Katg10 Posted October 14, 2014 Share Posted October 14, 2014 I started taking Lamictal in January for bipolar 2, and after an up and down start, found it worked quite well. I have been charting my moods, and I am having a big drop in mood at the end of my cycle, which seems to be getting a bit worse each month. My husband, (who doesn't fuss too often) is worried about me getting alot lower than I have for months, though it only seems to be for a week or so, but then I feel normal (well, more normal...) Before I was diagnosed, I had irregular ups and downs, and had possibly thought that PMS was a bit of an overreaction. Has anyone had experience with this and Lamictal? (Or in general) I'm not sure if its a cause or effect, or just something I never linked up before, and probably not helped by babies and breastfeeding. I have an appointment next Monday with my regular doctor, but I'm not sure if he is all that comfortable with possibly hormonal females, at leased based on most of his jokes... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissaw72 Posted October 14, 2014 Share Posted October 14, 2014 I have never had this problem with Lamictal. My moods are up and down, and during the end of my cycle is included. My moods could be anything ... Sometimes good, sometimes bad. That's not to say your moods aren't related. Just saying that I haven't found mine to. Are you on any other medication/s? If you don't feel comfortable bringing this up with your regular DR, do you have a psychiatrist (pdoc) you can talk to about it, or specifically an OB/GYN? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiaB Posted October 14, 2014 Share Posted October 14, 2014 (edited) It took me a few months to reach my current target dose of lamotrigine, and I've seen no discernible impact on how I feel just before my period starts. If pressed, I'd say that there might be a slight improvement in my typical PMS behaviour and feelings, but I'd personally be hesitant to apply a cause and effect reason to that and say that it's the lamotrigine. Everything I've read and been told about the med is that it's supposed to have particular efficacy for bipolar depression. If you're still cycling into a depressive state I'd say it's time to discuss it with your doctor (your psychiatrist, if you're seeing one). It could be a dosing issue, some way you're reacting to the med, or there may just be other factors at play here - I don't want to guess and possibly give you the wrong information. Edited October 14, 2014 by MiaB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wj74 Posted October 14, 2014 Share Posted October 14, 2014 When my meds aren't quite doing the job I have breakthrough PMS but when I am stable I don't think it's out of the range of normal. I was like that on Lamictal/Wellbutrin combo, it just wasn't enough to stabilize me so he added Seroquel. Much better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crtclms Posted October 14, 2014 Share Posted October 14, 2014 Hi, I'm moving this to mood stabilizers. A lot of people on CBs use Lamictal for various things, so you may get more input. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katg10 Posted October 14, 2014 Author Share Posted October 14, 2014 I need to be referred back to the pdoc by my regular doctor, so it's just fitting in with the system here. I'm guess I'm just hoping for something that might be easier to treat, rather than adding meds which makes me a bit nervous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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