Bipolar Happens Blog – Julie Fast

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