I take Lamictal and Abilify right now, and recently I've started cutting my Lamictal dose in half. The reason I did this is that I can never feel "happy" on my meds. I always feel like I'm being hindered from being "myself." Hopefully someone on the boards who is bipolar can relate to this feeling.

Now since I started cutting the dose in half, which was about a week ago, I have noticed that I've been very tired. I've also noticed my thoughts are fuzzier, but at times clearer than they were before. It's an odd feeling.

Also, I drink once a week and I know this affects me, but I do it anyways. I've been drinking about once a week since I was 18 or 19. I'm 21 now. I have lots of issues that I need to deal with and I felt like I should just vent a little bit here. Hopefully someone responds. Please ask questions but don't be too harsh, I know I'm not perfect and have faults, just like any other human.

Why do I do this? Whenever I'm "doing good" I always screw up and change my meds myself. I need to learn to accept bipolar for one thing, accept the illness, and accept my life. Sorry guys, I just need to vent to someone or something. I think I've had too much time on my hands, no real job, out of school, etc...


Should I just take my regular dose of Lamictal?

I understand how you feel. I'm on a LOT of meds and I feel almost like a shell. If that makes any sense. In my opinion, the best thing for you to do is to take your meds as prescribed.

What meds are you taking, if you don't mind me asking?

I feel like a "shell" also, I know what you mean. I realize my situation could be alot worse than it is. My family is so supportive of me and loves me and everything, I don't know what I'd do if my family didn't understand the disease. At the same time, I feel like my life is a lose lose situation. I hate being on the meds cause of side effects and how they make me emotionless and bland, but if I was off of them I'd probably lose my mind. So what do I do?

Hi...it isn't unusual to feel the way that you do...but if you started thinking about your Bipolar being like any other biological disorder requiring meds then perhaps you will be better able to accept that the meds are as necessary as insulin is to a diabetic. But rather than the pancreas being affected the brain is.

As far as the Lamictal goes....you shouldn't increase it too quickly or it may cause the rash that is associated with it. If it only has been a few days then it would be safe to go back to the full dose but if it has been longer I would increase it a bit slower.

For instance....if you were on 200mgs/day and cut it back to 100mgs/day I would suggest that you go up 25mgs/wk until you are back up to the full dose again. If you are unsure I would put a call into your pdoc and be honest with him and see what he suggests you do.

Vent away.....it is better than stopping your meds. Think of how far you have come....it isn't worth going back to where you first began so hang in there and don't be too hard on yourself. The important thing is that you realized how important it is to take the meds and accept that you need them just as the diabetic needs his/her insulin.

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

Hi...it isn't unusual to feel the way that you do...but if you started thinking about your Bipolar being like any other biological disorder requiring meds then perhaps you will be better able to accept that the meds are as necessary as insulin is to a diabetic. But rather than the pancreas being affected the brain is.

As far as the Lamictal goes....you shouldn't increase it too quickly or it may cause the rash that is associated with it. If it only has been a few days then it would be safe to go back to the full dose but if it has been longer I would increase it a bit slower.

For instance....if you were on 200mgs/day and cut it back to 100mgs/day I would suggest that you go up 25mgs/wk until you are back up to the full dose again. If you are unsure I would put a call into your pdoc and be honest with him and see what he suggests you do.

Vent away.....it is better than stopping your meds. Think of how far you have come....it isn't worth going back to where you first began so hang in there and don't be too hard on yourself. The important thing is that you realized how important it is to take the meds and accept that you need them just as the diabetic needs his/her insulin.

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


Thank you for the post! It's been about a week since I started cutting the dose. Do you think I'd have to worry about the rash if I went back up on the dose? I've been taking Lamictal for years now. I think I'm going to keep cutting the dose and see how I feel. I don't feel crappy with the lower dose, I feel better in some respects.

Well I just talked to my parents about all of this, and my mom who is a nurse said to take the regular dose of Lamictal. So I that's what I just did and is what I'm going to do from now on. She said that the rash problem is actually related to a reaction with Depakote when taking Lamictal.