same dose of lamictal for now -- 50 mgs
 

Hi,

The night before (Thursday) I had barely slept.
Last night (Friday) I slept from 6:00 am to 1:30 pm.
A little while ago I awoke feeling groggy, hungover, and brain fogged.

I guess when I wake up some more and am safe to drive I will
drive to the pharmacy to pick up the meds so I can increase the Lamictal tonight.


Mari

Sounds like a plan, Mari. :):hug:

I am glad you got some sleep last night. I hope you get some good sleep tonight as well.

waves

Hi,

One or two or even three "nights" of almost adequate sleep does not make up for the other nights of sleep deprivation in a week.
I feel like I have not have enough sleep in years.

I am depressed and I feel that no one can help me.

M

You are right that one night of sleep (or two or three) will not make up for years of lost sleep.

But tonight is what you can work with, not last night, not last year. Every night that you do get sleep is a positive step. It is one night of rest, as opposed to more deprivation.

I am sorry you are feeling so lost and alone. :(

We are here for you. Wish we could do more to help. :hug::hug::hug:

Remember that some of the deal with Depression is waiting it out. You are stronger than it is. Don't listen to it. And don't listen to its friends. Depression tries to make us feel like it's here to stay. It is best friends with Despair and it will invite Despair to camp out in your front room without your permission.

If this unwanted visitor shows up, it could be time to seek help at another level. It might be better to do that than to try to keep juggling work and these issues together.

You know I mentioned the APs. If you went inpatient, you could take one. And sleep. It wouldn't matter if it was day or night. Seroquel and Latuda are both approved for Bipolar Depression. Latuda is in clinical trials for Depression with mixed features.

It's just a thought. It's an option. You do have options. And it will get better. Depression is a temporary condition. The sleep deprivation has a broad scope, but there may be a way to get some relief for this too, at least more relief than you have seen.

:hug::hug::hug:

waves

i am sorry that you are feeling this way.:(
I so wish it were easier for you.
(((((HUGS)))))
bizi

I made it to the pharmacy before they closed at 6:00
 

HI,

I picked up the lamictal.
The instructions are to take 75 mgs for a week and 100 for three weeks.
(Pdoc expected me to start taking the 75 mg the day I saw him -- Tuesday with my night meds.)

I spoke to the pharmacist.
They will not give me more Klonopin even with the prescription unless pdoc writes the script for different sizes. This is because Klonopin is a controlled substance.

M

Pdoc would have to be involved, but I don't think he has to request a different strength - he can change the posology a different way. Currently, it is prescribed for 2mg a day, right?

If he wrote it for 3mg a day, he could write it in any size he specifies, e.g.

clonazepam 1mg. Take 1 tablet THREE times a day

As a straight script, that means one month's supply is for 90 1mg pills. Since you've already got 60 pills from the last script, I believe they'd still let you refill sooner or give you a certain number of pills. I'd ask about this at the pharmacy before calling pdoc, but the bottom line is that a different posology, whether it changes the pill strength or frequency of administration, should get you more pills.

waves

Hi,
I took my 3 x 25 mgs of Lamictal although I did not want to.
I think I need a new pdoc soon -- one who I feel has confidence in me.



Waves

It is currently written for 2.5 mgs a day -- 75 pills a month.

Maybe I should have some wine and go to bed (-- I use wine when I have missed too many windows to sleep)

M

posology [pəˈsɒlədʒɪ]
n
(Medicine) the branch of medicine concerned with the determination of appropriate doses of drugs or agents
[from French posologie, from Greek posos how much]
posological [ˌpɒsəˈlɒdʒɪkəl] adj
waves, you make me feel like a dolt. now i have to look up dolt to see if it is an actual word.....lol
dolt

A mental retard who is clueless not only about current events, but also has the IQ level of a rock. "Dolt" may be the most sophisticated insult in the English language. Dolts commonly populate such stereotypes as jocks, nerds, fruits, bookworms, and dorks
right word.....roflmao actually i should look up dork...i like the sound. dork
Someone who has odd interests, and is often silly at times. A dork is also someone who can be themselves and not care what anyone think-that sounds good...but in this case no
love
bobby
ps your post to Mari was so wonderful....what wisdom...i have to read it again

I went with that feeling that there was no hope for over six years and then things changed. I even told a girlfriend who is helping me big time now when she called that nobody could help me. that was before i was diagnosed with bipolar.
I think your students do help you even though it demands a lot of input from you....I think they make you feel nice. At times Abbis can be so sweet.
You have to grab on to any positive possible. I know how difficult it is.
bobby

I did not know what that word was nor did I know that dolt was a stupid person....you are not a dolt!
bizi

I understand. This is important.

Any script that is written for more than 2.5 mgs a day should get you more pills or an earlier refill, even in the 1mg strength which you prefer. A fresh script for 2.5mg daily or a lesser amount will not help.

Do you need another script right now -- you got the 2mg and 0.5 mg pills from 4min pdoc, right? I mean, so, total, you do have extra if you need it, or am I missing something?

Do what helps. Wine does not produce good sleep, but if you only have a few hours to sleep anyway... better something than nothing.

feel better.

:hug::hug:

waves

Wow. I am sorry. :( You're anything but! :eek: I guess that is what I am. :o:DIt sounds more like it was unintelligible... :confused:

------------------
Bobby,

your post with all the definitions and chain-lookups made me laugh in the end. :D

love

waves

dolts and posology
 

I have only run across the word in context... Per the definition, it sounds like my use was a little off... I've never looked this word up, and it is one I've known for years... gotten it from reading and gleaned meaning from context (since I know I've never looked it up). Either it is 1. used the way I use it as well or 2) it has broader meaning than the way I took it.

Anyway, if there is a dolt here, it would have to be me.

you are not a dolt!
bizi

med issues for Mari
 

Hi Mari, hope you and your Pdoc connect and you can find effective medication that doesn't hurt you. I know this is a tough issue at times and have experienced it myself. The best!:hug:

Paresthesia started at 10:15 pm tonight --- a little less than 24 hours after my dose on Saturday.

Mari

I do not want to take the next dose. What am I supposed to do?

can you cut the 25 in half and try taking 62.5mg?
bizi

I am sorry Mari. :(

How bad is it?

Are you ok to try keeping up this dose for a few more days, or a week?

What do you feel comfortable doing?

waves

This paresthesia really freaks me out. It is scary.
I am considering taking 25 mgs and calling the pdoc tomorrow.

M

what exactly are your symptoms? I don't know what that is like for you. numbness, tingling or burning and where? You have had this before if I remember correctly but can't recall the specifics.
I think you should take what you feel comfortable taking and calling the pdoc int he morning.
bizi

Formication and Paresthesia
 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paresthesia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formication

so you are having formication? that does sound awful.
sorry that this is happening to you.
bizi

Definitely call the pdoc in the morning.

I agree with Bizi -- take whatever amount you feel ok with. I might not even take any if I were that uncomfortable but it is up to you.

waves

That sounds awful. Please call your doctor later today. BF:hug::hug::hug:

i would stop taking lamictal and call the doctor as soon as you wake up. I am so sorry you are going through this. there must be other medications that your system can tolerate. i couldn't take lamictal either from gum trouble.
bobby

waves
you have a phenomenal memory....that is so great. I read your post for the third time....i keep on forgetting about despair which is so important and is in that quote from Steve. I wonder what we should hope for....that we won't suffer as much?
love
bobby

I am late didn't see this last night.

But I am hoping you took a little at least. Lamictal is a drug
even if just started that has to be tapered, so 25mg is okay.
or even 12.5mg of it. But going cold turkey even one night.
Would not be good. Even if you haven't had seizures before.

So I would have taken the lowest dosage you felt comfortable
with.

Donna :hug::grouphug:

Hi Mari,

How are you doing today?

I hope you are feeling lots better! :hug::hug:

Were you able to speak with the pdoc?

waves

Yeah.
I took 25 mgs last night.
Late this afternoon I called the office. Twenty minutes later the person at the desk called to tell me to take 50 mgs.

Whatever. BS to that.
I am going to take 25 until Friday.
Friday I will go back up to 50.

======
In my first visit with the pdoc over a month ago, I told him that paresthesia is a common side affect for me and I carried on a a little bit for affect . . about how awful it is and how freaked out I get. He said the Lamictal does not do that.
=====

Mari

argh!
 

Good! :)
:confused: OkkkkkkAY? :(

Paresthesia is a documented side effect. It is not in the tables because those only show s/e's from controlled studies having incidence of > 5%.

Link: RxList - Lamictal side effects and interactions:
Yeah... sounds good to me.

:Sigh: I really had much higher hopes with this pdoc.

waves

statistical relevance of s/e's in uncontrolled studies
 

Mari,

since paresthesia is not shown in tables for the controlled studies, it is likely that it wasreported with equal frequency in the placebo group. Frequency in an uncontrolled group is not completely insignificant, but its statistical relevance is undetermined, and the s/e cannot be unequivocally attributed to the drug being tested.

I'll add that this s/e is reported only in clinical trials for bipolar disorder but not in those for epilepsy.

I just thought this could explain why your doctor might not consider this side effect of great relevance.

I am not saying it isn't real, or that your experience should be discounted.

:hug::hug::hug:

How are you feeling now -- has it let up?

waves

I am finding this very interesting.

Donna :hug::grouphug:

Waves

Right. I looked that up before I saw him because 4 min pdoc mentioned Lamtical before she put me on Trileptal.

It's not his fault that these meds cause it in me.
I would be o.k. with his not trying to fix me and keep writing scripts for me like the old pdoc did ------ I will pretend to be ok and he will pretend to be paying attention.

M

hey there
 

How are you feeling tonight, Mari?

I get that. I don't know if that's likely to happen with any pdoc who has just taken you as a patient.

I wondered if it was conceivable for you to see your old pdoc out of pocket. I know he is very costly so maybe that is not realistic, even if you didn't see him often. It's just a thought.

waves

I feel bad.

The other guy is very costly.
And I am tired of him anyway.
Also he is almost as far as current pdoc.
For a while I was willing to do the drive every four months.

M

cost
 

The other day, four minute pdoc sent me a bill for $250.00.
I expect that that will mostly be covered by insurance.

M

I am sorry. :( :hug::hug::hug:

I was hoping that, if nothing else, the paresthesia might have disappeared, or at least be diminishing. :o:Sigh:

Those are good reasons not to eat the cost!

waves

Eeeeeks!
 

:eek: :confused: :Noooo:

I don't really get why you were billed in the first place. I realize in your condition dealing with calls is hard but it would be a good idea to check with either her office or your insurance to make sure she has filed. Even if you gave your insurance info, the claim might not have been filed or there may be some other glitch. :o

$250.00? That is an outrageous amount ... for a lousy 4 minutes? Ugh!!! :mad: Can I come over there and egg her office for you?

waves