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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 20 of 20. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by lauram on February 5, 2004, at 19:24:05
I've been reading quite a bit about the anxiety/irritation that some are experiencing with Lamictal. I thought I might share my experience as well. I've been slowly increasing my dose by 25 mg every two weeks per my Pdoc, with a target dose of 150 mg. I am finally there.
I did notice with each dose increase quite a bit of anxiety and irritation, for about three to four days. This would then subside and I would feel much calmer. This happened like clockwork.
My job is quite stressful and I would find myself less able to handle the pressure on the days after we increased the dose. I then would settle down and be able to handle the stress once more.
I am Bipolar with a tendency more towards depression. My Pdoc would like to see if the AD effect will work as well as it's stabilizer effect. I know this med is intolerable to some, but I'd thought I share my experience to encourage some of you to hang in there through the anxiety to see if it goes away.
Posted by sac on February 5, 2004, at 21:00:24
In reply to Lamictal experience, posted by lauram on February 5, 2004, at 19:24:05
Thanks Lauram for the encouraging words. Actually, I think I sent a post to you regarding Lamictal side effects. I, too, have a problem with major irritability when I up the dose. I was concerned because I will be bumping up to 50 in the next couple days and was wondering if I would become nasty again. Knowing that it should pass with help me deal with it.
Posted by lauram on February 5, 2004, at 21:37:50
In reply to Re: Lamictal experience » lauram, posted by sac on February 5, 2004, at 21:00:24
Hi Sac. Thanks for your response. I do hope that your anxiety does go away like mine did after a few days with each increase. I've heard that when this med works for people it works very well. Already I am noticing a decrease in my anxiety/irritability since increasing to 150mg four days ago.
Other advise I've read is to take it slower when increasing the dose if the side effects are too bothersome. As I am now at my target dose it will interesting to see how I do over the next few weeks. I will keep you all posted.
Posted by girl1969 on February 5, 2004, at 23:41:07
In reply to Re: Lamictal experience » sac, posted by lauram on February 5, 2004, at 21:37:50
Thanks for the post. I have had a similar experience. I am taking 400 mg of Lamictal and the irritability in the beginning was almost intolerable. Now I'm feeling very balanced and much less anxious.
It would seem that Lamictal is just one of those drugs that your body takes a while to adjust to during the increases.
I'm glad that I stuck it out, though. Keep us posted.
Girl
Posted by Daydreamer on February 6, 2004, at 14:57:18
In reply to Lamictal experience, posted by lauram on February 5, 2004, at 19:24:05
Im on just 25 mg..
I was on 50 mg...
but I tried slashing my wrists.I became hot and angry...
So my doctor kept me on the one pill...
and then put me on a tranquilizer.This is now the 9th med Ive been on.
and Im only 23.
... some pills work, some pills dont..
its what makes us human.(theres humor in that)
Posted by metalflipflop on February 6, 2004, at 21:18:13
In reply to Re: Lamictal experience, posted by girl1969 on February 5, 2004, at 23:41:07
girl,
did you experience noticeably greater ad/anti-anxiety effects after your last couple of lamictal dose increases? i am currently on 300mg, doing pretty okay depression-wise but still having significant anxiety. my pdoc has told me to move up to 400. in your opinion will this make me more anxious or less (overall, cause i know it will right when i do it)?
thanks,
liz
Posted by girl1969 on February 6, 2004, at 23:36:55
In reply to Re: Lamictal experience » girl1969, posted by metalflipflop on February 6, 2004, at 21:18:13
Hi Liz,
I felt a lot of anxiety during the increases. I developed this terrible habit of clenching my jaw, which I initially thought was a side effect from the lamictal, but it was a side effect of the anxiety. Fortunately, I've stopped doing it.
The more experience I have with this drug, the more I think it's just one of those things where you have to grit your teeth and get through those first hard weeks. Now that I've been on this dose for a while, I have absolutely no problems. If I wasn't popping the pills, I'd forget that I was on anything.
Not everyone is the same, however, and you might not have the same experience. I hope that it works for you like it has for me. I feel more stable than I have in years.
Let me know how it goes.
Girl
Posted by lauram on February 7, 2004, at 12:57:09
In reply to Re: Lamictal experience » girl1969, posted by metalflipflop on February 6, 2004, at 21:18:13
Have you alway felt increased anxiety when on this med? Did you slowly increase the dose with any eventual decrease of anxiety? Are you going to jump right from the 300 mg to the 400 mg or will you slowly increase up to that dose? As I shared my experience earlier, I would feel anxiety with each dose increase but eventually that would go away.
I would be leery of suddenly increasing the dose 100 mg instead of working up slowly to the 400 mg dose. Let us know how you are doing.
Posted by HenryO on February 8, 2004, at 22:52:51
In reply to Re: Lamictal experience » metalflipflop, posted by lauram on February 7, 2004, at 12:57:09
Don't increase faster than 25mg per week. Slower is better. Faster is dangerous.
I had some anxiety. Klonopin is great for that. I have heard a lot of negative things about Klonopin from some people on this site. It has been no problem for me. I take it if and when I need it and I don't take it when I feel OK. No problems.
Posted by Angielala on February 9, 2004, at 10:24:02
In reply to Lamictal experience, posted by lauram on February 5, 2004, at 19:24:05
Thank you SO much for sharing. Last night was my first night taking Lamictal. I was on Depakote before, but because I'm like you, with more depression than mania, my pdoc wants to see if it's AD will help me too. I'm doing the same thing- increasing every two weeks, until I reach 100mg, and then my pdoc said he'd up it to 150mg. Now I dont' feel so alone, I kept reading bad thing about Lamictal.... thank you for calming me :)
> I've been reading quite a bit about the anxiety/irritation that some are experiencing with Lamictal. I thought I might share my experience as well. I've been slowly increasing my dose by 25 mg every two weeks per my Pdoc, with a target dose of 150 mg. I am finally there.
>
> I did notice with each dose increase quite a bit of anxiety and irritation, for about three to four days. This would then subside and I would feel much calmer. This happened like clockwork.
>
> My job is quite stressful and I would find myself less able to handle the pressure on the days after we increased the dose. I then would settle down and be able to handle the stress once more.
>
> I am Bipolar with a tendency more towards depression. My Pdoc would like to see if the AD effect will work as well as it's stabilizer effect. I know this med is intolerable to some, but I'd thought I share my experience to encourage some of you to hang in there through the anxiety to see if it goes away.
Posted by Angielala on February 9, 2004, at 10:25:51
In reply to Re: Lamictal experience » lauram, posted by sac on February 5, 2004, at 21:00:24
Anyone here on Lamictal and Xanax? I'm wondering if the Xanax will help with the irritatbility when upping the dose (which I will be doing in two weeks) I'll let you all know if it's helps at all, maybe that can be a help?
> Thanks Lauram for the encouraging words. Actually, I think I sent a post to you regarding Lamictal side effects. I, too, have a problem with major irritability when I up the dose. I was concerned because I will be bumping up to 50 in the next couple days and was wondering if I would become nasty again. Knowing that it should pass with help me deal with it.
Posted by Angielala on February 9, 2004, at 10:26:39
In reply to Re: Lamictal experience » sac, posted by lauram on February 5, 2004, at 21:37:50
Definitely keep us posted!
> Hi Sac. Thanks for your response. I do hope that your anxiety does go away like mine did after a few days with each increase. I've heard that when this med works for people it works very well. Already I am noticing a decrease in my anxiety/irritability since increasing to 150mg four days ago.
>
> Other advise I've read is to take it slower when increasing the dose if the side effects are too bothersome. As I am now at my target dose it will interesting to see how I do over the next few weeks. I will keep you all posted.
Posted by Angielala on February 9, 2004, at 10:27:25
In reply to Re: Lamictal experience, posted by girl1969 on February 5, 2004, at 23:41:07
Did Lamictal ever upset your stomach or change your sleeping habits?
> Thanks for the post. I have had a similar experience. I am taking 400 mg of Lamictal and the irritability in the beginning was almost intolerable. Now I'm feeling very balanced and much less anxious.
>
> It would seem that Lamictal is just one of those drugs that your body takes a while to adjust to during the increases.
>
> I'm glad that I stuck it out, though. Keep us posted.
>
> Girl
Posted by kattay on February 10, 2004, at 12:35:43
In reply to Lamictal experience, posted by lauram on February 5, 2004, at 19:24:05
Hello
Umm, well I actually have a question for all of you on lamactil. I am at a crossroad in my dx. I am either Bipolar II or ADHD. I also feel I have severe pms. I have other hormonal problems that resulted in high risk pg's. Anyhow, I feel i am adhd but my therapist says bipolar(rapid cycler). Her reasoning is too high of impulsiveness to be adhd. Anyhow, I may be put on a mood stabilizer. I tried trileptal and topomax in the past and became extremely moody. OMG was I bad. one minute i would be fine. the next min, bawling. the next min, wanting to committ suicide. So I am terrified of mood stabilizers. But if my pdoc goes with what my therapist says, I may be asked to go on lamactil. So, what can i expect? Oh, and would it help with any adhd symptoms?(distracted easilly, no concentration, frustrated easilly because of lack of following what people are saying or trying to teach me. there's more but i'll leave it at that. Thanks
Posted by Angielala on February 10, 2004, at 15:26:12
In reply to Re: Lamictal experience, posted by kattay on February 10, 2004, at 12:35:43
Kat! I'm so glad you asked!
First- take a gander at this article:
http://my.webmd.com/content/article/70/81129.htm?lastselectedguid={5FE84E90-BC77-4056-A91C-9531713CA348}It mentions Wellbutrin, which I have discovered is not FDA approved for ADD, but is for som BP people. I'm on Paxil and Lamictal now. Paxil is pooping out on me, so I may go on the Wellbutrin in a few months (one I'm stable on Lamictal)
I have ADHD as well- and it's really hard, because of the nature of our BP- it's really hard to figure out how to take care of the ADHD and not interrupt the path taken to help with the BP. I have been researching and talking to SO many people on Lamictal and they all seem very happy with it. See, Lamictal has an anti-depressant agent that helps with the depression, yet doesn't flip you into rapid cycling. (We'll always cycle, but there comes a point when the edge is taken off and you can totally deal with the cycles in a very normal way).
If your pdoc offers the Lamictal, go for it. I was stuck so long on Depakote because I was so scared to switch, and was so scared of being put on something else, then something else.... try not to think that way. Instead- realize that we have a very sensitive chemical imbalance, and we will each need our own "cocktail" of a mood stabilizer and perhaps an antidepressant.
ADHD is usually treated with concertaq or ritilan or the like... that helps to release dopemine to calm us, yet because of our BP, those meds would cause us to be jittery and anxious. Wellbutrin happens to effect dopemine as well, which is why the above article says that people in our situation would help- it helps just enough dopemine. Also- sometimes BP people and depressed people need both an AD that helps the serotonin anbd another AD that helps with the dopemine- some people are depressed because of a lack of both Seretonin (homw many different ways have I spelled that?) and Dopemine.
Sorry for being long winded- I just want you to know that you aren't alone with the distress you are feeling. I promise if you keep trying, you will get there. Hopefully I'm on my way to being better soon with this Lamictal. I feel better now that I have admitted that the Depakote was destroying me (bad side effects for me) and made the change. Seems Lamictal is more widely used anyhow- and there must be a good reason for that, right?
There is hope for us- you and I should keep each other updated. I'll let you know how I'm doign while the Lamictal is activating and anything else that may change- you let me know how you are doing and don't be afraid to ask more questions- hopefully I can help- I have a plethora of good stuff on our special-selves :)
I hope that helps :)
~Lala
> Hello
> Umm, well I actually have a question for all of you on lamactil. I am at a crossroad in my dx. I am either Bipolar II or ADHD. I also feel I have severe pms. I have other hormonal problems that resulted in high risk pg's. Anyhow, I feel i am adhd but my therapist says bipolar(rapid cycler). Her reasoning is too high of impulsiveness to be adhd. Anyhow, I may be put on a mood stabilizer. I tried trileptal and topomax in the past and became extremely moody. OMG was I bad. one minute i would be fine. the next min, bawling. the next min, wanting to committ suicide. So I am terrified of mood stabilizers. But if my pdoc goes with what my therapist says, I may be asked to go on lamactil. So, what can i expect? Oh, and would it help with any adhd symptoms?(distracted easilly, no concentration, frustrated easilly because of lack of following what people are saying or trying to teach me. there's more but i'll leave it at that. Thanks
Posted by Parisss on February 11, 2004, at 0:40:35
In reply to Re: Lamictal experience, posted by Angielala on February 10, 2004, at 15:26:12
I am on Lamictal and Welbutrin (along with Xanax XR, and Trileptal) I just had my Welbutrin and Lamictal doubled all at the same time I thought it would be good to stop smoking and started wearing the transdermal "patch". Vertigo set in on me one day in an instant and I was totally unable to stand, walk or see any less than three of everything. That feeling of when we were kids and would spin around for fun and then see how well we could walk for fun? Well this was not FUN. It lasted most of the day and I slept it off. Next day was pretty normal. Day 3 I walked into a grocery store and it hit me in a instant again and I had to have assitance. I grabbed sweets (was cutting down on sugar too that week), grabbed cigarettes (as I had taken the patch off of me for about 3 days at this time), grabbed caffeine (which was less because of the sugar taper) and made it to my car and just smoked, ate sweets and still no results. Day 4, all day headaches and the vertigo and went for blood testing for med levels and glucose (maybe hypoglycemia) and those checked out. Day 5, same thing.
Doctor called me telling me he done some research and found that Lamictal and Wellbutrin together can cause these problems (strong vertigo) and told me to stop the Lamictal for a week and see. The episodes have stopped.
I have done some research and found that the "patch" with wellbutrin can also cause the same problem as can hypertension (and my blood pressure at odd times runs to 160/170, but most of the time stays around 120)
I don't know what to advise you, but check out some of these combinations if you are experiencing any of these symptoms and if anyone is new reading this post, be alert.If anyone has any new info on what I am experiencing, please post. I now don't know whether to try the lamictal w/o the patch, then the patch w/o the lamictal and see if I can pinpoint the villian. I really don't have the time to waste a week nor the inclination to live that over!
Also, I have been very irritable lately and it is getting worse. I notice that was a common complaint in some of the previous posts.
Posted by Parisss on February 11, 2004, at 0:50:35
In reply to Re: Lamictal experience, posted by Parisss on February 11, 2004, at 0:40:35
I have to add though after reading so many post on Bipolar 1, 2, rapid cycling, ADHD, etc... I have been diagnosed all of the above and rediagnosed as I change Doctors. I am not sure anyone really knows what is what and I think it is all trial and error. I have been called "severe rapid cycling" and then been called mild Bipolar. I always seem to graduate up with my Doctors from one or two pills to a regular medicine cabinet.
Then, you go to visit your Doctor and the question is there. "How are you doing?" Oh fine I suppose, or very axious (but life is rough right now), or cranky, or etc... I find it so difficult to answer a question when I don't know what the NORMAL we are reaching for feels like! So everytime I feel something I don't like, we change. I am tired of it all, but I am dedicated to my health because I am a single mother and I will not allow myself to get "sick" (whatever that really is)
Of course I realise the severe symptoms that are obvious, but to get the right combo? to know when to stop? to know what is just part of life and a normal reaction???
Posted by slance6226 on February 12, 2004, at 10:59:11
In reply to Re: Lamictal experience, posted by girl1969 on February 5, 2004, at 23:41:07
I am on 200mg. of Lamictal. Saw my pdoc today and complained of some anxiety or manic behavior. He has added 10mg. of abilify to my daily regimen. I'm wondering, after reading your post if that makes sense. If it's a common side effect, mabey I should be on something else?
Posted by Girl1969 on February 13, 2004, at 10:39:20
In reply to Re: Lamictal experience » girl1969, posted by metalflipflop on February 6, 2004, at 21:18:13
Hi Liz,
I would guess that you'd feel more anxious for a few days and then find some relief. This has been the case for me.
Has your doctor had any experience with lamictal-induced anxiety?
Posted by Girl1969 on February 13, 2004, at 10:41:18
In reply to Re: Lamictal experience » girl1969, posted by slance6226 on February 12, 2004, at 10:59:11
Slance,
I'm not sure. I'm also on 40 mg of Geodon. This combo has been working well for me so far, aside from the anxiety and irritability associated with dose increases.
Have you taken the abilify yet?
This is the end of the thread.
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