Posted by BarbaraCat on August 25, 2003, at 12:49:04
In reply to Lamictal and Clonazepam reactions?, posted by cpettey on August 24, 2003, at 0:03:40
Hi there,
I'm BPI mixed state - what a horror mixed states are eh? I was finally diagnosed (by myself after reading this board) as BP after thinking, along with every pdoc I saw, that I had major depression for over 20 years. I'm also on lamictal, having worked up to 125mg over the past year. I sometimes get agitated and can't sleep. When I'm in an agitated state, benzos, such as clonazepam, have the opposite effect. Why? No one seems to know. I generally ride it out knowing I'll come out within a few days. During these times, nothing seems to help me sleep so I try not to fall into these states, easier said than done. But in the beginning of med stabilizing, you must have patience with this sleeplessness and perhaps try slow belly breathing or taking a bath or stretching, watching a good movie (no, "Panic Room" or "Terminator"!). Meds usually exacerbate it. Really, it will subside as you stabilize.Now, the crucial question - are you on anything for BP besides lamictal? Are you on lithium or depakote or ANYTHING? Does your pdoc not know that being on lamictal without a less activating mood stabilizer can be extremely destabilizing? I'm taking lithium as well and I bless that little pink capsule with my whole heart and soul. I resisted lithium for years because it's, well, lithium and 'we know what taking lithium means'. But it has been the key to my stabilization and the key to making lamictal work. I need lamictal as well for the black depressions, but having tried it alone without lithium, I soon saw the light. I need both. Soome people use Depakote rather than lithium, but I have no experience with it. Lamictal alone can cause myoclonus, or restless leg syndrome, BTW. For bipolars, lamictal alone is NOT a good idea. End of story. - BarbaraCat
> I have recently been diagnosed as bipolar (possible mixed state). I was suicidal, wanted to hide from the world, and never slept. I was also unable to read (I am an English grad student :( )I was originally given 50 mg of Lamictal and I forget the dose (two small salmon pills) of Serequel (sp?). Well, the Serequel did nothing to calm me or help me sleep, which is what the doc said it would do, and I started talking real fast and acting manic. She told me to discontinue Serequel and I was then given Clonazepam (2mg). That was two nights ago that I started that. The first night I slep like a baby. The second night I couldn't sleep at all again and I also can not sleep tonight.
> My major concern is that today, in the afternoon, I got really weird and started tearing up paper into little pieces, then I got upset and I had to lay on the floor and keep moving my legs or they hurt and felt funny. I got scared and had my husband call the doctor on call at the clinic and they said to wait untill Tuesday to talk to my own doctor because they didn't know what could be causing such a thing. I have never had such an episode before. Can anyone help? Are the meds interacting? I take the Lamictal once in the morning (25mg) and at night (25mg) and the Clonazepam (2mg) before bed. Thanks for any help.
poster:BarbaraCat
thread:253508
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030823/msgs/253883.html