![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 376 to 400 of 458. Go back in thread:
Posted by ginger C on March 5, 2004, at 13:01:32
In reply to Lamictal side Seroquel, posted by bruce_w6 on March 5, 2004, at 12:22:55
> Is anyone taking this combo? I am up to 150 mg Lamictal and can't sleep well at night. I take my lamictal in the moring.
I have been taking this combination for about a month now and if anything the seroquel seems to make me drowsy. Maybe the lamictal by itself is not controling completely your manic side of the illness and that is where the insomnia is comming in?
Posted by bruce_w6 on March 5, 2004, at 13:31:34
In reply to Re: Lamictal side Seroquel, posted by ginger C on March 5, 2004, at 13:01:32
Do you take it for sleep at night and how much?
> > Is anyone taking this combo? I am up to 150 mg Lamictal and can't sleep well at night. I take my lamictal in the moring.
>
> I have been taking this combination for about a month now and if anything the seroquel seems to make me drowsy. Maybe the lamictal by itself is not controling completely your manic side of the illness and that is where the insomnia is comming in?
>
Posted by jstrick1 on March 24, 2004, at 11:19:31
In reply to Lamictal side effects, posted by seamus o'noolan on June 30, 2003, at 17:37:40
Folks,
I'm hoping for some insight in how to proceed. I began Lamictal slowly, starting at 25 mg and moving up to 75 mg over the course of 3 weeks, at which time I began having some significant gastric distress: generalized discomfort, bloating, and flatulence. My shrink suggested that this was one reaction common to the class of "mood stabilizers"/anti-convulsants, and though I'd not had the same response to others of this class, it meant that I couldn't tolerate Lamictal because of its impact on the "neural network" of the gastric system. Moreover, it was something that wouldn't get better over time. Anyone else having similar responses? Any suggestions? Does my shrink make sense?
Thanks,
Scott
Posted by ginger C on March 24, 2004, at 11:54:20
In reply to Re: Lamictal side effects, posted by jstrick1 on March 24, 2004, at 11:19:31
Your shrink makes perfect sense I had some trouble with my stomach after starting lamictal and still have some very loose stool. However, the lamictal does such a good job of stableizing my moods that my doc and I decided that it was worth putting up with the loose stool.
Posted by katia on March 24, 2004, at 13:07:52
In reply to Re: Lamictal side effects, posted by ginger C on March 24, 2004, at 11:54:20
anyone tried this combo? I'm on Trileptal now and just started on Lam. to help w/ my depressions. I cannot tolerate ADs. Anyone had relief from depression and overall general wellness on this combo?
Thanks-
Katia
Posted by bruce_w6 on March 25, 2004, at 21:22:19
In reply to Lamictal side effects, posted by seamus o'noolan on June 30, 2003, at 17:37:40
I am up to 250 mg of Lamictal. I also take Lithium Orotate. My depression is better but I have mind racing, especially when trying to sleep or when I wake up. I take 12.5 mg Seroquel for sleep (works great). Will the mind racing stop when I reach my desired dose of Lamictal?
Posted by katia on March 26, 2004, at 2:13:24
In reply to Lamictal And Mind Racing, posted by bruce_w6 on March 25, 2004, at 21:22:19
Hey Bruce,
Don't know that I can help you with the answer about mind racing. But we're on similar meds. I take about 12.5mg of Seroquel for sleep too. I have done off and on, as needed, since July. I am again starting Lamictal. I'm at 12.5mg of Lam. too. just for a few days then to 25mg. I'm also on Trileptal. Are you on anything else? Maybe an add-on mood stabilizer may help.
Katia
BPII
Posted by bruce_w6 on March 26, 2004, at 8:49:51
In reply to Re: Lamictal And Mind Racing » bruce_w6, posted by katia on March 26, 2004, at 2:13:24
Hi,
I am on some vitamins, fish oils & lithium Orotate. I'm not on any other mood stabelizers. I see the pdoc on Monday and I hope he has some ideas. The mind racing drives me crazy. I can't sleep without 12.5 Seroquil.
> Hey Bruce,
> Don't know that I can help you with the answer about mind racing. But we're on similar meds. I take about 12.5mg of Seroquel for sleep too. I have done off and on, as needed, since July. I am again starting Lamictal. I'm at 12.5mg of Lam. too. just for a few days then to 25mg. I'm also on Trileptal. Are you on anything else? Maybe an add-on mood stabilizer may help.
> Katia
> BPII
Posted by Dalilah on March 26, 2004, at 13:06:24
In reply to Re: Lamictal And Mind Racing, posted by bruce_w6 on March 26, 2004, at 8:49:51
Hey Bruce,
I am on what I think is close to what you are on - 300mg of Lamictal, 900mg regular Lithium, and 50mg Seroquel to sleep (I started at 12.5mg three years ago.) The sad thing is I'm totally depressed AGAIN. I admit it's not as bad as it has been in the past, but it's pretty bad.My doctor has added 40mg of Geodon which makes me feel like I'm crawling out of my skin and I hate the world. I can't decide what I hate more - this disease or everyone in the world. Yep, that's where I'm at.
Has anyone else experienced the joy of Geodon?
-Dalilah
> Hi,
>
> I am on some vitamins, fish oils & lithium Orotate. I'm not on any other mood stabelizers. I see the pdoc on Monday and I hope he has some ideas. The mind racing drives me crazy. I can't sleep without 12.5 Seroquil.
>
> > Hey Bruce,
> > Don't know that I can help you with the answer about mind racing. But we're on similar meds. I take about 12.5mg of Seroquel for sleep too. I have done off and on, as needed, since July. I am again starting Lamictal. I'm at 12.5mg of Lam. too. just for a few days then to 25mg. I'm also on Trileptal. Are you on anything else? Maybe an add-on mood stabilizer may help.
> > Katia
> > BPII
>
>
Posted by skaterdude on March 29, 2004, at 12:36:46
In reply to Re: Lamictal And Mind Racing, posted by Dalilah on March 26, 2004, at 13:06:24
I am SO GLAD to have discovered this board. I have been diagnosed with mild bi-polar, and depression. I was on Luvox for two years, which did nothing except make me sleepy and gain weight.
I'm now on Lamictal, 100mg, and Lexapro 15mg. The Lamictal is making my mind race, I can't sit still, I've lost weight, and I am manic. The Lexapro is supposed to counter act this.
Anyone on here with this combination? Any solutions on how to stop the anxiousness caused by the Lamictal?
Posted by amy_oz on March 29, 2004, at 21:34:46
In reply to Re: Lamictal And Mind Racing, posted by skaterdude on March 29, 2004, at 12:36:46
Hi,
I don't know where your pdoc is coming from but Lexapro will not and cannot stop your mind racing from Lamictal. Lamictal is a antidepressant/mood stabilizer and lots of people need another mood stabilizer to stop going manic. eg lithium, valproate (depakote/epilim) etc.....Lexapro is a straight out antidepressant. it is not a mood stabilizer.
I suggest you go back to your doctor (or get a new one) and try and go on another moodstabilizer.
Lithium + Lamictal works well for many people with mild bipolar/bipolar 2.
Good luck
Amy
Posted by Geoffrey Ruch on April 19, 2004, at 22:43:46
In reply to Re: BP2, FMS, and seroquel here » BarbaraCat, posted by Sabina on September 29, 2003, at 0:45:44
Hello,
Does anyone here understand the biochemical mode of action for Seroquel (as well as for Zyprexa, Risperdal, etc)?
Geoffrey
Posted by katia on April 20, 2004, at 2:18:03
In reply to Re: mode of action of Seroquel (+ other antipsycs) » Sabina, posted by Geoffrey Ruch on April 19, 2004, at 22:43:46
Bon question Geoffrey mon ami!
anyone with anything better to say than me?
Katia
Posted by Keith Talent on April 22, 2004, at 23:48:22
In reply to Re: mode of action of Seroquel (+ other antipsycs) » Geoffrey Ruch, posted by katia on April 20, 2004, at 2:18:03
The old antipsychotics worked by antagonising dopamine 2 receptors. Haloperidol is much cleaner than things like chlorpromazine, which is very dirty, in that it has anticholinergic and antihistaminergic effects as well (and probably others too) which cause bad side effects. The newer antipsychotics block dopamine 2, but also serotonin 2 receptors, which greatly relieves anxiety. It may also be why the newer drugs don't seem to cause movement disorders (tardive dyskinesia) with long-term use. Aripiprazole (Abilify) is, I understand, unique in that it is a dopamine receptor partial agonist - so if there is hardly any dopamine being released into the synapse, the drug will provide a certain amount of stimulation. If there's a lot of dopamine, trying to stimulate the dopamine receptors, the Abilify will kind of put an upper limit to how much the dopamine can bind to, and agonise, the dopamine receptors. This is important because it is believed that in schizophrenia, there are brain regions with too little dopaminergic activity (associated with negative symptoms) and regions with overactivity (associated with positive symptoms). I don't know anything about Seroquel specifically.
Posted by AMD on May 2, 2004, at 18:27:15
In reply to Lamictal And Mind Racing, posted by bruce_w6 on March 25, 2004, at 21:22:19
I have a feeling that started upon beginning a new medication, but I'm not sure what it's called.
This might sound silly to some, but basically I find myself wanting to put my head down, as if I were looking at the ground. Almost as if I get 'relief' by my brain being turned upside down. It's so weird! I don't think it's vertigo because I don't feel dizzy, per se. But then I do feel a little 'off' when my head level, as if I were looking straight ahead. Along with it I feel a bit tired and 'out of it'.
Anyhow... I've noticed this for a few days when I've been at the computer. It's not just drowsiness though ... what IS this!?
Posted by Rachel Terese on May 4, 2004, at 22:52:46
In reply to Re: Lamictal side effects » Dalilah, posted by Flipsactown on January 16, 2004, at 20:33:04
I'm on 100mg of lamictal for bipolar. I've never felt so depressed in my entire life. I can't stop crying and think things will never get better. I am scared of waking up and feeling this way. Has anyone had this side effect with lamitcal? I can't handle it anymore and feel like nothing will ever be the same. Help!!
Posted by Sad Panda on May 5, 2004, at 13:20:22
In reply to Lamictal and depression, posted by Rachel Terese on May 4, 2004, at 22:52:46
> I'm on 100mg of lamictal for bipolar. I've never felt so depressed in my entire life. I can't stop crying and think things will never get better. I am scared of waking up and feeling this way. Has anyone had this side effect with lamitcal? I can't handle it anymore and feel like nothing will ever be the same. Help!!
>
>Hi Rachel,
Before Lamictal was your mood up & down? Is it now stabilised? It might be time to go back to your doctor & get an antidepressant added, I would certainly visit your doc ASAP & let him know how miserable you feel.
Cheers,
Panda.
Posted by jstrick1 on May 10, 2004, at 0:15:35
In reply to Lamictal side effects, posted by seamus o'noolan on June 30, 2003, at 17:37:40
I've posted regarding this before, but got no response. Both times I've tried Lamictal, I've developed sever neurological distress in my upper GI and stomach. Once it was at the 75 mg point, and not at the beginning stages. Please, is there anyone out there who has had similar responses? If so, what happened?
Thanks
Posted by T_R_D on May 10, 2004, at 13:28:26
In reply to Re: Lamictal side effects, posted by jstrick1 on May 10, 2004, at 0:15:35
>Both times I've tried Lamictal, I've developed a >severe neurological distress in my upper GI and >stomach.
Hi there, I'm not quite sure what you mean by neurological distress in your UGI and stomach. Was it determined that the vagus nerve (or other branches/filaments) was not functioning or not functioning correctly?
I have never heard of any psych med affecting vagus nerve function but I suppose anything is possible since they do act upon our brain/CNS.
If you are simply referring to organ distress I had a bit of an upset stomach when I first began Lamictal but it worked itself out after about a week or two.
Let me know if I'm on the right track here.
Karen
Posted by katia on May 10, 2004, at 13:35:08
In reply to Re: Lamictal side effects, posted by jstrick1 on May 10, 2004, at 0:15:35
> I've posted regarding this before, but got no response. Both times I've tried Lamictal, I've developed sever neurological distress in my upper GI and stomach. Once it was at the 75 mg point, and not at the beginning stages. Please, is there anyone out there who has had similar responses? If so, what happened?
>
> Thanks
I did have some stomach/GI problems when taking/starting Lam. I had to stop it after 6 or so weeks due to the irritability. But there were so many other influences - like new diet, buying a house, drinking wine too frequently, that I'm not sure what was what.
Katia
Posted by AMD on May 10, 2004, at 13:46:07
In reply to Re: Lamictal side effects » jstrick1, posted by katia on May 10, 2004, at 13:35:08
I have been taking a low dose of Lamictal since January: 25 mg (added to my Celexa 40 mg). It has been working well for my depression -- it pulled me out of the low-grade depression I'd been for a few months prior -- but Wednesday before last I took a single 2.5 mg Zyprexa and it threw me for a loop for several days! The day after popping the Zyprexa I felt very stuporous, tired, and zonked out. My mind just didn't feel right. To self-medicate, I upped the dosage of Lamictal to 50 mg for a few days, but just felt as zonked as ever. This has persisted, but finally seems to be going away. Meanwhile, about 5 days after that night, I began having dizzy spells. Friday I had /several/ dizzy spells. I'd look up and the room would start spinning. Even after I'd dropped Lamictal to 25 mg again, I've had dizzy spells. What is going on? Is this possible from a SINGLE dose of Zyprexa? From /changing/ the Lamictal dose?
As of today, I'm dropping everything but the Celexa for a few weeks to detox. I feel more out of it than ever...
Posted by St. John on May 10, 2004, at 15:27:16
In reply to Re: Lamictal side effects, posted by T_R_D on May 10, 2004, at 13:28:26
Hey, folks. Thanks so much for the responses. A couple of points of clarification are in order. By gastric distress, I meant a generalized feeling that couldn't be tied to any specific symption with regard to my gut. In both cases, the feeling was one of being in a sensory irritation--burning, flaring, hurting, without a node of pain in particular. I was also flatulent in both orafices and constipated. My MD suggested that sometimes the anti-convulsant/mood stabilizing drugs cause this feeling and that it doesn't go away. He described it as an impact on the neural network of the stomach and intestines. In such cases, he felt that the drug was probably impossible to tolerate. I stopped after getting to 75 mg, but after some subsequent time trapped in atypical depression, I decided to give it a more gradual go. After 6 days of 25 mg, the symptoms returned with a vengence. It's Monday afternoon and I haven't eaten anything since Thursday evening. When I threw up Friday about midnight, it was all that I'd eaten since early Thursday, entirely undigested and in the form it'd entered my stomach. I'd guess this means that peristaltic motion had ceased? I don't know.
With regard to the dizziness, I have to be careful about that because of a wonderful little malady called Meniere's syndrome, which summarizes the deterioration of the vestibular system of the inner ear. Fortunately I'm not nearly as affected as some people who are totally bedridden by vertigo, but it ain't fun. My Otologist suggests the smallest atavan underneath the tongue till it dissolves. It has to be name brand because the others don't dissolve, but it works to cure pretty intense dizziness going to vertigo.
Thanks for your responses.
Posted by T_R_D on May 11, 2004, at 9:22:44
In reply to Re: Lamictal side effects, posted by St. John on May 10, 2004, at 15:27:16
Gotcha. That's what I figured you meant :)
It may be that the Lamictal is just too hard on your tummy. That is not an unheard of reason for discontinuing a med.
It's hard to remember as I've been on so many meds--I lose track of the specifics--but I think Lamictal's sides hung around a little bit longer than ADs and such...maybe I'm wrong though.
I don't know what to suggest. Vomiting does now sound promising, however. I guess it's a judgement call between the benefit of the drug vs. the toleration of the side effects. Have you tried any other anticonvulsants?
I'm sorry to hear about the Meniere's Disease! My grandmother has it but fares quite well. Does the ativan help?
Karen
Posted by St. John on May 11, 2004, at 15:02:27
In reply to Re: Lamictal side effects, posted by T_R_D on May 11, 2004, at 9:22:44
Thanks for the responses and sympathy. I'm not sure what the truth matter is. For now, I'm going to forego the med to see how things come back, and then maybe at another point when I have fewer pressures, try it again. The only thing that makes me think with some certainty that it's the med is that both times the symptoms were similar and unique in my experience. It's as if the outside of my GI track were encased in raw nerve endings--not enough to say, "get me to the hospital," but enough that it's hard to be able to think about anythng else--sort of a pervasive feeling like that spot on your foot you know will become a blister, no matter how you configure your boots, alter your socks, or use moleskin. I do know one thing: short of a medication revolution, I'll never take another straightup AD. I never had any effective results and the negatives, especially weight gain, were overwhelming. The lies we're told are astounding. No one admits that placebos and ssri's are virtually indistinguishable in their results--other than people not getting fat from sugar pills, at least unless they don't take them as candy.
Yes, the ativan does work for the Meniere's if I catch it quickly enough. It doesn't stop it because that's foregone once the vertigo has begun, but it does lessen the effects and shorten the duration of the attack for me. It also acts as a kind of vestibular stablilizer when I'm having generalized dizziness or walking like a drunk even though I'm sober 10 years.
Isn't it facinating that NONE of the literature indicates that Lamictal has the gastrointestinal complications I'm mentioning--nothing that says like other mood stabilizers, some people have the nasuea/distress. Oh well, got to preserve the market.
Thanks again.
Scott
Posted by firenrain on May 13, 2004, at 21:05:01
In reply to dizziness...?, posted by AMD on May 10, 2004, at 13:46:07
I'm no dr. but i think it may be adjusting meds daily. Any time I have ever had my meds adjusted so frequently was in the hosp. and yes I felt dizzy and drugged but, I was in a safe environment being monitored...so be careful. The way these drugs interact are taylored by your dr. to suit specific symptoms. Sometimes it's trial and error which bites. lol
Go forward in thread:
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.