I’m reading over my older posts- so much of what I’ve written can still be used today- medications don’t change and our needs don’t change. I was on Lamictal for many years and it helped me get through a serious four year depression. My depression is better now and I am off the drug. Medications can help us through tough depression times- and when we are better, we can lower doses or go off the medications. Unfortunately, it’s not the same with mania. For many people, staying on mania drugs as a prevention tool is essential, but even then, doses can change and different medications can be found that have less side effects. No one and I mean no one really wants to take medications for bipolar disorder, but if you’re like me, medications are sometimes the only option. Keep an open mind- keep using the management plan I write about in my books and always keep looking for new and better ways to manage this illness. If medications are needed, I highly recommend Lamictal. It save my life and helped me move into a depression free world. You can get better! Here is the question!
Hi Julie,
I was taking generic Lamictal for 4 weeks during December, but around Christmas the side effects-headache, anxiety-became too much on 50mg. I know you’re not a doctor, but in your experience do these subside over time. I’m a street musician in Portland and just getting turned on to your bi-polar crusade. Your work looks pretty amazing.
Regards,
Ted
Hi Ted,
Well, side effects are so tricky as they depend on the person. For example, I take 500mg of generic Lamictal (also called generic Lamotrigine) and have more side effects when my dose gets too low!
The normal Lamictal dose is 250mg- but that is just an average. What matters is that it works- the dose depends on the person taking the meds.
My first question would be just that- did it work? If it did, you may want to wait out the side effects if you can- if they are even moderately tolerable. It’s such a great drug when it works, but the side effects can be tough. I had them for three months until they got better. Mine were severe neck stiffness and breathing problems. Now I get the restless legs and twitching! It is an anti epileptic drug, so it makes sense it would really affect our nervous systems. If the side effects really are impossible to live with, you have some options.
If you are well enough to function in terms of bipolar- then you can talk to your doctor about going onto a lower dose until you can tolerate the side effects and then very slowing going up in dose. You have to be really careful about going down in dose though as withdrawal can be tough and painful!
This is definitely something to talk about with your doctor. I would have a list of questions to ask so that you can get the most out of an office visit. I don’t suggest doing this on your own as you need to be closely monitored for mood swings. I went down too quickly once and got super depressed.
It can take many months for a medication to work and many months for the side effects to lessen. Sometimes, they don’t go away and you have to switch meds. I hope your side effects can get better as Lamictal is such an amazing drug.
Good luck, maybe I will see you when I walk around in Portland!
Julie
Hi Julie and Ted!
I am just learning more about the use of several meds (esp. the anti-epileptic meds) and have been made aware of the fact that these meds can demand very lengthy introductions and very a gradual increases (or decreases, if/when decreases are “in order”) in hopes of evoking fewer side-effects.
This time of adjusting can sometimes seem like a very long time and can become a bit disparaging.:(
I was not able to tolerate lamotrigine, much to my dismay.:( I had started a “serious” rash (and more) even though we were increasing on a painfully slow dosing schedule.
After assessing the rash, the dermatologists had verified lamotrigine was not an option for me.
(I was very disappointed, as it seems to be a great option for many.)
I have tried some other AEDs, in hopes of tolerating them. I have a limited tolerance. One of the other AED drugs had started a drug-induced autoimmune lupus for me. 🙁
Is it likely that all of the anti-epileptic meds need comparatively slower titration (than with some of the other drug classes) in order to allow for better tolerance?
Thanks for any input you share!:)
Best wishes!:)
I was diagnosed with bi-polar 2 in 2004. In 2006 I started a gradual dosing schedule of Lamictal up to 100 mg that has worked fine. This website was very helpful.
http://www.psycheducation.org/depression/meds/moodstabilizers.htm#specificGuidelines
I experienced no side effects. However, in 2010 when the generic Lamotrigine became available my insurance would no longer pay for the brand name any longer. It took me two months before I figured out it was the new meds that were causing my rapid cycling. I did some research on-line and found out many others were experiencing the same things. Then further research enlightened me that the FDA allows 80% to 120% of the active ingredient for a generic. Now, when your illness requires maintains a balanced brain chemistry, this is a huge problem.
I’m fortunate that I have the financial means to pay the additional $170 to switch back to the branded Lamictal. I
I was recently diagnosed from anxiety disorder to bipolar in September. I started off with a 25mg dose of Lamictil and am now up to 100mg. Most of the time I think it works, but there are still times that I think I need something more. I have too many moments of anxiety and depression still, not so much of the mania anymore. What is your experience with this? Do I just need to focus on my symptoms or can another medication combined with the Lamictil help?
Julie, how do you deal with the threat of a medication’s side effects like the fear of Tardive Dyskenesia?
Hi Nancy, Here is a long answer to your question! I will put it in a blog post next week so that more people can learn from your question.
**
All meds have side effects. Some are more serious than others- and tardive dyskinesia is a serious one.
Tardive dyskinesia is an unnatural movement of the mouth and jaw. It’s like a tic. The person can also run their tongue behind their lips in a circular motion. TD is a side effect of anti-psychotic medications.
A brief history of anti psychotics.
The first anti psychotics- also called neuroleptics- came on the market in the 40s. The first was Thorazine. The results from these meds were absolutely miraculous. For the first time in history, those with schizophrenia had some hope of a more stable life. This was especially wonderful for the parents. Of course, this was the beginning use of the drugs and no one had any idea what would happen in terms of side effects. As soon as hospitals realized how well these drugs worked, they started to move those with schizophrenia back into the community.
It was a bit of a utopia for a while. A miracle. Then the problems started. The main one was that the medications were helpful for many schizophrenia symptoms, but many still remained and living in the community was not as easy has had been hoped. (This is another topic.) The next problem that started was the side effects. The main one was tiredness. We have this problem now with so many of our meds- so we can understand what it must have been like. You
Today, I went to the beach front with my kids. I found a sea
shell and gave it to my 4 year old daughter and said
“You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.” She placed the shell
to her ear and screamed. There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched her ear.
She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is totally off
topic but I had to tell someone!
Hi Julie,
Thanks for this great site! I’m on lamictal 75. 50 mg is not effective enough. At 100 my depression and anxiety gets worse. At 75 though I have had tics. Constant throat clearing, constant blinking and my tounge is pushing againt my teeth. I’ve also felt som numbness on me hands, feet and cheeks. I have been on this dosage for 14 days now. Is there any chance this side effect might go away as I adjust to the dosage?