Posted by barbaracat on June 7, 2005, at 11:51:28
In reply to Re: Best wishes to my friend B-Cat, posted by paintmom on June 6, 2005, at 15:55:56
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> what do you mean by activating....
> I can't sleep....and I am really not that tired considering...**That's what I mean by activating. Trouble sleeping, feel speedy and revved up. I have anxiety disorder along with bipolar and have to be careful with things that speed me up.
>>how was lamictal for sleep....
**At each new level of a higher dose of Lam I felt activated, almost hypomanic. Didn't need as much sleep, a bit wired but in an enjoyable way. Then it would smooth out. I was able to maintain pretty well at 75mg for around 6 months, which is a fairly low dose. Along with the lithium, it was a very good combo. Then my Mom died suddenly and I went into a very bad tailspin and my pdoc raised the dose. At 125mg I started getting very itchy which is an impending sign of the rash, although neither I nor my pdoc realized it at the time (we were looking for a 'rash' not itchiness).
Raising it even higher did not help with the anxiety/depression/panic and the rash became worse. I eventually discontinued it becaue it just stopped being effective. I went on Nortriptyline and that worked well to pull me out of a very bad place.
I'm now taking Cymbalta, a SNRI, because I've discovered that I need an AD, although most definitely with a mood stabilzer on board. I hope it doesn't go the way most other meds have gone, that is, to poop out. But I think lithium stabilizes things so I've got my fingers crossed this good trend continues.
> thanks for the site...gonna look....
**Yes, it's a good one. What are you currently taking/feeling? - BCat
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> paintmom
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poster:barbaracat
thread:9730
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050606/msgs/509062.html