Julie, I just can’t seem to get my Lamictal regulated. It’s ridiculous. I’ve been taking this drug for three years! Why on earth would I suddenly have dosage problems? It was working so well and now I am getting a bit sick and this is terrible! What is wrong with me?
Janna
Hello Janna,
There is nothing wrong with you. I would say this is actually a good sign. Your body is changing and it means the way the medication metabolizes will change as well. Few people stay on the same meds with the same outcome for a life time. It is completely NORMAL for meds to work and then not work and then work again. Sometimes we have to change the mediations and I know how hard this can be.
Our bodies also change with stress. Lamcital is lamotrogine, an anti epilepsy drug that has been quite a miracle for those of us with bipolar depression. Yes, it’s big pharma, but out of all of the drugs for depression, this is the one that rarely causes mania, so if it has helped in the past, I suggest working with your prescriber to get it regulated.
Also, I have always had trouble staying on track with my meds. If there is a chance you have not been taking the meds at the right dosage at the same time, this can change the way the Laminal works. Also, have any new meds been added? That can change things.
It’s hard to have an illness that needs profolactic (preventative) medication. The meds do not cure us. They hold down the symptoms. This is why the symptoms can bubble up even when we are on meds.
I’m glad that you are very aware of your body and you are thinking of what you need to do to stay stable. Keep trying to get this regulated. Work on a management plan that might allow you to use less meds. Focus on trigger management.
Good luck!
Julie
