Lamictal
 

Mari,

I hear how hard this is for you. Reading your post, I get the feeling of a large boulder sitting on you / me-reading, and another one hanging over my head waiting to fall down and smoosh me. :( I think you have a good plan about waiting until January to figure out the pdoc thing.
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As for the Lamictal, here is what I would do:-

If after a week at 75mg you are ok with side-effects (you might be), go up to 100mg on a weekend as suggested. If not, stay at 75mg an extra week. Tell him you didn't increase on schedule because you were still having so many side effects it interfered with work. You could even call and leave a message at his office to that effect.

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Lamictal is really the next thing in the pecking order, as mood stabilizers go:

Valproate, lithium, and the carbamazepine family of drugs are first-line mood stabilizers. The choice between them depends on the characteristics of mania (euphoric, mixed, presence of rapid cycling). You tolerate none of these. :o It isn't your fault, but we do have to move down the list.

After that, the only "approved" options for mood stabilization are Lamictal and the AP's.

The latter are usually effective for activation, a couple are approved for depression. Most of them, however, have the potential for serious and permanent side effects, and all of them cause heavy sedation.

Lamictal, with its murky indications, is mostly useful for its antidepressant qualities, which is a good thing for you. Its s/e's are generally less significant than with the AP's, also a good thing.

Next down the line, you have off-label drugs including verapamil, gabapentin, topiramate.
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So, really, Lamictal is a very reasonable thing to try at this juncture. I understand you are feeling really bad and it is hard to be hopeful in these conditions. I'd like to encourage you, though, if you can manage it, to keep an open mind about the medication.

When we keep our mind open to something, we increase the chances of a positive outcome. I want a positive outcome for you. :)

(((:heartthrob: HUGS :heartthrob:)))

waves

I slept a little
 

Hi,

I got some sleep. :)

I went to bed at 1:30 a.m.and fell asleep.
I awoke at 7:00 a.m.when I heard hubby getting out of bed -- normally I do not notice him.


Mari

Waves,

Your post reminds me that I have to pick up the Lamictal today so I can raise the dose tonight.
I hope that all goes well with the pharmacy.
Mari

Good luck at the pharmacy, Mari!

It's great to hear that you got some sleep! :)

:hug::hug::hug:

waves

I hope that you were able to pick up the lamictal without an incident.
Glad to hear that you got some decent sleep. nOw if that could just happen more often that would be great!
bizi

I need a plan
 

I was sleepy and left work early (4:30 pm traffic).
I decided to drive home directly (no stopping at pharmacy for the Lamictal).
I had to fight hard to stay on the road (My car seemed to turn left towards on coming traffic and a few times I wanted to let the car do just that. If felt like an urge I had to fight -- I wonder if that is a vision-thing while one is impaired --- to turn toward other cars rather than to the right side of the road and hit a building or a ditch or a car going in the same direction (I mostly travel on two lane roads for work commute).

Apparently, I made it home, turned off the car in my parking spot, and fell asleep. I guess I had a nap in my drive way.

I am a mess. My life is a mess.

M

Aww Mari. It just sounds like you where very tired. Get as much rest as you can.

I get tired when I come back from anywhere. It's the medicine,and there is also a (((tired factor))) that occurs with our anxiety problems.

Did anything happen at work,or did you have a bad day? Not getting enough sleep takes it's toll sometimes.

Sometimes sleep comes when it's not a good time to sleep. When I worked at the Supermarket,and my shift was over,sometimes I'd go up to the break room,and lay down,and fall asleep for about a half an hour. I worked allot of 11 to 7:30 shifts. I was taking xanax,and luvox at the time.

You have come this far. You will make it. BF:hug::hug::hug:

Mari

What time do you take your lamictal? And you haven't raised it yet right?

But when did you raise it last time? And have you added anything else.

I would wonder if the lamictal is making you tired. It did Derrick.

And even this dosage would.

Donna:hug::grouphug:

i am so relieved you got home safely. once when i tried a diet pill i had a urge to crash head on to the oncoming cars. Have you had this happen before? I wonder if it had anything to do with the lamictal. should you call your doctor and ask him or will it just stir up worms? I hope you can get some sleep this weekend.
you are precious to us.
bobby

I am sorry about that driving experience, Mari. It sounded frightening.

I think it is likely to have to do with how tired you were. Our balance can be thrown off. The sensation of pulling to one side might have been accurate and it might not have had anything do with choosing oncoming traffic v.s. same-direction or still-object collision. I will say, that if you discerned a purposeful, self destructive feeling in that experience, you should call the pdoc.

Something that happened to me when on high dose Depakote, when I had to add gabapentin for migraines, was that at gabapentin peaks, I'd get groggy, and whne walking I would feel like I was veering to one side. However, when out with my parents once, they said I was not actually veering -- it was just a sensation. I do believe that grogginess and especially med-induced grogginess can cause weird sensations.

I hope you can get the new Lamictal soon. Not sure what you will do about the increase, but it will be OK. If you feel the need to wait a week, do that.

waves