Posted by BarbaraCat on September 25, 2003, at 10:58:39
In reply to Re: Lamictal side effects - URGENT, posted by Dalilah on September 25, 2003, at 2:27:35
Yay, Dahlila!! Lam and Lithium have saved my life for sure. You seem like a textbook case for 'why bipolars can't take ADs'. I went the Wellbutrin and Effexor route as well when we thought I was unipolar and I had similar reactions. I felt like my eyes were bugging out all the time from Wellbutrin and Effexor made me crazy (as did Paxil) and then crazier when I was getting off them. The other SSRI's were disasters, except Zoloft which made me apathetic - a welcome change from mixed states - but ultimately stopped working altogether.
I'm on 125mg of Lam and would like to go up higher 'just to see' since I still get some breakthrough depression (but thank God not the mixed states kind). It's been difficult getting past this dose since I get an unbearable itch when I go higher. This is probably a good warning, but I still wonder. What was your experience going up to the 250mg mark? Some meds seem to change character as one goes higher in dose, as if additional chemicals get activated. Does Lam do this at higher doses? Have you noticed any increased energy/focus?
I'm so glad you're feeling better. I know how rough it's been for you. BTW, I kicked alcohol and other stuff (for the most part) as well and am happily amazed at how much better I feel. - BarbaraCat
> Hey, Lamictal is finally starting to work nicely for me, but I had to go up to 250mg and I'm still working on the dose/going up. No, I did not have any weight gain.
>
> Wellbutrin seemed like the worst thing in the world to me. I must be very allergic. I've kicked dope and felt better. Effexor only helped for so long and made me sweat and feel speedy. If you're bipolar like me, it seems the mood stabilizers work far better than the antidepressants.
>
> I take Lithium with the Lamictal and this appears to be a winning combination. Fingers crossed. I haven't felt better in years. Serious.
> -Dalilah
poster:BarbaraCat
thread:238206
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030923/msgs/263182.html