Lamictal - Advice needed

Lamictal is a good drug. I was diagnosed with bipolar 1 at 18-years-old and started taking it. Still taking it to this day at age 22, and I haven't experienced any negative side effects. The most adverse side effect of this stuff is some sort of fatal rash.. but it is rare.

What dosage are you starting at? I suggest that after you begin taking it, you fill out a daily "mood chart" for the next month. Maybe your psydoc has one. It's simple, just rate your overall mood at the end of each day between -10 and +10 (of course the negative numbers are depressed, zero is neutral, and positives are happy and/or manic). This can show you whether or not the drug is stabilizing you or making you worse.

Hi all!
I'm really happy for you, whitenoise! I remember how much anxiety you had expressed early on. I'm weaning off of Lamictal right now and beginning nafrazodone. omg! Now I know what every one means when they say, changing meds can be a nightmare. and our paranoia about side effects is REAL! I am trying to get this premenstrual magnification under control, and the one research based article said that this was the drug with the best success rate. When I started Lamictal (and birth control) I blimped out 30 pounds! woah! Some people say, it's better to have a balanced state of mind.. cankles are a major depressant! But the nefrazone... "heavily sedating", I've never felt so out of it! slurred speech, dizziness, loss of balance... I looked drunk off my @%#! Everyone around me was "deeply concerned"... so I used the ask a question option that's offered on this site, and Dr. Vicks really gave me a wealth of information to ease my worries. I had to ride it out for a week or two, then up the amount and stay with it until those horrible side effects subside. Great to hear that the side effects has been minimal

Hope you are doing OK Fireandrain

Cracked

Oh wow!! Thanks Cracked!! I'm feeling better! Good thing it's summer vacation so I can hermit out through the yuckiest side effects!

I hermit out sometimes, lot to be said for it

Cracked