witchywoman Posted October 25, 2007 Share Posted October 25, 2007 Can Lamictal cause mania? My pdoc says Im a bit manic (hypo manic I guess), so he gave me Trileptal, kept the Geodon the same (I think it's the Geodon causing this, but he doesn't) and dropped my Lamictal from 150 mg to 100 mg. He didn't even tell me he was doing it. I thought he wrote out the prescription wrong and called his secretary. She called me back and said that's what he wants me on. I thought Lamictal was supposed to supress mania, not cause it. I would've thought he would up the Lamictal if he did anything. So, whats the scoop on Lamictal and mania? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nalgas Posted October 25, 2007 Share Posted October 25, 2007 Lamictal can be somewhat activating for some people. It's not really known for reducing/preventing mania compared to other ACs and can even push some people in that direction sometimes. It's much better at improving the depression side of things and is actually used for plain old non-bipolar depression sometimes for that reason. There was just a link in another recent thread to a study somewhere that suggested that it's a better antidepressant than a mood stabilizer, actually. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CER Posted October 25, 2007 Share Posted October 25, 2007 Can Lamictal cause mania? My pdoc says Im a bit manic (hypo manic I guess), so he gave me Trileptal, kept the Geodon the same (I think it's the Geodon causing this, but he doesn't) and dropped my Lamictal from 150 mg to 100 mg. He didn't even tell me he was doing it. I thought he wrote out the prescription wrong and called his secretary. She called me back and said that's what he wants me on. I thought Lamictal was supposed to supress mania, not cause it. I would've thought he would up the Lamictal if he did anything. So, whats the scoop on Lamictal and mania? Well, the official word is that Lamictal is supposed to help with bipolar depression without the associated risks of mania, but for every rule (well, you know...) There is evidence that it can cause some bipolar people to become anxious or even exhibit other hypomanic tendencies at certain doses. The trick most of the time is finding the right dose (up or down...). Believe it or not, sometimes raising the dose does the trick! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witchywoman Posted October 26, 2007 Author Share Posted October 26, 2007 Now that I think about it, this all got worse (anger, etc) after I got to 150 mg, right after the first dose, even. So, maybe it is the Lamictal. Hmmm, interesting. Thanks for all your input. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CER Posted October 26, 2007 Share Posted October 26, 2007 Now that I think about it, this all got worse (anger, etc) after I got to 150 mg, right after the first dose, even. So, maybe it is the Lamictal. Hmmm, interesting. Thanks for all your input. Yes. That could do it. I remember feeling kind of strange around 150mg, but when I hit 200mg I felt perfect! Lamictal is kind of wierd that way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
faroutwest Posted October 30, 2007 Share Posted October 30, 2007 Oh, yeah. Lamictal. Always get worse before better. Should actually be on the side effects box listing. Really! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zenbean Posted October 30, 2007 Share Posted October 30, 2007 Oh, yeah. Lamictal. Always get worse before better. Should actually be on the side effects box listing. Really! Yep, that's been my experience. Extreme irritability punctuated with bouts of rage when increasing. Then, after a week or so, it goes away, and I feel better. Go figure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnneMarie Posted October 30, 2007 Share Posted October 30, 2007 I can't take the stuff without Lithium; too much hypomania otherwise. Geodon amped me at lower doses (note, I also was on mid level Lamictal dose), but around 120-160mg, G sort of mellowed me out. I'd bet money that Lamictal has you a tad bit wired. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witchywoman Posted October 30, 2007 Author Share Posted October 30, 2007 Thanks everyone! I've been on the new Lamictal dose (100 mg) and the Trileptal 600 mg for a week now, and I don't really feel much better. A little bit, as I was able to drive last night without wanting to run people off the road. Im still so full of anger though, and Im really afraid because I don't know what's next. I just want this to work so badly, and it doesn't seem to be doing much. Anyway, thanks for all your responses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myrkkyhammas Posted November 3, 2007 Share Posted November 3, 2007 yeah, i love lamictal. it makes me manic and not mixed like ssris tend to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BjornGlitchy Posted November 3, 2007 Share Posted November 3, 2007 When I hit 100mg of Lamictal I couldn't sleep for a week...four nights straight of no sleep and the rest only a few hours. It was hell and I ended up in the ER. I hope you have better luck with the stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdithE Posted November 14, 2007 Share Posted November 14, 2007 I started it about a month ago...only up to 37.5 mg. (Note: I'm a total lightweight when it comes to drugs, I've had to go to the hospital for antibiotics before, quitting smoking can send me into a horrible bad place and just don't even think about caffiene. I'm only on this shit because I was so tired I couldn't even walk from room to room without having to lie down to rest.) You guys and your cocktails are super impressive to me! So some of you have had the experience that increasing it can improve the mania? I keep asking my pdoc (I assume that means psychiatrist??) and he just kind of says "Hurr, I dunno." I took 12.5 mg for about a week and went from super tired to semi functional. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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