jawz78 Posted October 10, 2010 Share Posted October 10, 2010 Perhaps it is just me, but I must confess I really, really, really do not like this drug so far! It makes my head feel "full". Not with knowledge, because I can't even remember half of what I thought I new. More of a jello, foamy fullness? I noticed when I first started on it, I had a serious increase in anxiety... but as I went along and pushed through that faded. Only to be replaced with this "stuper". If this is "normal", they can keep it! I've also noticed (well my wife tells me anyway) that I have been very short tempered with everyone and everything. I tried to beat up the dishwasher the other day because two bowls were still dirty. I swear... even though I was all fubar before the meds, at least I could hide it well and control my emotions for the most part. Hyperventilation and dazey fog is all I seem to do now. This really sucks! If anyone takes this monstrosity and feels otherwise, please tell me! Also, if you have had this, does it end? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nibblerd Posted October 10, 2010 Share Posted October 10, 2010 How long have you been on the SSRI? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rowen Posted October 10, 2010 Share Posted October 10, 2010 Your dose might be off. Talk to your pdoc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnneMarie Posted October 10, 2010 Share Posted October 10, 2010 I described that feeling as having a wet towel shoved into my ears. I get that type of serious stupid at much higher dose than I am taking. My pdoc understands that there is no way in hell that I will go to that level again. Up to here, it helps with depression. Lamictal is not much of an antimanic for a lot of people. Being on it plus an AD probably has your engine revving too high. Call your doc and explain what's going on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catnapper Posted October 10, 2010 Share Posted October 10, 2010 When I first started on Lamictal, I was taking 450 mg of Wellbutrin, which I had been taking for about 4 or 5 years. I went from 300 to 450 mg of Wellbutrin to help pull me out of an episode of major depression. I started Lamictal about a year and a half ago (see my signature), and the first week on it I had terrible nightmares, which I haven't had since I was a toddler. I went back to see the pdoc and he reduced the Wellbutrin back to 300 mg, and the nightmares went away immediately. As I titrated up on Lamicatal I got headaches with every dosage increase, but they only lasted a few days. I'm now at 200 mg. I love it, I feel better than I have in years. But I was originally dx'ed with 'atypical depression', meaning I slept and ate too much. I've never had the agitation or insomnia that lots of people get when they're depressed. I would definitely talk to the pdoc about changing your other meds and/or the Lamictal. The combo may be too activating for you. Good luck, hope you find something that works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Faustus Posted October 10, 2010 Share Posted October 10, 2010 Like others have said, us manic depressives have to watch out for SSRIs.........and the thought that it could just be your brain chemistry and lamictal can't be ruled out. See the pdoc ASAP.........for me Lamictal starting out energizing then became a blessed filter for hypomania. But everyone is different so .............pdoc.......step one.......and we as patients have the right to say this 'side effect' is NOT acceptable to me. Best wishes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GumbyGirl Posted October 12, 2010 Share Posted October 12, 2010 Lamictal, for me, was weird at first. Headaches, foggy-headed, etc. Once I titrated from 25 to 50mg, I felt SO much better. From 50 to 100mg I noticed my hypomanias became a LOT worse. I am now at 150mg and noticing a change. As far as the anti-dep, be careful as when I began Lamicatal, she started me on Luvox at the same time and it was bad. Was just a walking ball of hypomanic anxiousness. Definitely talk to the pdoc and see what they say. Like Dr. Faustus said, SSRI's and Lamictal can be tricky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greekstud Posted October 23, 2010 Share Posted October 23, 2010 My .02. I just started taking Lamictal. Iam on my 6th day currently. My experiences so far are feeling more relaxed and tired, but I hope this feeling goes away! My mood seems more flat, but not in a good way. I don't know, I just hope that this medication does something for me. Just a little history on myself, hey I might get lucky and receive some useful knowledge from some of you, is that I'm the type of person who worries to much. I'm constantly worried and blow things out of proportion. I get really excited and sad/depressed/anxious easily. Is this what bipolar 2 entails? I do not have full blown manic or depressive states, I just pretty much feel like I'm the same in terms of the way I feel, kind of low/depressed. Im pretty healthy and active and I go to the gym alot...from my description, does it sound that I may have a bipolar variation of some sort? I just want to actually feel better. I have tried antidepressants in the past with unwanted sexual side effects and just feeling weird on them overall so I quit them quite quickly. I was also self medicating with marijuana for a few years off and on, but I do not believe in that approach either because I feel like I go nowhere and I hate the after effects of coming down, although I love the direct effects it has for anxiety. Just writing about it makes me want to take a hit, but I do not want to go down that path again!!! I have a somewhat addictive personality aswell. I think I have add/ bipolar combination. I don't know but I'm a little strange! Lol plus I don't like the fact that I have to take something in order to get better, i feel like I'm a weak individual. Hmmm any thoughts? You guys rock! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lavender Posted October 24, 2010 Share Posted October 24, 2010 If anyone takes this monstrosity and feels otherwise, please tell me! Also, if you have had this, does it end? Lamictal has treated me well. Sometimes a dosage adjustment is necessary, and according to my doc (who specializes in BP) he's found that many ppl do just as well on a lower dosage (ie: 100mg) He says some ppl start having side effects on higher doses, then want to give up on it. At 100mgs he usually holds it right there for a while and evaluates. Mine ended up at 200mgs and holding. I had some headaches at first and had to divide my dose into 100mg twice a day. The headaches went away and I've had no adverse effects, now can take it all in 1 dose. Zoloft made me manic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancesintherain Posted October 24, 2010 Share Posted October 24, 2010 I have to admit that its my wonder drug. I've also played around with dosage somewhat. I was good at 200 for a bit, started being a little less stable and bumped to 250, and came back down to 200 when I was having excessive tiredness problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6un6silent6 Posted November 13, 2010 Share Posted November 13, 2010 I too have been having a lot of problems with Lamictal. My doctor added it as an adjunct therapy to my Lithium in hopes to tame my breakthrough symptoms. I can't take any more of the side effects/mood problems that's come along since I've taken it. Here's a list of my "enjoyable" experiences: Nausea Cognitive dulling (memory, trouble finding words, inability to focus) Headaches all the time A squeezing feeling in the back of my head Jello/Sloshy feeling in the head Dizziness Balance issues Extreme panic attacks Increased tremor (I already tremor from Lithium) Hypomanic episodes (more frequent as I went higher on the dose) I'm at 125mg as of yesterday and I reported all of these problems to my Pdoc. He told me to drop to 100mg and we would discuss taking me off of it slowly Monday when we have an appointment. I've been on Lithium for a year now and while the 900mg dose doesn't always keep me 100% stable I'd rather deal with breakthrough symptoms then being sick from the Lamictal. He has me increasing my Lithium dose to 1050mg tonight and decreasing to 100mg Lamictal. My Pdoc wanted me to hit 200mg but honestly, I can't make it there without staying at home and being sick all the time/not functioning. Good luck with Lamictal, for me it's hell and I hope it's gone soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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