lamictal esp. vs lithium or w/ lithium

I have been on 1350 mg/day of lithium since Feb 2000. It's been getting to me, so I tried a change.

First Depakote, which was nice for controlling manic feelings, in a softer way then lithium, but was worthless for controlling downs. I felt very down after a time on that.

Secondly, Lamictal. It's been just 6 days, but, it seems good so far. More clean cognitive abilities, lighter mood (not manic, just pleasant and reasonably hopeful). I am on 1200 mg/lithium now, and hope over the next 5-7 weeks to cut back to 600 or less or none.


Any stories to share??

W

i used to take alot of mood stabilizers, have tried both lithium and lacmital. lithium has a longer history, but lacmital is relatively newer. and it seems that lacmital is quite effective ( some people i know are quite happy with it). for me at that time was that there were no need for rouitine blood checks if using lacmital over lithium, though lacmital seems more expensive.

but for me i refuse to believe i have to depend on alot of meds every single day for the rest of my life, so if u wanna wean off medication, can do so slowly with ur doctor's knowlege. good luck!

sonya

Thanks, I am glad to hear that you are feeling well, and fighting the good fight against overuse of drugs. My story is different.

Firstly Lamictal has been amazing so far, I think it is 15 days since I started. My mind is functioning better, and I feel that there is hope, just simple hope. I have hardly ever felt that before.

I was undiagnosed until I was 42. I was angry, moody and difficult (a lot of early abuse figures in as well).

The only time I made any friends in my life was ages 14-26 when I smoked vast quantities of weed, that calmed me down pretty well, but it wasn't perfect. The last two years I am getting a lot more likable, mostly from maturity and Therapy.

Even when I go from 1500 mgs to 1200 of lithium there is a huge effect. I get sensitive to random sounds, and my temper starts to boil for no good reason.

Even as I continue to make big strides in therapy, it doesn't help the physical manifestation of my mania and/or depression (I'm either mixed type or ultra ulta rapid cycling, depends on which "expert" you ask).

I take 8 drugs every day, and 4 on occasion.

2 for mood

1 for sleep (used to sleep < 80 hours a month for 25+ years before this, not a chance I give it up - and don't talk diet, excercise, meditation, its all of minimal use)

5 for heart/blood (physical changes brought on by aortic valve replacement requires 4).

4 others occasionally (anxiety, skin condition , herpes, instant mood stabilization).

Even if I could ween off of all of them, I wouldn't live very long or very well without them. So, I am going to optimize in that direction.

Thanks again,
W

I have never tried Lithium or Lamictal as of yet. I was placed on Depakote a few years ago, in combination with Celexa and Serzone, and I think it all cancelled the other lol I was a complete basketcase, having anxiety attacks that left me unresponsive and not able to move for at least an hour after each episode... right left and center.My psycho doc at that time was suppose to be the best, but I really think he tried too hard and was unable to realize that everything he tried was defeating the purpose.
At the moment, after not taking any meds for almost a year, I began seeing another psychiatrist. He started me on an antidepressant... ugh!!!... and found that I didnt need that... but rather a mood stabilizer. He placed me on Risperdal and I am now up to 4 mgs a day. Altho I am not even reaching the therapeutic dosage, I wish that he would work faster at determining what I need. Its been over a month now since I started it, and every other week I am getting thrown back into a manic phase. There used to be always something that triggered it.. now its only my thoughts rehashing themselves and building some irrational ideas that set me off.
I am sooo confused and wish that they would just lay it on me sometimes lol Just gimme the dang meds... get me out of my misery already! I spend most of my energy everyday fighting back what the meds arent doing, and it gets physically draining. I fear that I will be heading for a full blown episode before long, and it just frightens me.
I hope that things are well for you, sincefour.

Guest,

They are pretty good for me. I am wishing they were better for you. Did you tell your P that you are having these issues? It would seem there is a good chance something could be done.

Please take care,
w

I will be visiting my psychiatrist on Wednesday this week again. I have been faithfully keeping my appointments weekly. Last week I stressed to him my concerns about how I am feeling, and he only tells me that the meds arent gonna do all the work, and I have to put forth effort to train myself as well during those times. Does that make sense even? I have been led under the impressions that the meds are for a reason, not to just tone down the rapid thoughts, but rather somewhat make them cease to a certain extent. It just makes me wonder more and more about my doctor's credibility...as well as drive me further into temptations that perhaps I could do better not taking anything at all!! I know that is very negative.
Guess I have grown too frustrated now

~kimmy

Kimberly,

Myself I went through some T for maybe 3 months at the time of starting the meds. I felt really good, and thought I was pretty much all set. For four years I went that way. Then 2.5 years ago, I had to start facing a lot of stuff. The changes in behavior from a "normal" response all the years of not being on meds caused. I did pretty well. I wish I hadn't waited. I was also bipolar for 28 years before I was diagnosed.

Please take care,
W

Sincefour...my husband has been on Depakote for years,but it was only 1000 mg. daily. Recently due to a hypmanic episode that nearly wrecked our marriage, he has been put on 2000 mgs daily , and now he seems to be slightly depressed most of the time. He has never taken anything except the Depakote, never anything for depression, although the pdoc sent him home after the last appt. 3 weeks ago with some Wellbutrin and some Seroqual (for help sleeping). He has yet to take any of the Wellbutrin, although he has tried the sleep one a couple of nights. It leaves him feeling sort of groggy the next morning.

Do most people with BP have to have 2 drugs, one for mania and one for depression? Perhaps he should ask the Doc about the Lamictal. He has been complaining of feeling like his brain is in a fog...maybe it's the higher dose of Depakote...

I am so woefully ignorant.

Devanna, I was on 1 for a long time. Depakote was no good for me, didn't protect against depression, but it was nicer then Lithium for keeping the highs in check and having a more clear mind then the Lithium.

Good luck, and keep trying
w

Devanna, In my experience with Depakote, I stayed in a haze mentally at 2000mgs a day. It also caused more side effects than I had time for... such as high levels of anxiety and panic attacks were worse, as well as depression was worse. More than likely, the dosage that your hubby is on is too high, and he is experiencing sedative effects now.... which is what I did.Taking too much is about as bad as taking too little... it only adds to the problems.
At the moment, I have been taking Risperdal (a mood stabilizer) which has pretty much put on a lid on any full blown manic episodes for me. Altho, I am dealing with some depression... whereas before depression was not the real issue for me as much as manic was. Today, my doctor placed me on a low dose of Wellbutrin, which I begin taking in the AM. Among other reasons, more importantly because I am picking up some side effects from the Risperdal that I dont need... yet the dosage of Riserdal I am taking is what works for me. Will keep you posted on how it turns out!
In my experience, and from information my hubby and I have gathered from people that we know who works at the local State hospital in dealing with patients that need hospitialization in order to get the meds and dosages right in treating their Bipolar, the first and foremost thing that is important is finding a proper mood stabilizer in treating Bipolar. We found out first hand that starting off with an antidepressant is not the way to go. Antidepressants tend to make us feel better and get us out of the depressed state. They provide energy and make us feel like we are up to functioning. Antidepressants are not capable of stiffling the manics of Bipolar. In Bipolar, if treated with only an antidepressant... that energy adds to the mania and makes it worse. It is not possible to treat bipolar with an antidepressant alone..and not wise in my opinion to begin treating someone with Bipolar on an anitdepressant alone. I was placed on Effexor alone in the beginning, and I reached highs and rages that I never experienced before due to the effect of the Effexor. I read somewhere a story on this... and the punchline was "Give someone with Bipolar and antidepressant and watch them flip". That is just about what it will/does do too.
Some Bipolars do not necessarily NEED antidepressants. Sometimes just the mood stabilizer in itself will knock off a great portion of that edge. But antidepressants are definately an option once the mania is under control. As for myself, its the last piece of the puzzle in finding that happy medium.
Wellbutrin is one of the antidepressants that work well for most with Bipolar in that it doesnt focus on Serotonin... which is the chemical that causes mania. This is the reason that my pdoc chose this for me to try because I am very sensitive to antidepressants. We are hoping that once I begin taking it, that it will hold true to its reputation lol
anyway... hope that this has been of some help to you!
I dont mean to break in on your post, sincefour!!

~kimmy