Lamictal and Lithium.. Lamictal effective? - Bipolar Disorder Message Board

Alexandra34 · 11-14-2003, 04:03 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

*music23* · 11-14-2003, 05:21 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

Alexandra34 · 11-14-2003, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *music23*

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

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, 06:13 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

Alexandra34 · 11-15-2003, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wobbly

...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

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.