Alexandra34
11-14-2003, 07:03 PM
Hi,
I've been on Lithium since last May. Even though the Lithium helped with the deep depression and mania, it left me feeling flat, flat, flat. So in September my doc. put me on Lamictal. I've been on 200mg. for two weeks now. I know it can take up to four weeks to be effective. My past history with meds.has not been so successful. I've always been treatment resistant, so now I'm worried about whether it will work or not... and I'm anxious to feel the effects.
Any experiences shared here would be great. I do know about the possible rash side effect of Lamictal. I'm not worried any longer since I've been taking it for three months.
Thanks
I've been on Lithium since last May. Even though the Lithium helped with the deep depression and mania, it left me feeling flat, flat, flat. So in September my doc. put me on Lamictal. I've been on 200mg. for two weeks now. I know it can take up to four weeks to be effective. My past history with meds.has not been so successful. I've always been treatment resistant, so now I'm worried about whether it will work or not... and I'm anxious to feel the effects.
Any experiences shared here would be great. I do know about the possible rash side effect of Lamictal. I'm not worried any longer since I've been taking it for three months.
Thanks
Sponsor
*music23*
11-14-2003, 08:21 PM
Not to worry you, but the rash of lamictal can occur even when you've been on it for awhile according to my doctor.
AS for the effects of the meds, Lithium didn't work for me and besides made me really thirsty all the time. Lamictal works well for me now with no side effects that I can tie to it.
Kristina :wave:
AS for the effects of the meds, Lithium didn't work for me and besides made me really thirsty all the time. Lamictal works well for me now with no side effects that I can tie to it.
Kristina :wave:
Alexandra34
11-14-2003, 08:35 PM
Not to worry you, but the rash of lamictal can occur even when you've been on it for awhile according to my doctor.
AS for the effects of the meds, Lithium didn't work for me and besides made me really thirsty all the time. Lamictal works well for me now with no side effects that I can tie to it.
Kristina :wave:
Thanks for your reply Kristina. Thanks for the info. Glad to hear the Lamictal helped you.. did you wake up one morning and just feel better? Anyway I hope for the same results. Lithium worked well for me except for the left-over flat feeling I wrote about. What do you take for your bipolar since lithium doesn't work?
AS for the effects of the meds, Lithium didn't work for me and besides made me really thirsty all the time. Lamictal works well for me now with no side effects that I can tie to it.
Kristina :wave:
Thanks for your reply Kristina. Thanks for the info. Glad to hear the Lamictal helped you.. did you wake up one morning and just feel better? Anyway I hope for the same results. Lithium worked well for me except for the left-over flat feeling I wrote about. What do you take for your bipolar since lithium doesn't work?
wobbly
11-15-2003, 09:13 AM
...and both worked for me but in different ways. The Lithium worked OK but I didn't like the tremors and narrow therapeutic range. I didn't feel like poisoning myself. That was about 6 years ago and this summer I went on Lamictal. It is supposed to be more of an antidepressant than an antimanic, which I needed b/c my depression was really bad. I didn't have any sides and I feel that Lamictal provices a "safety net" that doesn't allow me to get too depressed or too high. I don't know if it would be enough all by itself...I am also taking Wellbutrin and Remeron for depression/sleep, and Zyprexa for sleep. I guess it's an OK combination, but I don't think it's optimal. I wish there was just one pill that was a "bipolar basher" and that one pill was all you had to take. I guess we'll have to wait for medical science to invent that one though...
Good luck and good health
-wobbly :cool:
Good luck and good health
-wobbly :cool:
Alexandra34
11-15-2003, 12:00 PM
...and both worked for me but in different ways. The Lithium worked OK but I didn't like the tremors and narrow therapeutic range. I didn't feel like poisoning myself. That was about 6 years ago and this summer I went on Lamictal. It is supposed to be more of an antidepressant than an antimanic, which I needed b/c my depression was really bad. I didn't have any sides and I feel that Lamictal provices a "safety net" that doesn't allow me to get too depressed or too high. I don't know if it would be enough all by itself...I am also taking Wellbutrin and Remeron for depression/sleep, and Zyprexa for sleep. I guess it's an OK combination, but I don't think it's optimal. I wish there was just one pill that was a "bipolar basher" and that one pill was all you had to take. I guess we'll have to wait for medical science to invent that one though...
Good luck and good health
-wobbly :cool:
Great catch phrase there! Your right, wouldn't be nice if they came out with a new family of bipolar meds. that took care of all related symtoms and called them bipolar bashers..
Well as you know I'm on Lithium and Lamictal. I'm also on Mirapex for restless leg syndrome, Seoquel to help with sleep at night, Inderal for the tremours and anxiety I have, Synthroid, Provigil for daytime sleepiness (also used for narcolepsy). So many pill bottles! so little space in my cabinet. :eek:
Good luck and good health
-wobbly :cool:
Great catch phrase there! Your right, wouldn't be nice if they came out with a new family of bipolar meds. that took care of all related symtoms and called them bipolar bashers..
Well as you know I'm on Lithium and Lamictal. I'm also on Mirapex for restless leg syndrome, Seoquel to help with sleep at night, Inderal for the tremours and anxiety I have, Synthroid, Provigil for daytime sleepiness (also used for narcolepsy). So many pill bottles! so little space in my cabinet. :eek:
Alexandra34
11-15-2003, 12:02 PM
...and both worked for me but in different ways. The Lithium worked OK but I didn't like the tremors and narrow therapeutic range. I didn't feel like poisoning myself. That was about 6 years ago and this summer I went on Lamictal. It is supposed to be more of an antidepressant than an antimanic, which I needed b/c my depression was really bad. I didn't have any sides and I feel that Lamictal provices a "safety net" that doesn't allow me to get too depressed or too high. I don't know if it would be enough all by itself...I am also taking Wellbutrin and Remeron for depression/sleep, and Zyprexa for sleep. I guess it's an OK combination, but I don't think it's optimal. I wish there was just one pill that was a "bipolar basher" and that one pill was all you had to take. I guess we'll have to wait for medical science to invent that one though...
Good luck and good health
-wobbly :cool:
good luck to you
Good luck and good health
-wobbly :cool:
good luck to you
*music23*
11-15-2003, 02:34 PM
The Lamictal didn't really help with the depression or so it seemed at the time I started taking it. It just stabilized my mood so I cant say that I just woke up one day and felt better.
I take Abilify, Lamictal, Zoloft, Clomipramine/Anafranil, and Strattera. Sometimes Xanax for sleep.
Kristina :wave:
I take Abilify, Lamictal, Zoloft, Clomipramine/Anafranil, and Strattera. Sometimes Xanax for sleep.
Kristina :wave:
jorob
11-16-2003, 12:05 AM
Hi,
I've been on Lithium since last May. Even though the Lithium helped with the deep depression and mania, it left me feeling flat, flat, flat. So in September my doc. put me on Lamictal. I've been on 200mg. for two weeks now. I know it can take up to four weeks to be effective. My past history with meds.has not been so successful. I've always been treatment resistant, so now I'm worried about whether it will work or not... and I'm anxious to feel the effects.
Any experiences shared here would be great. I do know about the possible rash side effect of Lamictal. I'm not worried any longer since I've been taking it for three months.
Thanks
[FONT=Arial]Hi, I'm Karyn...new to the board. Have been on Lamictal for about 4 mos. with excellent results. That, gradually increased to 200 mg., with 100 mg. Topomax, 75 mg. Seroquel, 15 mg. Abilify and 150 mg. Zoloft daily keeps me stabilized. Have an excellent pdoc who knows how to manipulate various combinations of chemical treatments for bipolars.
Hope this is of some help/hope?
I've been on Lithium since last May. Even though the Lithium helped with the deep depression and mania, it left me feeling flat, flat, flat. So in September my doc. put me on Lamictal. I've been on 200mg. for two weeks now. I know it can take up to four weeks to be effective. My past history with meds.has not been so successful. I've always been treatment resistant, so now I'm worried about whether it will work or not... and I'm anxious to feel the effects.
Any experiences shared here would be great. I do know about the possible rash side effect of Lamictal. I'm not worried any longer since I've been taking it for three months.
Thanks
[FONT=Arial]Hi, I'm Karyn...new to the board. Have been on Lamictal for about 4 mos. with excellent results. That, gradually increased to 200 mg., with 100 mg. Topomax, 75 mg. Seroquel, 15 mg. Abilify and 150 mg. Zoloft daily keeps me stabilized. Have an excellent pdoc who knows how to manipulate various combinations of chemical treatments for bipolars.
Hope this is of some help/hope?
Alexandra34
11-16-2003, 04:27 PM
[FONT=Arial]Hi, I'm Karyn...new to the board. Have been on Lamictal for about 4 mos. with excellent results. That, gradually increased to 200 mg., with 100 mg. Topomax, 75 mg. Seroquel, 15 mg. Abilify and 150 mg. Zoloft daily keeps me stabilized. Have an excellent pdoc who knows how to manipulate various combinations of chemical treatments for bipolars.
Hope this is of some help/hope?
Hi Karyn, that sounds promising to me. How long did it take before you felt better while taking Lamictal? Did you wake up one morning and feel better all of a sudden?
I'm also on Seroquel along with Lithium, Provigil, Mirapex, Synthyroid, and Inderal... needless to say my med cabinet is full...
Hope this is of some help/hope?
Hi Karyn, that sounds promising to me. How long did it take before you felt better while taking Lamictal? Did you wake up one morning and feel better all of a sudden?
I'm also on Seroquel along with Lithium, Provigil, Mirapex, Synthyroid, and Inderal... needless to say my med cabinet is full...
jorob
11-16-2003, 09:10 PM
Hi, Alexandra--
it took about 3 weeks for me to start feeling better, but I cannot attribute that to Lamictal alone. I noticed when it was added, however, the irritability was greatly reduced and that, I believe, was a direct result.
it took about 3 weeks for me to start feeling better, but I cannot attribute that to Lamictal alone. I noticed when it was added, however, the irritability was greatly reduced and that, I believe, was a direct result.
rubindj
11-17-2003, 04:10 AM
Most of the medical research says that Lithium is one of the most effective antidepressents in existances. Unfortuneately, it also has a really high side effect profile, so its one of those "pick your poison" issues. Depakote, and especially Lamicatl and Topamax have lower side effects, are effective at maina control, but maybe not so much at depression.
Keep in mind that most long term Lithium users also will lose function in their thyroid on top of other issues.
Keep in mind that most long term Lithium users also will lose function in their thyroid on top of other issues.
herzel
11-17-2003, 01:41 PM
Hey, I have been taking Lamictal for some time now and I love it.I haven't felt so good in a long time.No problems so far and my dr swears it is the best drug for BP for most of his patients.I have some friends on it too and they seem to like it as well.The good thing about it is it doesn't make you gain weight.Give it a try and good luck to you.I hope it works for you like it does for me and I have been fighting BP for 20 years with no real success with the other meds.Let me know how you are doing.
Alexandra34
11-17-2003, 03:08 PM
Hey, I have been taking Lamictal for some time now and I love it.I haven't felt so good in a long time.No problems so far and my dr swears it is the best drug for BP for most of his patients.I have some friends on it too and they seem to like it as well.The good thing about it is it doesn't make you gain weight.Give it a try and good luck to you.I hope it works for you like it does for me and I have been fighting BP for 20 years with no real success with the other meds.Let me know how you are doing.
Sounds great Debz... good to hear it worked for you but what I want to know is how long did it take before the Lamictal kicked in and you started to feel better??
Sounds great Debz... good to hear it worked for you but what I want to know is how long did it take before the Lamictal kicked in and you started to feel better??