Hi,
Here is a great question from Dana regarding medications.
Hi Julie,
I’m on the Lamictal starter pack and still taking 25 mg a day. I’ve been increasingly manic, irritable and aggressive. I have no tolerance for other people and haven’t been able to attend school. Is this normal? Will it be better at 100mg?
Dana
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Hi Dana,
First of all, it’s great that you’re aware of what’s going on. Sometimes side effects happen so subtly that people stay in a state of physical and mental agitation before they realize what’s happening.
Lamictal, like all drugs works in different doses for different people. For example, my mother gets a lot of help from 75mg and I’m on 500mg. If she goes above 75mg she gets the jaw clenching that comes with the drug. If I go under 500mg I get pretty bad withdrawal symptoms including bad twitching and super bad leg pain.
Your health care professional was really smart to start you on a small dose as going up slowly on Lamictal really helps minimize side effects.
It’s super important that you contact your doctor with your question. Any time a drug makes you feel manic, this is dangerous as it can lead to rapid cycling.
I have not heard of Lamictal causing mania and agitation, so that is new to me, but your health care professional will definitely know what do to. Here are questions you can ask yourself so that you can give your HCP the info needed:
Are you taking other meds that may be interacting with the Lamictal?
Did you stop a drug to go on this drug? IE, could you be having withdrawal from something else?
Have you had a trigger in your life that is messing with your sleep?
Speaking of sleep, the number one sign of mania is sleeping a lot less but not being tired. You may feel agitated and worn out, but not necessarily tired.
There are many things that could be happening, but it’s probably the drug. Only you and your HCP can work on dosage. Lamictal is notorious for withdrawal symptoms, so don’t do anything drastic. If you and your HCP decide to change the dose or the drug, do it slowly!
I hope this helps. Hang in there. It took me many, many years to find the right med at the right dose. It takes time, but you can find the same relief.
Julie
Thanks for discussing lamictal side effects. I’d like to know more about Zyprexa side effects which is known for causing weight gain and diabetes related problems.
How many people are effected by this problem? Has anybody had success with this drug WITHOUT gaining weight.
I just want to be happy NOT fat & happy.
Thanks!
Kathleen
I am 20 years old bipolar II and have tried 11 different medicines in the past 5 years. (i just got diagnosed february 2008 after being misdiagnosed for depression for 5 years). I have tried lamictal twice but both times i got a rash. The first time on 25 mg for almost a week and a half i ended up in the ER because i turned purple with a fever and everything they gave me wasn’t helping until they pumped me up of anti rash or whatever meds that i just fell alseep and couldn’t feel anything. the second time i got a rash 3 hours after taking the stupid pill. I am so frustrated! I am taking geodon but it is giving me so many side effects, including mild to severe schizo-like panics and tremors. I have been in contact with my doctor almost everyday because of this. When will i find something that works for me???? I am getting so angry about all these meds not working. depakote made me a zombie and gain weight and all those SSRIs and abilify made me crazy or suicidal. How long is this going to go on for? Why isn’t anything working for me??? ARGH! i am just so sensitive to ANY kind of medicine. I dropped out of college temporarily except for an online class because my disorder and anxiety and self esteem problems really hold me back. sorry i am just rambling on. i just wanna know how long it could take to find the right medicine for me. What have other people gone through? I need something for my depression but also mood swings. Not to make me MORE depressed and INSANE.
Julia,
I’m not sure if you’re still checking this for replies to your posting, but I just wanted to let you know I empathize with your situation. In some ways I have been there. I was diagnosed bipolar II with features of ADD and OCD at age 18, in my first year of college. I had to temporarily withdraw on medical leave to deal with diagnosis and stabilization. After the antidepressants and lithium failed, I had ECT and then finally Depakote worked for me. I resumed my “normal life,” graduated from college in three-and-a-half years, got married and started my first professional job as a journalist. I went into a remission-like state for at least a decade, although I still reacted to triggers and have milder depression and hypomania. Now, at age 31, I am trying to stabilize from a relapse of bp depression brought on by a bad reaction to a prescribed steroid that first sent me into dysphoric mania, then plunged me down. It’s been six months, maybe more, and I’m still working on getting back to my baseline.
I wanted to tell you this to emphasize that you _can_ be well – and for long periods of time. Please take that hope and hold onto it. But sadly, there are no guarantees of permanent stability – I am learning that just taking my meds isn’t enough, because there are things out there (like prescription meds with bad reactions) that are mostly out of one’s control. And my triggers and moods weren’t totally in control even when I was in “remission” (with no major episodes for years.)
Now, a note to Julie – Thank you for helping me to realize this paradigm shift (about meds not being enough to help manage bp), and thank you for your books! My hubby and I are planning to work through “Loving Someone With BP” during the new year (he’s already read it) and I am working through “Take Charge of BP.” Also have “Get It Done When You’re Depressed” and have recommended it to several others of like mind.
God’s blessings and peace to all this holiday season and beyond–
KNP
Hi. This is an old post, but hopefully you will check the comments. I was just wondering how I can know if my 18 year old daughter is suffering from a sleep disorder, is bipolar or is just a “normal” stay up all night every now and then teenager? She has had trouble sleeping since middle school and I would say probably 2 – 3 times per week may stay up most all night. She does have some mood swings also, but then again, she is 18 and also has a 2 year old son. She seems to like to stay up all night. She has been given sleep medication but won’t take it. She refuses to go to a sleep specialist and becomes very defensive if I bring all this up with her. I am concerned that she is not 100% for her son when she has not been sleeping enough. Thank you.