Looking for help with side effects - Bipolar Disorder Message Board

02-02-2005, 10:23 AM

Hi all. I'm Lynda. My 30 year old daughter is a rapid cycler. She is currently on seroquel and lamictal and after about 9 months is starting to experience tremors. This is a huge problem because she is in her senior year at the university and is trembling so bad she can't take notes, plus she is highly embarrassed by it. A little background on her: She is a single mother of a four year old (full custody) and an 11 year old (weekends only). She was diagnosed about 4 years ago. She is on Medical (welfare) and they started her on lithium. With every new side effect, they piled on another pill until she was taking a cocktail of 7 different ones. We talked and talked and she finally decided she was so toxic she had to stop all of them. After being off of everything for 9 months, she resumed her pattern of rapid cycling and really bad decisions, ending with a weekend binge of drugs and alcohol and rolling her car (she says it wasn't a suicide attempt, but I still wonder). She was hospitalized for 3 days (voluntary) and they started her on the seroquel and lamictil. Does anyone have any experience with this combination and can we figure out which one is causing the tremors without stopping both meds or adding another? Any advice would be appreciated.

ManiMe · 02-02-2005, 10:35 AM

Hi Lynda (oops, that might blow my denial of past 12-step programs......) !

No direct experience with either of those two (from me).

Others will hopefully post.

Thought I'd try to give you some positive feedback. I don't respond well to ANY meds, and tremors/gappy balance and equilibrium (along with distracting visual anomalies) made it so that I felt totally unsafe behind the wheel of a moving vehicle. If I glanced to either side - to look at a blur I thought I'd seen move - then I'd start to weave off the road. BAD. VERY BAD.

It's a tough balance for all of us, regarding the medications. It's extremely frustrating. There have been many ongoing discussions on this board regarding the cost/benefit analysis. Some folks hope that by seriously trying to reduce stress in their own lives (even through psychotherapy), then they might reduce the AMOUNT of required medications and improve their lives.

I would recommend that any change be done gradually - and records kept of effectiveness. Modify as needed - but very gradually. In all regards. Sudden jolts of any sort can act as potential triggers. It is my guess that your daughter went off her meds too quickly.

As she stabilizes, you might use that information to help strike a workable balance in any future medication reductions.

For what it's worth, I've been around a few times, and the heavier I get, the rounder I get along with it (and I'm trying to practice what I preach by using a similar approach on diet and exercise).

Best wishes to you both (and all the other 6+ billion hominids that might have access to these boards) !

NOW - would someone with REAL specifics concerning those meds please consider giving some feedback (oh, pretty please ?).......

02-02-2005, 12:34 PM

Hi manimi, thanks for the response. Yes, she has also experienced weight gain and is now doing Atkins. I have been on Atkins for 1-1/2 years and had good results. She said yesterday, she had no tremors, but today they're back. She also doesn't feel the lamictal is as effective as it was since she's been feeling weepy and is having more trouble articulating what she wishes to say. I have suggested a journal detailing what she eats and what kind of rest and stress she has each day to try and find out if any of those things affect her tremors or other side effects. I'm also hoping that others will respond. While I am not bp, I am truly hoping for a much better understanding so that I can help her understand it. She is even considering ECT because she's heard it can "cure" bp so she won't have to deal with meds. Do you have any feedback on that?

Again, thanks for your response. It's so nice to have a place to ask questions freely from those that have been there and are further along on their journey with bp.

02-02-2005, 03:50 PM

My daughter has asked me to inquire if the "mental" side effects of lack of concentration, inability to articulate well, memory loss and such are considered a side effect and which drug (lamictil or seroquel) could be causing it. Or is it part of bp itself that is contributing to this. once again, thanks for any input. My daughter has asked me to post this because her tremors prevent her from typing.

princesspea · 02-02-2005, 05:03 PM

Hi!

I just hijack this from one of K's posts. I hope it helps. I personally know nothing about these meds.

SEROQUEL
Although side effects from quetiapine are not common, they can occur. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

dizziness
lightheadedness
constipation
stomach pain
headache
excessive weight gain
runny nose
rash
ear pain
flu symptoms
swollen ankles
If you experience any of the following symptoms or those listed in the SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS section, call your doctor immediately:

fainting, seizures, increased body temperature (fever), muscle stiffness, difficulty thinking clearly, fast or irregular heartbeat muscle spasms, fine worm-like tongue movements, tremors, shuffling walk, inability to sit still, jerky movements

LAMICTAL
Although side effects from lamotrigine are not common, they can occur. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

drowsiness
upset stomach
vomiting
diarrhea
changes in balance
loss of taste and appetite
headache
irritability
insomnia
If you experience any of the following symptoms or those described in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, call your doctor immediately:

redness of skin
swelling

I have to look up ECT. I have nothing on it. It was always my understanding that it was for depression but, they find so many different uses for all kinds of things everyday. If I discover anything about it and bp, I'll post it right away!

YOU can post here anytime! We have other family members that post here too. We allow them in

. I'm sorry you have to post for your daughter for the reason you have to. Say hi for me!

The journal idea is an excellent one!!! It's important for her to keep how she feels, her moods and what she eats. I recently was dx'd with Celiac Disease and I had no idea...same thing when I got dx'd with diabetes. I really should take your advise for myself!

You sound like a great Mom!!!

Love,

Jamie