lamictal/anxiety

[hugbug]

i started lamictal on tuesday (two days ago) and i'm on 100mg a day for the first week. 

anyway i know stuff takes a while to work but i am on this for depression, my doc hasn't really been treating my anxiety because we haven't really talked about it (i get like, 10-15 minutes with her and we usually just focus on my depression since thats the main issue). 

but i have been feeling REALLY anxious today and i know part of it is because i have a lot of life changes going on. but i was googling to see if lamictal is supposed to help with anxiety and i found somebody saying that they had worse anxiety while on it. and i really dont need more anxiety. i'm trying to find a job and just like, get a handle on my stupid life.

does anybody have experience with lamictal and anxiety? good results or bad ones? if it is going to exacerbate anxiety i don't want to continue taking it. but i don't have a follow up with my doctor. 

sorry if this is all over the place. i just am struggling with this anxiousness today, especially since i have literally nothing to do today, just sitting at home alone with no one to talk to. 

[wnek2]

It seems like your anxiety has several contributing factors other than meds. If you've got a lot of changes to make in your life, that's anxiety-provoking for anybody. Plus being alone and feeling isolated doesn't help either.

But if I can make a suggestion, and I don't want to sound like a smartass, but don't google it. There are millions of people on Lamictal and they all have their own experiences. You are bound to find some that were bad and focus on those when you're feeling apprehensive about what's going on for you.

Could you get an appointment with your pdoc to see whether you can have anything for the anxiety? Or do you have a therapist you can talk to about this?

[hugbug]

Yeah I could probably see her again but I'm worried she will think it's too soon since it's only been a few days since our appt. and I'm uninsured so not sure about cost. 

i only googled to see if it was used as an anti anxiety drug and stumbled upon the info. Haven't had good luck with meds so far. 

 

Thanks for the reply. I'll be more careful with the research lol. 

Edit: Sorry that sounds whiny. My mental health is shaky right now. I'll be careful about posting. 

Edited October 30, 2015 by hugbug

[melissaw72]

From your sig, it doesn't say that you've tried any meds typically for anxiety (ie benzos, propranolol ... a blood pressure med).  I would make it a priority to bring up your anxiety with your DR next time you see him/her so it can be treated with something. 

Personally lamictal didn't really help with my anxiety.  It helps a little with nervousness/restlessness (aside from helping my mood).  I am also on other meds for anxiety (see sig).

[hugbug]

Yes, we have never treated anxiety, I think because I've only really talked about it with my previous therapist, and she never indicated that it needed to be medicated. And I don't think it has been this bad in a long time. 

When I started my last job (the one I just lost) about 6 months ago, I know I was anxious but I managed to get through it. I think I had an anxiety attack and missed one day of work, but after that I was okay. 

Today I have a job interview and that is making me tense. I think getting it over with will relieve some anxiety temporarily, but the act itself will be hard to get through. And the waiting. :/ 

If I can put myself up to it, I'll try to call the doctor's office today and see about getting an appointment soon. I think some kind of anti-anxiety medication would really be useful. I'd like to be able to get through adult situations like the adult I am supposed to be, but that's not always up to the meds lol.