I recently wrote a blog for BP Magazine on this topic- and there were 107 comments. That is pretty amazing. Reading the comments reminds me why I have to stay on my meds. If you’re thinking of going off or have done so in the past, these comments really help! If you care about someone with bipolar, maybe they will read the blog and the comments to get more support in staying on meds. And if you care about someone who refuses meds, this will at least give you insight into why people go on and off.
I even have trouble- Lamictal saves my life. I know what it’s like when I don’t have enough in my system and yet I still make mistakes!
Here is the link to the blog- there is a comment tab at the bottom. 107 comments!
Depakote, like Tegretol is an anticonvulsant drug used to treat bipolar disorder MANIA. It’s a misconception that Depakote is a complete mood stabilizer as it’s not as effective for depression treatment- it’s often used in conjunction with other medications that do help depression in order to fully treat bipolar disorder.
When I was first diagnosed with bipolar disorder, I started with lithium (considered the only true ‘mood stabilizer’ ) – I had really severe side effects with lithium and had to try the next in line drug for people initially diagnosed with bipolar disorder – Tegrotol. When that didn’t work I tried Depakote.
This was a very normal treatment plan in 1995. These days, for those of us with bipolar II (we don’t have full blown mania), Lamictal (Lamotrigine) is often the drug of choice instead of Depakote [ Read More ]
I take a lot of Lamictal for my bipolar disorder. (My dose is really high: 700 mg)
This can be hard on the system if I only take it during the day. I now have it on a 24 hour cycle. I take half throughout the day and then take the rest throughout the night.
It’s hard to keep track of bipolar meds- I find it very frustrating, upsetting, worrisome, etc when I look at my daily bottle and all the meds are sitting there. I forgot to take them! That happens rarely, but it’s still a problem.
Here’s what I do to remember my meds. I have an empty bottle that I fill every day with my Lamictal dose. I put that in my bag and take the half of the meds. Then I come home and empty the bottle on my counter next to a glass of water. I take a pill, then [ Read More ]
As you may already know, Lamictal changed and saves my life. It’s the only drug I’ve been able to take since I was diagnosed in 1995. I am always singing the praises about the drug.
It comes with side effects for sure- the main one being a rash that can be serious. But it’s very, very rare. Many health care professionals are wary of Lamictal because of the rash, but I always remind people that a potential side effect is just that. If monitored correctly, the potential is small. Also, the rash is normally benign. Make sure your prescriber knows all of the history before saying no to prescribing Lamictal or Lamotrigine. A rash doesn’t mean you can’t take the drug. It often means you just need to start with a lower dose and increase is slowly.
What is Lamotrigine?
The generic form of Lamicatal is called Lamotrigine. Lamictal is the brand name and is [ Read More ]
All drugs can interact with bipolar disorder medications. Many times a health care professional will say that a certain medication will not affect bipolar disorder symptoms and this can be quite untrue. For example, steroid use such as cortisone is often given in small doses in very specific areas of the body. You may hear that the drug will stay in one spot and not affect moods, this is not the case. All medications go through organs including the brain and can affect moods. Check carefully before you take a small dose of anything.
Oh this is so true! I have had reactions to cortisone, valerian, amino acids, birth control pills and so many more! I had a reaction to homeopathic lithium!
There are MANY over the counter drugs, supplements, vitamins, minterals,etc that can interact with bipolar medications as well as affect brain chemistry seperately. I recently tried a new amino acid called NAC and was [ Read More ]
I am a regular columinist and blogger for BP Magazine. (If you don’t alreade receive this publication, it’s amazing. Especially for family members and partners.)
My BP Magazine blog is normally separate from this blog, but the one this week is so imporant, I want to post it in two places.
Here is the first paragraph of the blog- you can then click over to the mag site to read the rest:
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Why Can’t I Take Anti Depresants or ADHD Meds if I Have Bipolar Disorder?
The answer is that you can- in some very carefully monitored situations. One of the main problems I see in my coaching clients is where a child or partner has a manic episode due to taking an antidepressant or stimulant. It’s a huge problem in the health care profession due to lack of [ Read More ]
The health information contained herein is provided for general education purposes only. This site should not be seen as a substitute for an official diagnosis or for professional health care.
