Lamictal/Lithium combination?
 

Has anyone tried or is anyone currently on a combination of Lamictal and Lithium for mood stabilization?

I've been on Lamictal and an antidepressant together for quite some time and because I am incredibly sensitive to medications and their side effects have been maintained at a sub-therapeutic level. The past few months, though, I've been sort of rapid-cycling (I'm Bipolar II, so basically get obsessive-compulsive and very anxious instead of high manic) and feel TERRIBLE!

My pdoc wants to try a "Lathictal" combo before adding anything else to the mix for anxiety or OCD symptoms. I start the Lithium tomorrow and am looking for some thoughts as to what to expect. (never been on it before)

Hi,
I was on lithium years ago.

Are you taking an anti-depressant? That can make rapid cycling worse.

I remember that Lithium takes about 4 weeks to start working.

Drink fluids.


Mari

WElcome ordinary girl.
I agree with mari, the anti depressant could be causing you the problems.
what anti depressant do you take?
I take lamictal which also acts like an antidepressant.
bizi

Yeah, I've been down the antidepressant causing trouble road over the years. Obviously SSRIs are a baaaad idea. Currently I take Wellbutrin XL. I've taken the combination of Wellbutrin and Lamictal for years and while I haven't done fabulously, it's worked much better than anything else I have tried in the past, oh, 15 years or so.

I may not have been clear, it's not the rapid cycling I'm trying to figure out, just the possible effects of the Lamictal/Lithium combo. :)

There have been a lot of stressors in the past few months which have contributed to finally knocking off-kilter the precarious balance. Thus, adding another mood stabilizer to the mix. Ah, more meds...

I think I remember somewhere reading that lamictal could be used with lithium...sorry don't have any links for you.
there is a sister fourm here called psychcentral they have an active bipolar forum there as well, you may want to post there too.
bizi
http://forums.psychcentral.com/forumdisplay.php?f=11

Hi,

Lithium is old and well studied. You should be fine.

Here is a study from 1999 showing that Lamictal does not interfere with Lithium.
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/art...?artid=2014987
This page says that there no interaction with lithium and lamictal has been reported.
http://www.psycom.net/depression.cen...motrigine.html

Mari

Lamictal + Lithium
 

I had been on 400 mg of Lamictal for about 4 years and then stopped taking them for a year when I got separated and divorced. My girlfriend who is now my wife urged me to get back on meds because I got really really bad. I'm now on 400 mg of Lamictal again plus 900 mg of Lithium. Everything seemed to be fine for the past 9 months but the weather has recently changed as we go into Fall and I'm starting to feel like when I wasn't on meds. I'm calling my shrink today to see what else he can do.

Hi,

Some people get depressed as the season changes from summer to winter.
Can you get outside and get sunshine?

M

If you can't do that the other thing I know of is the special light bulbs
or lights.

Donna:grouphug:

I am glad that you are seeking help. this is a good sign...
sorry you are feeling unstable.
bizi
welcome to the forums

Me too
 

Hey hey. I'm going to piggy back on this. I don't know what the outcome was for you, Ordinarygirl, but my psych just prescribed me 100mg of Lithium because of a bad manic upswing that manifested yesterday into a full blown episode.

Before this I was on Paxil, Abilify and Lamictal. Abilify made me anxious so she removed that. Paxil made me feel like a zombie so she removed that. I was on just 300mg of Lamictal for about 6 months before my mood swings started again.

I just want to know what your progress was, or if anyone else has any input regarding side effects, etc. All I know is that I've been under the impression that it's pretty hardcore. My friend has SEVERE Bipolar I and takes it.

hi there welcome to the forums. This is an old thread...
You may want to start a new one for yourself so we can easily follow you.
I could not tell what meds you are currently taking so am not sure how to respond.
bizi

Mina

It is not so much "hardcore." It is just that it was the first medication they came up with for mania.
It is a very old medication that is well studied and safe for most people.

Drink water with it.

I hope it helps you.

Mari