What is Lamictal again?

[Guest]

Of course everyone processes meds differently to an extent.

My first reaction was, wow 200 mg of lamictal is a lot.

I take 25 mg, but I'm a slow metabolizer and meds linger in my system a very, very long time.

I've found lamictal to be good with bipolar depression and also PAWS symptoms.

I started on 25mg, until I got up to 200. I really don't feel any difference. it's supposed keep the manic episodes in check. But a month or two ago, I went to see my doc, and told him, that my libido is minus zero divided by 2, also having problems staying hard, he told me to change the Effexor from 225mg, to 150mg. But if I'm such a high  dose of downers and a mid-dose on Effexor, why didn't he lowered the Lamictal as well? I'm only type II, so I don't have week/month long manic periods when I go out buying the whole bar a double Louis III shots, then take off tho Africa to hunt crocodiles with a wrist rocket. I'm just lacking the energy, inspiration, a most of the time feelings.

I think it would have been approbate if he'd have lowered the Lamictal down to 150 again, so they balance each other out, and I'll be able to procreate without awkward moments, but also won't feel like, I'm on autopilot all day.

 

[bud]

I agree. At least trying a decrease just to see and if it's not good, well go back up.  Maybe on your next appointment you can revisit this.  It was very difficult for me to find the perfect balance with my meds, a lot of tweaking of doses, I think that's pretty common though.

Good luck with feeling better and tossing baby dust your way!

 

[Guest]

@bud

Thanks, bud, this is definitely I will revisit on my next visit next month. I have a blister film of  Viagra 100mg left until the med tweaking, those broken in half will do just as well on a young fella like me  

 

[bud]

I agree. At least trying a decrease just to see and if it's not good, well go back up.  Maybe on your next appointment you can revisit this.  It was very difficult for me to find the perfect balance with my meds, a lot of tweaking of doses, I think that's pretty common though.

Good luck with feeling better and tossing baby dust your way!

Ah that old blue magic lol

Enjoy the weekend!

 

[US Army Veteran]

Lamicital helped me w anxiety when a friend gave me one once. WhAts else does it help with?

 

[RedGypsy]

I know this is an older thread, and that the OP has probably found solutions by now, but I take Lamictal (have for the last 14 years) and thought I'd throw my .02 in.  

I have been a severe recurrent major depressive since childhood, and unfortunately @ 29 was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Even more unfortunate the thyroid is considered the "gland of emotions," and helps to regulate most of the neurotransmitters implicated in mood stability, and depression as well as anxiety.  After I had my thyroidectomy, I  went off the rails.  I literally had no emotional stability whatsoever.  I was suicidally depressed and developed panic attacks and manic episodes.  

I chose to try Lamictal because unlike many of the other anti-epileptics used as mood stabilizers it is not known to cause weight gain, and is also better for controlling depression than mania (which was the greatest problem for me).  It has helped me a lot in regard to the regulation of my moods, and my free-floating anger that I had for no reason. I haven't noticed it's helped with my anxiety at all, however it is completely controlling any hypomanic type symptoms (with the exception of a few minor breakthrough episodes from time to time).  

For me, the side effects, especially early on were itching (because this medication carries the risk of causing a life-threatening rash, you have to start low & titrate slow, so it is not a good one to be used if you in a crisis).  I did have chronic headaches for a while, which are known as "the lamotragine headache," it also disrupted my sleep a bit, and gave me almost circus like dreams. It can makes you photosensitive, so you will sunburn easier, keep the sunscreen handy.  I am not sure if it has affected my libido or not, because I am on other Rx that cause that & also I have a very low sex drive in general.  It does make you sleepy, so take it @ night & it can upset your stomach @ 1st so it helps if you take it with food.  Now that I've been on it for so long time, most of these sidefx have dwindled, but are still present to some degree.  I do take other medications, as this alone is not enough to treat all of the issues I've been left to deal with, but it's been a lifesaver for me.  You might find this info useful @US Army Veteran as I noticed you were wondering about the uses of this Rx. 

RG

 

[bud]

Lamictal is pretty cheap as far as meds go, so that is a big plus too.

Because i moved and my previous doc didnt give me more than a 1 month supply and typical wait for new shrink is 2-3 months, i had to kick all if my psych meds, it was terrible, i am so lucky i didnt end up in the psych ward

 My new shrink Is very cooperative and has prescribed my usual mix sans xanax, he wants to get to know me better lol, but of course i can still get those, wink, wink.  When i tried re-introducing lamictal(2 x a week apart) it did me wrong, made me a zombie, so perhaps i have gotten all i can from it from the past 10 yrs of use and my brain chemicals do not need it anymore? Right now i am back to just paxil and abilify which seems to be doing well

Supplement with low doses of xanax when bad anxiety or panic.

As we age, our metabolisms change, etc, tweaking of meds is always going to be a necessity,  life changes, traumas, losses, all effect us in different ways and can effect how our psych meds work too.

Ah the brain...

 

[Meowtown]

I was prescribed this medication after having seizures from etzlm w/d

took it for a few weeks then stopped altogether.