I'm newly diagnosed Bi-polar 2 (I've posted previously) and was just prescribed Lamictal. I'm really afraid to take this medication even though I've read up on it and it seems like a good choice. My fear is what will happen if I'm not really BP-2 and I take the Lamictal? Will it harm me? Will it make me feel worse? I've been on several AD's and just recently weaned off of Zoloft. It seemed to work at first but then I started to feel worse and worse. I tried different AD's with the same results. I just thought I had some kind of AD resistant depression or it was because of my thyroid but then I get this diagnosis of BP-2. I also have a non-toxic, multinodular goiter and take a very low dose of Levothroid for that. I'm not in denial, I'm just afraid of what will happen to me if I take the Lamictal and I reallly don't need it. I've had such bad experiences with the AD's that I'm afraid the same thing will happen with the Lamictal. I hope they're not confusing my thyroid problem with bi-polar disorder.
Please, can anyone help me out here? I'm really scared.

Thanks,
Bluelady

Well, so fare I can tell u this,.. I have taken AD's half my life, and one by one, they eventually fail me. At first they work, later on they don't seem to work.. I swore by Welbutrin(SP??) several months ago... that was 300mg...XL.
I am now trying 450mg XL.. didn't know I could.. am also taking Lamictal. It's a new drug, I have never heard of, it is used to treat Bi-polar 1. It is suppose to stabilize the depression part.. but with all good meds such as these, u have to wait that 30 day period, before it REALLY kicks in... I did find it strange after all I told the doctor, that he did not also prescribe something that would at least suppress the feelings I have on and off now... The roller coaster of ups and downs is a real bummer, and I can honestly say I can do without it, I guess it's like, I've been this way 6 months, what does another month matter... Unfortunately it matters a lot..

so far, no results... BUT it's only been 2 days and no rash.. but a minor headache.. will the drug harm you if u do not suffer from the disorder.. nope.. could u suffer from depression and it is your hormones? yep... but It would mean that u are not producing them or not enough, and I actually do know I do not... ( genetic tests ) So why not just replace the hormones? expense and the side effects not too nifty.

but, I can not continue my current path, feeling this cruddy, up and down and up and down... Speak with your dr about the thyroid issues and get a second or third opinion as well.. Make sure all those involved know the meds u r on. As for the thyroid issue.. People who are treated for thyroid issues, may still require anti-depressants.. It is not unusual. (good gawd my spelling stinks tonight..) ... ( u may want to look through the resources this very board supports and supplies it's users... ) Hopefully others will post messages about your issues u are having and that u feel better about stuff.. sorry, I was not much help... good luck! :)

Where do I look for the resources?

Thanks,
Bluelady

Hi bluelady,
I was recently diagnosed with bipolar condition 6 months ago. My doctor has me on Celexa and Serequeol. The Celexa I take during the day the other at night to help me sleep. I am sure there are several different medications out there for this condition. These medicines have seemed to help me, though with my bipolar condition i am also a cutter. Not sure if you are familiar with that term some people arn't. In other words self mutiliation. I usually only cut my wrists, and though I hate it when this happens I just feel so down at times and feel like there is no one I can turn to as my family, kids and most friends do not understand why I do this. I do understand what you are going through and your concerns. I would like to share a poem with everyone that I wrote. Not that most will understand, but from a person that is bipolar and a cutter this is how I feel when I cut. Today I wrote a poem I wrote it on my wrist, I wrote it with a razor blade, It ended with a twist. The blade was small and narrow, My heart was filled with pain, as i wrote the first sentence the blade hit a vein. I saw my poem run down my arm, I saw it drip to the floor, I saw it crawl away and run right out the door. I watched my poem drip, my wrist was so sore, I watched my poem fade away and then i saw no more... Though this sounds deep, its so much pain built up in me and though alot of people out there im sure don't understand cause i myself, at times don't i am trying to deal with my condtion the best I know how. I hope this helps some and I am here to listen if you need me. Sincerely lonelyangel

its scary, but scarier if you dont try it.....im on lamictal and have been for a few months. its been the best one for me, so hopefully it will be good for you too. i actually have energy during the day, i cry less than once a week (used to be every few hours) and i dont get racing thoughts, very much anymore.

I am at 100mg and on to 200mg in a day or two... it seems to be doing it's job.... but, as good as it has been, it once again seemed to be failing to do it's job, I am not saying it isn't going to work for others, nor can I if I have even reachec the proper dosage yet... I wonder how far up in size can the drug be prescribed? I just recently started having fits of anger, simple things piss me off, especially having extremely short short term memory. It's become rather disappointing, when u think something is working rather well then it feels like it isn't, this is week 7.. too soon to say really..
especially if the normal presrcription can actually be upto 500mg... (probably more, so I guess time will tell..)

its scary, but scarier if you dont try it.....im on lamictal and have been for a few months. its been the best one for me, so hopefully it will be good for you too. i actually have energy during the day, i cry less than once a week (used to be every few hours) and i dont get racing thoughts, very much anymore.

I actually start to avoid my friends, seems easier that way, less of a let down when they actually do leave you. That and avoiding parties when people always want to start asking you questions, and u don't want to answer what, why and how.. epecailly if u are not working and u don't feel like working because u don't want to deal with THAT either... As much as two of my closer friends want to help, but i guess I push even them away.. but I rationalize it as getting rid of them before they dump me.. I never learn either.. and how do I deal with it all? I don't or I joke about it all, no matter how tackey.. and I shouldn't... but when u hit the end of the rope and meds are keeping u from losing your gripe...

Yeah, this is getting REALLY depressing so I am going to stop and do something else..

if u need help with locating resources, ask the admins of this group.. I know I should do more... but, oddly enough, even computers depress me now.. I guess remind me of things and THAT bums me out

good luck.

Hi all,
My long post is under side affects.Anyway,Lamictal has been a life saver for me.7months in a strait line,no ups,no downs.I'm Bi-Polar 1,and finally my family can breath,somewhat easy,after yrs. of war.with me.

I'm newly diagnosed Bi-polar 2 (I've posted previously) and was just prescribed Lamictal. I'm really afraid to take this medication even though I've read up on it and it seems like a good choice. My fear is what will happen if I'm not really BP-2 and I take the Lamictal? Will it harm me? Will it make me feel worse? I've been on several AD's and just recently weaned off of Zoloft. It seemed to work at first but then I started to feel worse and worse. I tried different AD's with the same results. I just thought I had some kind of AD resistant depression or it was because of my thyroid but then I get this diagnosis of BP-2. I also have a non-toxic, multinodular goiter and take a very low dose of Levothroid for that. I'm not in denial, I'm just afraid of what will happen to me if I take the Lamictal and I reallly don't need it. I've had such bad experiences with the AD's that I'm afraid the same thing will happen with the Lamictal. I hope they're not confusing my thyroid problem with bi-polar disorder.
Please, can anyone help me out here? I'm really scared.

Thanks,
Bluelady

;) oooops, double post...sorry

I know that starting a med is scary but leaving Bipolar untreated could be even scarier. My daughter didn't do well on the AD's either...in fact they only worstened the condition leading to a manic episode.

We have tried many meds and are still trying to find the right combo. Right now we are on 100mgs of Lamictal and 300mgs of Seroquel and are doing very well. I think that we have finally found the meds that will help her since this has been the longest span of time without any real problems.

The Lamictal is one med that really has very few side effects....the worst being a nasty rash that could be fatal (this usually occurs when the med is given too quickly so please don't be scared off but if you do get a rash be sure to call your doctor right away and do not take another dose of the med until he instructs you what to do) If you are sensitive to meds I would suggest you ask your doctor to start you at an even lower dose than usual and to increase you more slowly than other patients.....that's what I did with my daughter and so far so good.

Now the good news is that when Lamictal works people say it is the "magic pill", it is great at taking care of the depressive side of Bipolar. I say give it a try and see what happens....it will take time to get to a therapeutic dose but once you feel better keep it at that dosage....some people only require a small dosage others require more. You will know when you are at the right dosage when you increase the dose and it doesn't only last a few days before you feel it not working as well....it will make you feel good the entire week. It isn't uncommon to feel a little agitated/anxious the first day or so of an increase....it will usually level off after the first few days of an increase.

I hope that this alleviates your fears.

(((HUGS))) ~ Goody:angel: :wave:

I got diagnosed with BP about 4 months ago. Granted it's BPII. I've been on so many other meds for what my psyc thought was depression for almost five yearts. They did nothing. So once we figured out the BP part I got put on Lamictal immidiately along with Prozac. It took about 4-6weeks for it to get into my system. I'm currently taking 150mg. I haven't had nearly as many fluctuations and I'm weaning off the Prozac.

My advice: try the Lamictal. So far it's helped me. A LOT compared with all the other stuff I've taken. I haven't noticed any major side effects either. So go for it!