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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 19 of 19. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by LuvMyHub on July 8, 2006, at 15:54:56
Hi all. I've been reading here for a long time but finally decided to post....I can't seem to find a lot of people with the same problem that I am experiencing. I am not sure what I have been diagnosed with because, as most of you have experienced, different doctors come up with different ailments as well as solutions. The only thing I know for sure is that I suffer most definitely with depression. One doctor thought I may be bipolar, I think bipolar II, the milder form with more downs than ups? Anyway, over the years I have been on Prozac, Wellbutrin, Lexapro, Risperdal....most of these either made me more anxious or aggravated or had side effects I could not live with. Prozac was the first medication I tried many years ago and if I remember correctly it actually seemed to work pretty well. I'm not sure why I stopped taking it, I think I was unhappy with the doctor and just stopped going. I am currently on Seroquel and Lamictal.....these started by yet another new psychiatrist....I also take Lyrica (how could I forget that one!) and Effexor which was prescribed by my GP. I have been on the Lamictal about 3 months...I've had no problem with a rash and it helped almost overnight for depression. I was elated that something was working. About 8 weeks ago my dose went up to 200 mg per day. The anti-depression qualities have basically pooped out. I felt numb and flat and although I don't dip down as low as I once did before it, I don't feel good either. The most disturbing thing about this medication is that right after my last dose increase, again about 8 weeks ago, I feel like I have the flu constantly. I will feel better for a couple of days and then feel like total crap again. And weirder yet, my JOINTS HURT!!! Especially my elbows....very strange and VERY annoying. I have had bloodwork done and all came out fine. Very odd. The only thing I can attribute it to is this Lamictal. I asked my pdoc about it and he had to grab his book to look up the possible symptoms...didn't instill much confidence. I love the Seroquel, it helps very much for sleep at night, and the Lyrica is GREAT and one of the best things that I have found so far...the only downside to that is that it literally doesn't have the same effect after a couple of days....I have to take breaks in between days for it to help to the full extent. I was on Neurontin before that and have some of that left over and can only say that it no longer works for me AT ALL......does nothing. That is a bummer because I was hoping to use that periodically if needed for the anxiety as I purchased so much of it and have so much left over. My pdoc tried to wean me off of the Effexor a couple of weeks ago, I've noticed very little upside to that drug. Although he tried to wean me off, what I considered to be slowly, about 2 days after the last dose....SICK AS A DOG.....FELT HUNGOVER AS HELL! Had to take it again to stop the illness and then it took about 24 hours to recover. I'm really pissed about that and seriously am afraid to go off of it. I'll have to wean off of it even more slowly and fear even that...worthless medication to me and I never would have started taken it had I known about these horrible withdrawals before hand. Like most, I didn't learn about those until AFTER I had been on it for a while. I guess I am most disturbed that the Lamictal seems to have stopped working and I feel like sh*t most days. I have to try something else, I am missing a lot of work and some days can't get out of bed all day. I think it is now making my depression WORSE. I'm sick of trying different meds but I know that I have to have them in some form or fashion to keep my chin up. I apologize for such a long post.....just wondering if anyone shares my experience with the Lamictal. I feel like I'm back at square one. The Lyrica is great for anxiety but can't be taken every day. I do have Xanax for anxiety but honestly, I don't see what the big fascination with that drug is, all it does is put me to sleep and I can get that with the Seroquel. Thanks for listening and sorry again for the long post.
Posted by heaven help me on July 8, 2006, at 17:18:48
In reply to Newbie--Is Lamictal making me SICK???, posted by LuvMyHub on July 8, 2006, at 15:54:56
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/uspdi/202786.html#SXX18
Go to above for lots of Lamictal info..."flu like symptoms" is one of the side effects. I have been on it for 1 year and it has not been debilitating.
blessings
mary
Posted by KaraS on July 9, 2006, at 2:12:14
In reply to Newbie--Is Lamictal making me SICK???, posted by LuvMyHub on July 8, 2006, at 15:54:56
Hi,
Just wanted to let you know that there are ways of dealing with Effexor withdrawal. You don't need to suffer so much.
Please read about this on the withdrawal board. Here's one I posted a while back.
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/wdrawl/20050712/msgs/528873.html
Good luck to you.
Posted by LuvMyHub on July 9, 2006, at 2:31:34
In reply to Re: Newbie--Is Lamictal making me SICK??? » LuvMyHub, posted by KaraS on July 9, 2006, at 2:12:14
Thanks so much to both of you! I hope my pdoc will give me the Prozac, I have heard that it helps tremendously. Thanks again for the help and support! Bless you.
Posted by curtm on July 10, 2006, at 12:07:07
In reply to Newbie--Is Lamictal making me SICK???, posted by LuvMyHub on July 8, 2006, at 15:54:56
Can a person switch cold turkey from on mood stabilizer to another without weaning and possibly avoid withdrawal symptoms? i.e. from Lamictal to Abilify or Effexor to Prozac?
Posted by Phillipa on July 10, 2006, at 13:02:24
In reply to Re: Newbie--Is Lamictal making me SICK???, posted by curtm on July 10, 2006, at 12:07:07
How high a dose of lamictal before any side effects? Love Phillipa
Posted by LuvMyHub on July 10, 2006, at 16:13:07
In reply to Re: Newbie--Is Lamictal making me SICK???, posted by Phillipa on July 10, 2006, at 13:02:24
> How high a dose of lamictal before any side effects? Love Phillipa
Phillipa, I am on 200 and it got bad when going from 150 to 200...at least that seems to be when I started noticing being sick all the time and the joint pain.
Posted by heaven help me on July 11, 2006, at 10:07:19
In reply to Re: Newbie--Is Lamictal making me SICK??? » LuvMyHub, posted by heaven help me on July 8, 2006, at 17:18:48
OK, so I have been on Lamictal 1 year, the last 3 months of that along with Geodon. I am currently weaning off the Geodon and this morning I woke up aching ALL OVER. My stomach hurts, I have diarreah, it feels just like the flu. Does anyone think that it would take Lamictal THIS LONG to have such a side effect? Or maybe I just have the flu. I am so frustrated. grrrrr.
mary
Posted by Phillipa on July 11, 2006, at 19:25:49
In reply to Re: Newbie--Is Lamictal making me SICK???, posted by heaven help me on July 11, 2006, at 10:07:19
Mary do you think it's the weaning of the geodon? Love Phillipa
Posted by heaven help me on July 12, 2006, at 12:22:27
In reply to Re: Newbie--Is Lamictal making me SICK??? » heaven help me, posted by Phillipa on July 11, 2006, at 19:25:49
Phillipa, have you ever heard of weaning off something having these sort of effects? it's worse today
mary
Posted by Phillipa on July 12, 2006, at 20:10:11
In reply to Re: Newbie--Is Lamictal making me SICK??? » Phillipa, posted by heaven help me on July 12, 2006, at 12:22:27
Mary I would go to the withdrawal board and post a thread on what is happening. Two drugs at once may be too much. And after a year I doubt it's the lamictal. Love Phillipa ps have you looked on the board to see if anyone else has the same thing.
Posted by helpme on July 13, 2006, at 0:48:21
In reply to Newbie--Is Lamictal making me SICK???, posted by LuvMyHub on July 8, 2006, at 15:54:56
I think lamictal made ME sick- migranes that I neverhad before, with new vomiting and and nausea which never ended, but subsided when drug ened.
Posted by helpme on July 13, 2006, at 0:48:30
In reply to Newbie--Is Lamictal making me SICK???, posted by LuvMyHub on July 8, 2006, at 15:54:56
I think lamictal made ME sick- migranes that I neverhad before, with new vomiting and and nausea which never ended, but subsided when drug ened.
Posted by LuvMyHub on July 13, 2006, at 1:19:36
In reply to Re: Newbie--Is Lamictal making me SICK???, posted by helpme on July 13, 2006, at 0:48:30
Helpme, did you find an alternative to the Lamictal that you are happy with? I can't believe how sick this medication is making me. I HAVE to go off of this!!!!
Posted by curtm on July 13, 2006, at 8:42:26
In reply to Re: Newbie--Is Lamictal making me SICK??? » helpme, posted by LuvMyHub on July 13, 2006, at 1:19:36
Posted by laima on July 19, 2006, at 10:59:01
In reply to Re: Newbie--Is Lamictal making me SICK??? » helpme, posted by LuvMyHub on July 13, 2006, at 1:19:36
I too got very sick, persistently sick, from lamictal- eventually got off the lamictal and delved into more conventional antidepressents. Is that an appropriate option for you? I noticed that lamictal currently has a lot of "buzz" around it amongst doctors-maybe that is why you were put on it in the first place? Good luck.> Helpme, did you find an alternative to the Lamictal that you are happy with? I can't believe how sick this medication is making me. I HAVE to go off of this!!!!
Posted by laima on July 19, 2006, at 11:00:27
In reply to Re: Newbie--Is Lamictal making me SICK??? » helpme, posted by LuvMyHub on July 13, 2006, at 1:19:36
I forgot to say- please do not suddenly stop lamictal- that can be very dangerous. Talk to your doctor about tapering instead.
> Helpme, did you find an alternative to the Lamictal that you are happy with? I can't believe how sick this medication is making me. I HAVE to go off of this!!!!
Posted by Phillipa on July 19, 2006, at 20:15:55
In reply to Re: Newbie--Is Lamictal making me SICK???, posted by laima on July 19, 2006, at 11:00:27
Why shouldn't you just stop it? I've never had withdrawal problems with any med. Love Phillipa ps I usually feel better immediately once I stop a med if it was giving me side effects.
Posted by LuvMyHub on July 19, 2006, at 21:49:59
In reply to Re: Newbie--Is Lamictal making me SICK??? » laima, posted by Phillipa on July 19, 2006, at 20:15:55
Thank you all for your responses. I was told by my internist today to stop the medication....yesterday my psych doc told me to wean down off of it....so that is what I am trying to do, you can't believe how sick this medication has made me...my joints are killing me, I have a 24/7 flu feeling and have been like this since early May. Enough is enough. I get so frustrated with my employer and others who think that I am making this stuff up. I have had 10 different doctor visits in the past two months and always have documentation to give my employer but they still give me an attitude like they don't believe I'm sick. The last thing I need is to worry about what they think. I am considering asking my doc to try me on prozac. I know it is now an older antidepressant but I think I did well on it about 10 years ago. I don't even remember why I stopped taking it. I really don't have "ups" like you see in bipolar, I have mostly downs/depression. The Effexor I am on isn't worth a hoot and I tried to ween down off of that and got sick as a dog so my doc is weaning my down more slowy off of that crap. I mentioned to him that I'd heard some people are weaned down off of that with prozac...he just blew it off. He seemed surprised that the Lamictal was making me so sick. He wants to get me down to a lower dose and see if that helps but my internist thinks I won't feel better unless I get off of this completely. Oh well, I really appreciate all of your thoughts......hope everyone is well.
This is the end of the thread.
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