What happens when you change meds ? - Bipolar Disorder Message Board

frostedglass · 02-02-2007, 12:09 PM

Hey everyone,

I've recently been diagnosed with BP-2 and my doctor has just begun the process of "cocktailing" me. I am currently on 150mg of Effexor XR and I WAS on 50mg of Seroquel. However, I hated the seroquel and even though I took it at 9pm at night, I would still have a hard time getting up even 16 hours later. ( He asked me if this was poss. because of the depression however I don't feel "as depressed" if that makes sense )

So, I saw him this past Monday, and he discussed switching me from Seroquel to Lamictal. He told me that while I considered the options, I could just drop back down to 25mg of Seroquel so that I could function in the morning. I left the office that day, did some research, had the bloodwork done, and I made the choice that yes, I would give that a shot. ( I hear many good things about it) So basically, I went from 50mg of Seroquel to nothing in 4 days and I'm now on 25mg of Lamictal at night (to build up to 100mg over the next 4 weeks)

I have been LOSING it though all week.

I don't know why ... but my mind just will not shut off, I have been really anxious and I once again, cannot sleep. I was doing really well for the first two months, and now I feel like I've taken 5 steps backwards

Would this be because I'm switching over my meds ? Has anyone experienced this while then they change meds ? Was I supposed to just "stop" the seroquel as soon as I started the lamictal?

Ugh. why didn't I think of asking my pdoc on Monday !?

Any suggestions or advice would be awesome

tsohl · 02-02-2007, 01:36 PM

Hello and welcome

Are you being treated by a pdoc? It can take quite awhile to find the meds that will work best for you. I am certainly not an expert on this very complicated topic, but I don't believe that you were on a mood stabilizer. When your lamicatal reaches the therapeutic dose for you, it will cover you, but at the moment, it is not enough to stabilize your moods. In my experience you need a mood stabilizer such as lithium, tegretol or lamictal, and then meds like anti-depressants ( like Effexor) and other categories of drugs like seroquel can be added to kind of "tweak" the control of moods.

If you can ride it out until you reach the proper dose of lamictal, things should improve dramatically. You are right. It is a wonderful med and many people feel it has made their lives so much better.

Please keep posting with your comments and questions. There are many wonderful people on this board who have walked in your shoes.

Hang in there.
Tsohl