - Barbara
> Well, I must say you all have my attention with regard to this rash. I will get back with my shrink and try and resolve this with my family doctor/and or a dermatologist. "Teams of doctors, working round the clock...", as Jerry Seinfeld put it.
>
> I'm not thrilled about stopping my meds and my estrogen. The patch had really helped with some other problems. Whether I can go back to it is something else I'll have to find out, I guess, but for now it seems wise not to mess with anything on my skin.
>
> Thanks again.
> Miriamne
>
>
Posted by doradynamo on July 16, 2005, at 2:59:50
In reply to Re: Mild Bipolar - moodstabl-- lamictal, posted by Dali on July 23, 2003, at 13:34:46
i'm on lamictal right now - write to me if you want to talk - dora_kravitz@yahoo.com
Posted by Justin Brown on August 16, 2005, at 21:51:17
In reply to Re: Cyclothymic music / creativity, posted by yardena on September 1, 1999, at 18:23:31
I think i posted at the wrong place first. I was wondering about my Cyclothymic cycling periods. I seem to cycle anywhere from half a day to three days. I do have an inbetween time where i feel normal. Is this unusually fast. By the way, I'm an artist and just started topamax.
Posted by KarenRB53 on October 13, 2005, at 20:35:33
In reply to Re: Just Diagnosed BarbaraCat » polarbear206, posted by BarbaraCat on November 11, 2002, at 23:18:12
> Hi Laura,
> Another update - again you were right on. I've stopped Remeron completely. I wanted to give it a week before coming to any conclusions, but now that over a week has passed, I definitely feel sooooo much better after ditching the AD. Major reduction in anxiety, less somatic tension. I've also doubled lithium from 300mg to 600, which I think is enhancing Lamictal's positive effects, but ditching AD has stopped the negativecycling. What a blessed difference. - BarbaraCat
Just wondering if you're still on Lamictal and how you're doing with it?
Thanks, Karen
Posted by barbaracat on October 14, 2005, at 11:33:32
In reply to Re: Just Diagnosed BarbaraCat » BarbaraCat, posted by KarenRB53 on October 13, 2005, at 20:35:33
> Just wondering if you're still on Lamictal and how you're doing with it?
> Thanks, Karen
>
**Wow, that was a while back and so much has happened since then. No, I'm not on Lam. I was doing fine on 75mg for about 4 months or so. Then my mom died suddenly and threw me into a tailspin and the depression came back with force. My pdoc had me slowly titrate up. With every increase I'd feel agitation which subsided, but I wasn't getting the antidepressant relief.At 125mg I started itching ferociously, like stinging little needles or tiny biting gnats. So bad I couldn't go to restaurants cause I'd embarrass myself needing to scratch everywhere.
I didn't associate it with Lam because we'd just taken in another stray cat and I blamed it on finally becoming allergic to our many cats. Besides, I thought the Lamictal rash was just that, a rash and my pdoc didn't associate it either. When I got up to 175mg I was itching so badly I had goudged bloody tracks on my head and body and my skin was looking puffy and inflamed, but still no 'rash'. So we backed down and then off completely because it no longer worked for the depression I was dealing with. Eventually went to nortriptyline which got me over the bad spot.
A few months later, after Lam was out of my system I took an oral chelator, DMPS, to get rid of mercury toxicity. I had an immediate awful reaction to it that turned into Stevens Johnson Syndrome, or the dreaded rash. I have theories as to why this happened and not all attributable to Lamictal, but I now know that that itchiness and inflamed skin was a 'prodromal state of Steven's Johnson'. The pumps were primed, an allergy had been already born and was waiting for the scales to tip to activate it. They sure did tip and for 5 weeks I was miserable and scared that it was going to progress into TENS, which is very bad news indeed.
So now I'm taking a very small amount (approx 5mg) of Cymbalta, just an index fingertip full of the pellets, and along with lithium I'm doing well. The depression is gone. That micro-dose (5mg vs. typical 30-60mg) is just right for me. Iv'e tried more and went from extreme agitation to extreme lethargy. And how about you? - Barbara
Posted by zefdie on October 19, 2005, at 13:59:14
In reply to Re: Just Diagnosed BarbaraCat » KarenRB53, posted by barbaracat on October 14, 2005, at 11:33:32
I've been reading this thread about Lamictal and in a lot of ways it sounds right for me but I'm still incredibly confused about my diagnosis and my options. I've been on Zoloft for a while and am up to 200 mg; I feel less despondent but very, very unwell, bland and flattened out with all the same troubles yet no motivation. Because of intense negativity, occasional hypomania, a racing mind, and a recurrent depression since childhood, my doctor has diagnosed me as Bipolar II and suggested I add Depakote to the Zoloft.
I've suspected I might be BPII for a long time but the symptoms seem so slippery and even after the diagnosis I'm wary!
I don't know what to do! I'm already sleeping too much and feeling listless. I'm more interested in Lamictal than Depakote but am a very allergy-prone, sun-sensitive person and some of the potential side effects worry me! In so many ways it sounds so much better for me than Depakote, but right now I'm unsure about absolutely everything in my life. All of these drugs (Lithium too) have these big drawbacks. And I have little trouble with hypomania--my mania presents itself as negative, self-damning, endlessly erupting and speedy thoughts in the midst of depression. Any hypomanic weeks feel like a welcome change and my only real troubling behavior is spending. Does Lamictal sound better for me than Depakote? I'm just not sure what's right and I want to research it a bit before calling the doc.
Posted by katia on October 19, 2005, at 14:59:13
In reply to Interested in Lamictal but nervous!, posted by zefdie on October 19, 2005, at 13:59:14
Hi there-
I know it feels important to get the right dx, but at the end of the day, what matters is what works for you.
I've been dxed as BPII as well and have been on a somewhat stable med regime for over a year now - Trileptal 450mg, PaxilCR 12.5, and Seroquel (for sleep) 6.25-25mg a night, fish oil, and a full spectrum light during winter months.
I'm also unsure of my dx but I also realize I'm stable and on meds and it's easy to forget the unstability...I had about two years of trial and error on meds before finding this. It takes time. Good luck.
Katia
> I've been reading this thread about Lamictal and in a lot of ways it sounds right for me but I'm still incredibly confused about my diagnosis and my options. I've been on Zoloft for a while and am up to 200 mg; I feel less despondent but very, very unwell, bland and flattened out with all the same troubles yet no motivation. Because of intense negativity, occasional hypomania, a racing mind, and a recurrent depression since childhood, my doctor has diagnosed me as Bipolar II and suggested I add Depakote to the Zoloft.
>
> I've suspected I might be BPII for a long time but the symptoms seem so slippery and even after the diagnosis I'm wary!
>
> I don't know what to do! I'm already sleeping too much and feeling listless. I'm more interested in Lamictal than Depakote but am a very allergy-prone, sun-sensitive person and some of the potential side effects worry me! In so many ways it sounds so much better for me than Depakote, but right now I'm unsure about absolutely everything in my life. All of these drugs (Lithium too) have these big drawbacks. And I have little trouble with hypomania--my mania presents itself as negative, self-damning, endlessly erupting and speedy thoughts in the midst of depression. Any hypomanic weeks feel like a welcome change and my only real troubling behavior is spending. Does Lamictal sound better for me than Depakote? I'm just not sure what's right and I want to research it a bit before calling the doc.
Posted by zefdie on October 19, 2005, at 15:55:24
In reply to Re: Interested in Lamictal but nervous! » zefdie, posted by katia on October 19, 2005, at 14:59:13
Thanks for the kind words, Katia! I'm wondering if I need to reduce Zoloft to avoid getting serious side effects with Lamictal. I want to research it before I call my doctor and think I saw this mentioned somewhere.
Posted by Miriamne on October 19, 2005, at 16:07:00
In reply to Interested in Lamictal but nervous!, posted by zefdie on October 19, 2005, at 13:59:14
Yes, it's a difficult process finding the right medication, isn't it? Let me encourage you not to give up on it-- you have to be willing to stick with something long enough to make an accurate judgement, yet willing to try something else if it is truly not helping you.
I've been on Lamictal for several years now, and except for a scare about a skin rash (which turned out to be poison ivy and which I researched on this website!), it has been a good med for me. It seems to stabilize my mood swings without being overly "flattening." I also take Effexor, and recently had to throw a low dose of estrogen/progesterone into the mix for menopausal problems... but that's another story! Overall, the Lamictal has been helpful in combination with my other med(s)for Bipolar II.
I'll be glad to keep in touch via this board to see how you're doing. I've received a lot of help here myself, so I encourage you to keep posting with questions and followups.
Sincerely,
MiriamneI've been reading this thread about Lamictal and in a lot of ways it sounds right for me but I'm still incredibly confused about my diagnosis and my options. I've been on Zoloft for a while and am up to 200 mg; I feel less despondent but very, very unwell, bland and flattened out with all the same troubles yet no motivation. Because of intense negativity, occasional hypomania, a racing mind, and a recurrent depression since childhood, my doctor has diagnosed me as Bipolar II and suggested I add Depakote to the Zoloft.
>
> I've suspected I might be BPII for a long time but the symptoms seem so slippery and even after the diagnosis I'm wary!
>
> I don't know what to do! I'm already sleeping too much and feeling listless. I'm more interested in Lamictal than Depakote but am a very allergy-prone, sun-sensitive person and some of the potential side effects worry me! In so many ways it sounds so much better for me than Depakote, but right now I'm unsure about absolutely everything in my life. All of these drugs (Lithium too) have these big drawbacks. And I have little trouble with hypomania--my mania presents itself as negative, self-damning, endlessly erupting and speedy thoughts in the midst of depression. Any hypomanic weeks feel like a welcome change and my only real troubling behavior is spending. Does Lamictal sound better for me than Depakote? I'm just not sure what's right and I want to research it a bit before calling the doc.
Posted by katia on October 19, 2005, at 16:30:39
In reply to Does Zoloft increase Lamictal levels?, posted by zefdie on October 19, 2005, at 15:55:24
> Thanks for the kind words, Katia! I'm wondering if I need to reduce Zoloft to avoid getting serious side effects with Lamictal. I want to research it before I call my doctor and think I saw this mentioned somewhere.
>
>My advice would be to first ask your pdoc and then add one thing at a time so you know what's causing what. Add the Lamictal VERY SLOWLY and see how you feel and tweek as necessary either med. Lam is definitely an activating med - makes you feel euphoric at first. The second time i tried it however, I went dysphoric, not fun.
good luck.
katia
Posted by KarenRB53 on October 19, 2005, at 17:09:29
In reply to Re: Just Diagnosed BarbaraCat » KarenRB53, posted by barbaracat on October 14, 2005, at 11:33:32
> > Just wondering if you're still on Lamictal and how you're doing with it?
> > Thanks, Karen
> >
> **Wow, that was a while back and so much has happened since then. No, I'm not on Lam. I was doing fine on 75mg for about 4 months or so. Then my mom died suddenly and threw me into a tailspin and the depression came back with force. My pdoc had me slowly titrate up. With every increase I'd feel agitation which subsided, but I wasn't getting the antidepressant relief.
>
> At 125mg I started itching ferociously, like stinging little needles or tiny biting gnats. So bad I couldn't go to restaurants cause I'd embarrass myself needing to scratch everywhere.
>
> I didn't associate it with Lam because we'd just taken in another stray cat and I blamed it on finally becoming allergic to our many cats. Besides, I thought the Lamictal rash was just that, a rash and my pdoc didn't associate it either. When I got up to 175mg I was itching so badly I had goudged bloody tracks on my head and body and my skin was looking puffy and inflamed, but still no 'rash'. So we backed down and then off completely because it no longer worked for the depression I was dealing with. Eventually went to nortriptyline which got me over the bad spot.
>
> A few months later, after Lam was out of my system I took an oral chelator, DMPS, to get rid of mercury toxicity. I had an immediate awful reaction to it that turned into Stevens Johnson Syndrome, or the dreaded rash. I have theories as to why this happened and not all attributable to Lamictal, but I now know that that itchiness and inflamed skin was a 'prodromal state of Steven's Johnson'. The pumps were primed, an allergy had been already born and was waiting for the scales to tip to activate it. They sure did tip and for 5 weeks I was miserable and scared that it was going to progress into TENS, which is very bad news indeed.
>
> So now I'm taking a very small amount (approx 5mg) of Cymbalta, just an index fingertip full of the pellets, and along with lithium I'm doing well. The depression is gone. That micro-dose (5mg vs. typical 30-60mg) is just right for me. Iv'e tried more and went from extreme agitation to extreme lethargy. And how about you? - Barbara
>
> Thanks for responding. What is somatic tension? I started out feeling pretty good with low dose Lamictal but couldn't get above 75mg. because of increased agitation. I also take Prozac which up till now has been the only antidepressant that helps me. But using them together even at low doses has not worked.
Karen
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