Hi, I just had a letter asking me to talk abot Lamictal side effects. I will do a few here and then give more information in the bipolarhappens.com newsletter.

 I call Lamictal my wonder drug. It gave me a much more normal life. It can have some intense side effects though.

Lamictal side effects can be there from the beginning- literally from the first week- in the form of a stiff neck, clenched jaw or some mild breathing problems. I had these for quite a while and then they went away.

There is definitely a rash associated with Lamictal- one is serious the other benign. I will talk more on this in the newsletter. My coauthor Dr. John Preston said that most of the rashes from Lamictal are very mild and not of concern- but I also know people who have the rash from head to toe.  No matter what, see your doctor if you see a rash. This does NOT mean you have to stop the drug unless there is a serious rash. People do learn to manage the itchiness. Talk with a doctor who really, really understands Lamictal. You can get on chat boards as well.  Many psych drugs have potentially fatal side effects, so don’t throw Lamictal out too soon!

It’s important to know that the serious rash is extremely rare.  All rashes need to be reported, but there is no need to panic.

I’ve been on Lamictal for three years. My side effects come and go. It’s frustrating, but I need this drug so I deal with them. The stiff neck is hard and I’m now experiencing extremely intense itching- without a visible rash.

I’ve talked with my doctor.  It’s pretty bad.

So, it’s always a tradeoff with psychiatric meds like Lamictal. Can you live with the side effects? Are there ways to make things easier such as massage, chiropractic help and ice packs? That’s what I do. The itching is worse. I’m going to do all I can to pinpoint what is going on so that I can take care of it.

More on this later!

Julie

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How Many Medications Should I Try?

This is a difficult question for many health care professionals as well as people with the illness. It’s known that the first bipolar disorder medications tried are not always successful and that a trial and error process is usually indicated. Some people try medications for a year or more until they find something that works for them. Considering medication side effects and the impact on the body when stopping or changing medications, it’s important that you work with your health care professional closely when you’re asked to try a new medication.

I suggest that people keep trying to find the right medications. I use the Health Cards every day as I always say and I used them without medications for many years. It took me about 50% of my time to manage the illness. I’ve always said that managing this illness was a part time job. It was so difficult.

Then I found a medication that worked. It was like getting a business partner! When I combined the Health Cards with the medication, my life changed completely. It just took a few years for it all to work together. I started to get a lot better last year.

So keep trying medications until you find what works. My coauthor Dr. John Preston wrote a fantastic book called The Medical Treatment of Bipolar Disorder. This book is especially helpful if you or someone you care about were just diagnosed. You can read about the book on bipolarhappens.com

Julie

Bipolar Medications: Lamictal Side Effects

I love Lamictal. That could be a bumper sticker on my car. I hope you have a medication that you love.

Unfortunately, I have some pretty tough side effects. Right now I’m dealing with the super stiff neck that often comes with the drug. It disrupts my sleep, which isn’t good! It’s like nighttime whip lash. I’ve found that stretching my neck and then using an ice pack helps. I try to get a massage as often as possible. I find myself moving my head over and over again to try to find a comfortable place on my pillow. There usually isn’t one! My side effects come and go, so hopefully this will be gone soon.

I’ve probably written about this on the blog- but I had to write it again to remind people that we may have to live with some side effects if the medication works really well.

Here’s some more info about Lamictal: Lamictal, like Depakote and Tegretol is an anticonvulsant drug that just happens to work for bipolar disorder!

Lithium is the only ‘real’ mood stabilizer. It’s a natural salt which is why it’s so inexpensive! Lithium is a miracle drug for many people- but a lot of us can’t take it.

When it comes to symptoms, Lithium, Tegretol and Depakote are anti mania drugs. They are not anti depression drugs- which is why Lamictal has been the miracle for those of us with bipolar II who don’t have full blown mania.

Lamictal helps with depression, mild mania, rapid cycling, psychosis, OCD symptoms and ADHD symptoms. Wow, that is great.

Julie

Here are some stories that illustrate a fact: bipolar disorder medication efficacy can change over time.

Lithium: My dear friend Sherri- who has bipolar I-  took Lithium successfully for over eight years.  Two years ago she had a severe manic/psychotic episode without a major trigger. My coauthor Dr. John Preston calls them breakthrough mood swings. She spent the past two years on Lithium and Zyprexa. It was a tough two years, but she is doing SO well. I just talked with her today and I said, “It’s so great to have Sherri back!” She said that her husband feels the same. People do get better!

Zoloft: Another friend was on Zoloft for ten years. It stopped working effectively. She then tried Celexa. It worked for a while, but not as well as Zoloft. So she’s going back on the Zoloft! It’s an art to find out what drug works for you. It is a lifelong process for most of us.

Lamictal: As many of you know, I made a huge mistake a year and a half ago- I reduced my Lamictal because it wasn’t helping enough with my depression. I didn’t realize it was helping me in so many other ways. When I finally got back up to my normal dose- the drug worked better. No kidding. It helped my depression a lot more than in the two prior years.

Don’t give up on your bipolar meds. The right meds can change your life!

Julie

When I was on Tegretol, I had a lot of trouble with my eyes. I lost my depth of perception! I actually wore an eye patch for awhile in order to walk without tripping.

 So, if you’re on Tegretol and have trouble with your eyes. It’s normal. Not cool, but normal.

 Julie