Bipolar Disorder Support Group
Bipolar disorder is not just a single disorder, but a category of mood disorders marked by periods of abnormally high energy and euphoria, often accompanied by bouts of clinical depression. This is the place to talk about your experience with bipolar disorder, learn from others' experiences, and find support.
Hello, group...
I'm 59 years young & newly diagnosed BP, after decades of what every Dr. I saw thought was "merely" major depressive disorder, anxiety & ADHD. The depression & anxiety, treated with every antidepressant known to man, would wax and wane (sometimes to extremes) - but I was always, always, always incredibly irritable.
On top of a pretty hefty crisis with one of my teenage children (he's ADHD, with an unspecified mood disorder & refuses to take prescribed medication --- but is all for taking street drugs & feeding his active substance abuse -- and at 17, ran away 6 weeks ago) -- I've also recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. I'm sure this is why my depression and anxiety has increased exponentially.
While feeling utterly out of control, tearful all the time, etc. I went to see the Dr. I HAD been seeing -- and felt completely blown off... it was as if she just couldn't be bothered with me. It was then that I decided to look for another Dr. -- and just happened to luck into one that was able to see me soon. His reviews on Yelp were mixed -- but, generally, I don't pay much attention to those (I don't even know why I looked!)... and thought I'd chance it.
I'm so glad I did! He has been amazing! I've never had a Dr. that has ever spent so much time LISTENING to me, asking questions & explaining what he thought was going on & why. He's put me on Lamictal - starting at 25 mg once a day (will increase slowly), and Klonapin .5 three times a day. He's taking me off of sertraline (slowly) and lorazepam.
Today is only day 5 of the new meds & I am quite nauseated, with an awful headache. Everything I've read about Lamictal says that these are probably side effects --- my question is this: has anyone found a way to mitigate these side effects? I'm trying to tough it out, carry on & ignore them -- but, it's pretty hard to concentrate at work, or do housework, etc. at home, when I feel so YUCKY. Will the nausea eventually go away?
I'd appreciate hearing about YOUR experiences with Lamictal, if you'd care to share...
Thank you!
Linda
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The weeks seem to fly by!Happy Saturday to everyoneI hope that the weekend brings some chill time and barbecuesDoes it take others what seems like forever to add a comment on the boards?I'm okay everywhere else except boards..Everywhere else adds normally but it's annoyingly slow!Have a great Saturday and do something nice for you!!Big hug...xo
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I'm feeling down,, and got alot on my mind right now. I got grief going on, on top my depression and anxiety and now I got to worry about somewhere to live since I can't afford living here since my mom passed. So many bad things have happened since my mom passed. One thing after another it seems. Yesterday our fence fell from a storm that hit, had to call someone to prop it up. Thank...
Lamictal is a mood stabilizer.... and I'm not sure which meds have the fewest side effects, but am about to do a search online. I have been on Abilify in the past & developed shaking hands / tremor AND TD -- all on 10 mg. I also gained weight on it. I'm really hoping that this nausea (which comes & goes throughout the day) is a temporary side effect.
I was very surprised to learn that irritability, in and of itself, is both a form of mania AND depression... and even more surprised that other doctors that I've seen either didn't know this -- or didn't recognize it in me, even though I self-reported extreme irritability all along... all it took was ONE doctor, who listened, asked LOTS of questions, and reviewed my records and a detailed history. Even though it took this long, I feel very fortunate to have found him and finally (!!) have an accurate diagnosis.
@ Maui - Lamotrigine is an anti-convulsant that is used as a mood stabilizer. As far as I know it's chemically very different from the atypical anti-psychotics and the side effects are different. Compared to everything else I've been on the side effects have been alot less intrusive.
I think this happens with a lot of us
I really liked Lamictal…. You could always take an antiemetic for a bit like Gravol or half a tab and it might get you through
I can't remember how often or how much you take??… I use a steroid inhaler now that nauseates me and I find if I use it at night I'm fine for instance.....
Perhaps think of times that you may be able to work with easier??….. if you take it only once a day maybe take it at night.... If you take it twice a day maybe take the am dose really early ( 3am) and go back to sleep for a bit and alter your pm dose accordingly for instance
Big hug....xo
I am on a low dose of lamictal. I started off with 25mg. I was on that amount for a while. I did not take the whole amount I was pescribed because I was worried about the really bad side effects of the rash.
Even that small amount helped. If I missed a day, I could tell.
I am now up to 50mg twice a day. This is over a few years.
I know we think Doctors are gods but they don't get the side effects.
These days we have access to the same information that doctors have.
These are the side effects of the other drug you talked about ... They are the not so rare side effects.
drowsiness,
dizziness,
weakness,
unsteadiness,
depression,
loss of orientation,
headache,
sleep disturbances,
problems with thinking or memory,
slurred speech,
dry mouth,
sore gums,
runny nose,
loss of appetite,
diarrhea,
constipation, and
blurred vision.