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 Alice just upped her lithium and definitely feels better. But.. .she just called and said, “Julie! My hair is falling out again!” Hair loss is a typical side effect for Tegretol- but I have not heard about it for lithium. She is also experiencing the very common lithium fog and I can hear that her talking is a bit slower. This is all sad because she feels better. It’s ALWAYS a trade off with medications. If my Lamictal works, can I live with dark and puffy eyes? Can Alice deal with hair loss? What a choice. You would think that our mental health would be so much more important than any non fatal side effect- such as losing your hair, but we are human and the beauty and health of our physical body means so much- so side effects are hard. Alice is getting her lithium levels checked tomorrow. I will keep you posted on my eyes!
What side effects do you have that you simply live with?
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I invite you to visit www.BipolarHappens.com and read about the Health Cards Treatment System for bipolar disorder. I recently gave a talk to a group of mental health practitioners here in Portland, Oregon- I was asked how I do so well despite being ill for much of the time- I said, ” I use my Health Cards every day.” There is a sample card on the site- I think you will find it interesting
Julie
Julie
Hi Julie,
I gained about 60 pounds on Zyprexa. I also take Lamictal and Wellbutrin. It seems that I need 10 hours of sleep each night, so the light goes out between 9 and 10 pm.
I feel foggy sometimes, and probably drink too much coffee in the morning to compensate.
But saying all that – it is still worth the side effects to be stable! Without them, I’d spend all my money, be totally unable to handle a little stress, or sit around in a catatonic depression.
Terry
When my Lamictal dose was slightly increased I developed acne. I am 54 years old and dealing with acne! But I live with it because of how I feel with out the Lamictal, or a smaller dose of it.
I am on lithium and I had server hair loss for 4 months it has now slowed down. I have side effects of blurred vision , fatigue , shaky hands and memory loss from my other medications .
Julia
Hi, I’ve been on Seroquel for 13 years…my pdoc pulled me off of it in May of this year and it was miserable…he took me off to help my weight loss and possible diabetes…after being off it for 6 weeks or so, I decided I’d rather feel well than worry about what “could” happen eventually. It has taken my whole summer to get back to the same level of stability that I was on before the med change. I have a much clearer mind, but I do require more sleep than without Seroquel…I also need about 10 hours of sleep or I’m too tired to do anything…I think we need to do what makes us stable and able to cope with what the world throws out at us! I’m on a weight loss plan and I’m exercising daily which helps my moods very much!! Exercise helps me feel whole! Good luck to all of you….:>)
I’v been on Seroquel for five years now and have also put on sixty pounds, but in the last year I’ve been the healthiest i’ve been in thirty five years. no hospitalization for three. I’ve managed in the past year to loose twenty pounds through change in how much i eat (seroquel gives me a voratious appetite) and regular exercise. my goal is just to remain well in my mental health. Loosing weight is not my priority, eating healthy and exercising for my mental health is most important. I never want to have to give up Seroquel it saved my life.
Hi,
I am having a great deal of a problem with hair loss from Depakote. It is getting to the point where my hair is so thin it is visible. I also have weight gain. I have been on Depakote for a long time now, and I have had the hair loss, but what really bothers me is wondering exactly what it is about the Depakote that causes the hair loss. It bothers me a great deal, and I am thinking of seeing if I can change meds next time I go to Dr, since I am not doing well anyway. I cannot get to sleep until 5-6AM, then have difficulty getting up anytime before noon, then of course I am still very tired. I have to really push myself to do anything I need to do, and I am irritable off and on. I am not sure what this is all about.
Hello Carmellyn,
I would defintely talk with your doctor. Medication side effects can change. Meds can stop working or meds that didn’t work in the past may work in the future. Our bodies change constantly, so it’s quite amazing that medications work as well as they do.
I am glad you can see your doctor and work on this. Also, not being able to sleep is a big problem and one that is just as important as hair loss.
Keep me posted. I am interested to know the changes you make. Julie
When I cannot sleep, my bipolar symptoms wildly fluctuate, and then crash, depending on how long it goes on. The first question my doctor asks is, how are you sleeping. I am grateful for this, as when I cannot sleep, I forget how important sleep is to my stability!