Posted by Emme on June 4, 2002, at 7:52:33
Hi All,
Well, the good news is that Lamictal is helping my depression and I feel much more like making plans to reclaim a life than I have in ages. I am at 100 mg and feel I may not tolerate a higher dose very well, though I could always try and see. I also take 900 mg neurontin, 25 mg atenolol (for anxiety), and klonopin as needed. DX Bipolar II.
Here's the problem. A couple of weeks back I was really sluggish. The anxiety was really toned down but I was too low-energy and feeling a bit down. I tried a low dose of provigil (some of you participated in the post) and then stopped it for a few days and my energy and mood were more normal so I stayed off.
Now...a couple of weeks later and one fantastic hiking/camping trip in between (felt good during trip), I've shifted to out-of-control anxiety, mostly physical symptoms. I still have good antidepressant effect from Lamictal at the moment - I've been at 100 mg for about 5 weeks. But for the last 5 days, I am really jittery, lump in throat, feel like I've consumed caffeine, wake up feeling like my heart is pounding. I find it hard to exercise because I'm so revved. I am belching an awful lot (sorry to be ungraceful) and have intermittent chest pain off to the side which I suspect has to do with the endless rising gas - my stomach must be really churning. You know, the whole flight or fight thing. I feel miserable.
I've upped the atenolol a bit and have upped klonopin to 1 mg - it helps some but doesn't compeltely do it. I'm sleepy and still revved. I can't figure out how I can essentially just switch on a dime from being sluggish to such a state, with one quasi-normal week in between. But I'm miserable and may go to the internist if it persists, though I'm not sure what she can do it for my that my pdoc can't advise. Maybe yet *another* thyroid test...? I don't know if it's my body continuing to adjust to Lamictal, or if it's my anxiety just waxing and waning of it's own accord.
What to do....? Anyone experienced anything similar?
Thanks,
Emme
poster:Emme
thread:108623
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020602/msgs/108623.html