a bipolar II med question

[Lucie]

I'm Bipolar II and I started taking lamictal a few weeks ago. I noticed that I was feeling better during the day and had more energy but I stopped taking it because the side effects(no concentration what so ever, blurred vision, shortness of breath, etc) were overwhelming. My psychiatrist gave me seroquel yesterday. I took a low dosage last night and I had a hard time getting up this morning and I've been tired all day. But I'm guessing this is normal because I was told it would make me sleepy. What I'm asking is, did anyone else take lamictal and have a similar experience? and if so, did any drugs help in the way that lamictal did without the side effects? I know there's no perfect drug out there, but hey, I can dream, right?

[nandm]

Hi Lucy,

I take Lamictal and have for several years. I tried several other mood stabilizers prior to it but it has worked the best with the least side effects for me. A couple of things to keep in mind when taking medications:

• Side effects vary from person to person. You can usually google a medication and find the list of the most common side effects as well as any life threatening ones
• Side effects generally are the worst in the first 2 to 4 weeks of therapy then they generally subside. So if one can make it through the first few weeks then it usually gets better.

I also have taken Seroquel for sleep and it worked fairly well but it did leave me quit groggy for a day or so afterward. I did not take it regular enough to know if that side effect would have gone away for me.

[Lucie]

It's funny. Because after all these years you'd think I would be more patient and be able to ride out the side effects. I used to. But now I'm impatient. I'm tired of playing around with this stuff. Now when I have side effects I run for the hills. The lamictal side effects were pretty unbearable for me. I don't know what I should do about seroquel. I don't know if it's worth it to keep taking it and see what happens.

[Antara]

I am currently on Effexor XR, 225mg, Depokote 500mg (being weaned off of it), Geodon, I forget the dosage, and Lyrica ( just started it and my doc is gradually increasing my dosage). I'm also on Klonopin.

I've taken both Lamactil and Seroquel (300mg). Lamactil didn't help me and it made my hair fall out and Seroquel helped me sleep but it made me gain almost 30 pounds, combined with the depokote.

Personally I'm not crazy about any of them. I remain depressed but hopefully as I quit drinking, the meds will work better.

Geodon is a mood stabilizer that doesn't cause weight gain but it knocks me out cold at night! Other than that, I like it.

I've tried so many drugs it's not even funny.

Hope you find something that works for you.

[shutterbug]

BigBook12....ummmm....that's not a proper assessment as to if something is working for a bipolar II or not. And...having trouble concentrating doesn't mean that we can't write a full sentence about a single thought. Sorry. I hope i don't upset you by my saying that.

Antara, I pray for your successful recovery from alcohol, but please be aware that drinking is a cover-up for many mental issues and when stopping...they often start showing their giant, ugly heads. I guess, I'm saying that there need to be several other things in place to help you be successful in your recovery. Group and individual mental health therapy, stress management techniques, vitamin D suppliments daily (1,000 IU), daily journaling....ect. You are going to need aLL the ammo you can find to stay in recovery while facing depression.

So, at least keep ECT treatments in the back of your mind b/c it works fast for major depression.

Lucie, there's actually a class-action suit of some kind going on right now over Seraquel causing diabetis in some...so i'm surprised your doctor prescribed it.

Are you seeing a true psychiatrist, i pray?
I'd suggest asking him/her why they chose to start you on it.

I just went off Lamictal. I was up to 100mg/day and hadn't connected my blurred vision to it (because of other eye issues I have), but it wasn't bad enough to keep me from working as a photographer each day. I seemed to do much better on 50mg than 100mg (i think it interferred with my monthly ECT treatments also).


So let's look at which mood stabalizers have you tried?

Luvox?
Topamax?
Depakote - you said yes (I didn't do well either on it)
Seraquel - your on now (I too gained 30-40 pds on it from craving sugar)
Lithium? - It works for so many people, (but I couldn't even stand up).
Lamictal - clearly didn't work for you.
Geodon - I know i tried it at least once, but can't remember stopping it (or starting it....just one problem with having amnesia)

I can't think of any others at the moment, although I think Halodol might be another one or perhaps it's an anti-psychotic, can't remember.

Anyway, I think the biggest thing us bipolar II's have to lookout for is the sleepy/fatigue side affects. Most of us struggle with that issue enough on it's own...and we especially struggle with it during a major depressive episode!!!

I also asked my psychiatrist to prescribe me Provigil. My old one who was an idiot said, "No, you don't have Narcalepsy." My most recent, highly intelligent and caring pdoc, didn't hesitate. I mean, it can be addictive for some, but when taken once a day in the mornings it shouldn't be an issue (...i'm very leary about addictive meds b/c of my family history and my biological probablities for addiction).

Anyway, Provigil was created to treat Narcalepsy, but the stupid doctors don't understand how closely related symptoms of a major depressive episode can be to Narcalepsy. I only learned of Provigil because of a hospital stay. I kept begging them to let me go back to my room and sleep, instead of eating or excersizing or doing whatever it was they wanted me up doing. So after a while of that....they started adding the Provigil to my meds without even telling me. i think i found out a couple weeks later.

It's not like an upper and it's not like caffiene either. I can't even notice if I've taken it or not....other than when i forget to take it....i start falling asleep at my computer about an hour after getting there. And unlike caffiene, it doesn't wear off in 2 hours. It is made to last all day. In fact, if I wake up a couple hours before I need to...then i try to remember to take it b/c it makes it MUCH easier for me to wake up when my 10 alarms start going off to get me out of bed (and my body doesn't hurt or feel that typical heaviness either).

Just some personal thoughts and experiences.

Hugs,
Jenna

[Antara]

Shutterbug,

I go to an intensive outpatient treatment facility and also attend one on one counceling (sp?). I see my therapist once a week and a case worker atleast twice a week and my psyciatrist about once a month for med adjustments, etc. My mom and husband both know I'm trying to stop drinking and are supporting me as well. So I've got some ammo goin' on, lol.

I'm thinking of going to AA meetings but with it being summer, I'd have to find a sitter for my kids. I'll see how it goes. So far I'm on day 4 and I feel ok.

Thanks for the concern!!

[Gretta]

I just registered to this site tonight because I was diagonsed as BPII for the second time in the last few years (I'm a 28 yr. old female). I've been on the web all night trying to research other possible mental health disorders because I too am questioning the effectiveness of lamictal. I've been on lamictal for about 2 months now and was prescribed 200mg, however due to the cost of the meds (over $200!) I have cut my dosage in half. I was also prescribed wellbutrin, but due to chronic stomach issues I am unable to take it. I thought maybe my difficulties with the lamictal was because I am not taking an antidepressant with it. Anyway, it seemed to keep me calm initally, but this past week has been horrible. I missed 2 days of the medication and have not been "right" since. I can't say for sure, but I think my PMS this week is having an effect on its ability to be as effective. So, I hadn't experienced the side effects you mentioned- but am worried because it doesn't feel like it is working at all. Also, I was reading about Intermittent Explosive Disorder which I had never heard of prior to this evening. I know BP is often mis-diagnosed, and it seems that I have traits of both disorders. You may want to google it and see if you relate.

[nandm]

Welcome to SR and our mental health forum, Gretta. I hope you find the experience, strength, and hope I have found here.

[shutterbug]

Gretta....i've noticed a LOT of people seem to have trouble accepting bipolar disorder, but not acceptance doesn't make it go away.....and the stigma IS slowly loosing it's hold on society.

Below is a link to information about Intermittent Explosive Disorder from the Mayo Clinic (a well-respected non-profit medical group).

Intermittent explosive disorder: Symptoms - MayoClinic.com

I didn't really see how bipolar II could somehow be misdiagnosed for IED? It doesn't seem very similar to me at all. However, there are many bipolar I patients who can become quite agressive and violent when a manic episode hits...and there can even be some aggressive depressions too. But I really think of a person is diagnosed as bipolar that is a MUCH more serious and seemingly complex illness so focusing on addressing the issues that brought on the diagnosis would be VERY beneficial to all of us - regardless of what we name things or what we believe is a correct diagnosis or not.

It's not the name that matters at all....it's the symptoms that doctors address anyway.

Sorry, i really worry about offending people when i'm this straight forward about things i think and feel, but i only do any of it to try to help. So I really hope I haven't hurt your feelings or anything and I'm really glad to have you join our forum. the more personal experiences and stories we can hear about and compile...the more it benefits us all.

so (((((welcome!!!) to SR

[nandm]

Originally Posted by shutterbug

But I really think of a person is diagnosed as bipolar that is a MUCH more serious and seemingly complex illness so focusing on addressing the issues that brought on the diagnosis would be VERY beneficial to all of us - regardless of what we name things or what we believe is a correct diagnosis or not.

It's not the name that matters at all....it's the symptoms that doctors address anyway.

Very well put. The more I learn and the longer I live with this "diagnosis" the more I realize the symptoms are what the disease is really about and that is what has to be treated no matter what name the doctors choose to put on it. Thanks Jenna