Bipolar Medication Side Effects

Lamictal (Lamotrigine):  Anti-convulsant used as a mood stabilizer in Bipolar Disorder.  Lamictal is a great drug for depression and rapid cycling. It’s not an anti-mania drug.

 I have been on Lamictal for five years- with very few side effects. When I raised my dose I had an odd reaction. My eyes became dry and the area under my eyes became very puffy. I actually just did a few videos for my blog and I look ill! It’s a weird side effect. As I write this, I feel like I have been lightly punched in the eyes. I will have to put the videos here just so you can see what I mean.

Lithium: The only true ‘mood stabilizer.’ What many don’t know is that lithium is used to treat bipolar mania and not bipolar depression. It’s the same with Tegretol. Tegretol is an anticonvulsant like Lamictal, but it’s used to treat bipolar mania.

My friend Sherri [ Read More ]





Bipolar Disorder: My meds are working!

Hello to Everyone,

Wow, thanks so much for the nice comments. It has definitely been a tough week. I made it to all of my appointments- saw all of the people I said I would see and basically kept functioning, but work definitely suffered. I started with the correct meds two days ago and I’m already feeling better.

I receive a lot of blog comments with questions. Please feel free to offer tips to the person asking the question  as I think that we all have ideas on what can help manage this illness- and advice for those we care about people with the illness! I will answer all I can in the next week.

I will be back in action soon. I know the new meds will really help. I have a book proposal due, lots of email to answer and an article to write for BP Magazine. I have to get myself in [ Read More ]