I've been on a low dose of Lamictal for 7 months or so, and one of my kids is on a higher dose than I am, and we have discussed this for months about the eating thing. It's like you could be standing in line at a store, go to the bank, it does not matter what is happening, it is like the blood rushes out of the head and [personal description here]I often feel I will faint, become almost incoherent, and ALWAYS say "I can't think".
When I eat protein, for a quick boost it stops and my mind clears up. To the point, that I am going in for a fasting blood sugar test this week. Because it doesn't make sense. It's either from the Lamictal or the bipolar; and with regard to the diabetes and antipsychotics issues, we should not any one of us ever think for one minute the information we need has been honestly presented to patients via data ala Zyprexa lawsuits.
I have NEVER had to pay attention to eating this way in my life. There may be something to this. Could be the bipolar knocking at the door or it could be the medication. Bottom line, I feel more level when I eat food. I never felt this way before I took Lamictal and either did my daughter. This has become our personal "hot topic" for the last several months.

Most psych meds mess with your blood sugar levels and can permanently effect you. Also natural medicine experts who deal with mood disorders all say that often times bipolar issues can at core be a blood sugar issue (not all cases, but some) I have to eat every couple of hours--some high quality protein is best--a WHOLE grain can help stabilize things further in conjunction with the protein. I find that the grain is good to kick in fast and the protein maintains the stability over time.

Think about supplementing with fish oil too!

I'm glad you're feeling good.

vitamins are bad for you. you should stop taking those, although clearly there's some enjoyment for you in taking pills.

thanks guys. um randy what the hell are you talking about?

Many years ago, maybe 20?, there was a book called _Sugar Blues_ about mood disorders and sugar. Okay, just found it, it came out in 1986 and is still in print Amazon says: http://www.amazon.com/Sugar-Blues-William-Dufty/dp/0446343129/ref=sr_1_1/103-7023677-6943804?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1186445942&sr=1-1

Not that I did anything with the advice nor that I can now that I'm on a low protein diet again, but I remember it made a lot of sense at the time.

Hey if you are interested in trying to help yourself stay stable and depression free with natural supplements and vitamins you should buy the book "the mood cure".

I have BPII and have used Seroquel and Lamictal successfuly to stop the rapid cycling. But still I get depression symptoms. - I can't take ADs due to many very bad reactions in the past and the fact that they always lead to more rapid cycling. SOOOoo, I tried amino acids. 5htp and DLAP to be exact. They work AMAZINGLY well. I mean seriously they put antidepressants to shame. I was not expecting anywhere near the effect I got/get so I know it's not placebo.

I'm not sure that these things would work for everyone but man am I glad I tried the amino acid approach befor deciding to add another medication. In my case it seems that at least part of my problem is just that my body needs more of those certain protien precursors to the neurotransmitters than I can get from normal food intake.

There are zero side effects unless I over do it and take too much. And they work fast, like within 45 min to two days fast. Plus I can take them as needed and there is no possibility of withdrawals.

I really suggest you look into it.

The only warnings I would give is don't over do it (take them as needed and stop once you feel better for a few days, until you need them again) because they can give a manic sort of reaction if you over do it (yes they work that well). don't take any of the amino acids if your are on a MAOI, and don't take tryptophan or 5htp if you are on an ssri.

Nature's Life Gel Multivitamin is loaded with B vitamins and folic acid. And it's a soft gel, so you know it's getting absorbed in your system.
Not a sales rep or anything, just really love this vitamin.
Here's the website with the ingredient list:
http://www.herbsmd.com/detail/soft-gelatin-multiple-26503.htm
I get mine at Whole Foods. Kind of pricey, but so far the best I've found.

I can medically attest to the folic acid portion of this conversation. I recently had a blood test ordered by my shrink and everything was normal except my folic acid. The normal range tends to be 5 to 17 pg/mL. Mine was >20 indicating that I could have some issues with depression. I am fine both physically and mentally though I did add extra supplements as Philip said. I wanted to go this route before poppping more pills (an anti-depressant this time around even though I feel fine)and take the vitamins.

Sorry Randy, I believe living a healthy lifestyle contributes to ones success. Do you believe because "vitamins are bad for you" that I should had taken another psyh med?

Too much folic acid made you depressed? I need to check out my level with my nephrologist because I take supplements due to my kidney failure and he said I couldn't get too much Vitamin B. Hmm. My heart versus my mood. I think I'll choose my heart, but still...

B vitamins are water soluble vitamins so I am assuming if you are taking massive doses (like 1000 to 6000x's the daily recomended dose) and you are not drinking enough water or your kidneys can't clear it out, that it could build up to unhealthy levels.

B vitamins can if they are taken in hugely massive doses cause nerve problems and damage. But it is VERY uncommon.

It's usually the fat soluble vitamins like E and D etc., that you have to watch the doses of because those are more likely to build up in your system to "toxic" levels.

word of caution--amino acids that are excitatory (those used for depression) are potentially VERY dangerous for people with bipolar disorder. Be careful when you play with amino acids. The book "The Mood Cure" says as much. I have tried various excitatory amino acids and I don't tolerate any of them. If someone is not on top of their triggers and conscious of mood shifts they really are dangerous.

A good solid nutritional regime and diet can help with the blues for people who can't take aminos. And keeping blood sugar levels constant is key in that.

hmmm...now there are some things I've been wondering about myself, that might be Lamictal related. Stephany, do you mean to say that "I can't think" moment is like having the bottom fall out of a moving train? That's what I've been experiencing.

Priscilla,
Yes. Lamictal has given me clarity, that I could see.[in my life] But the thing about food and eating on time, is trainwreck time. I lose all ability to think, and have said "I cant think" way too many times since being on Lamictal. For instance today I had a serious phone conference in late afternoon. I had just bought take out food, and was on my way home when the call came in. I had to ask for 15 minutes. [because I couldnt have spoken a coherent word if I didnt eat first.]The call came through 30 minutes later, and I was able to advocate like I need to....I really suspect a med related problem here.

So, then I start to think about what gave me clarity? the med or me?

Back to the food. It stops me in my tracks with blurred vision, inability to think, and if I am out in public all I can do is get to my car. Then I sit there and have to remember where I am at.

Blood sugar? Lamictal? I'm working on figuring it this out, trust me.

I was on 300 mg as treatment for three isolated seizures a few years ago. In some ways, I actually feel that I benefited from the drug. It made me much more in tune with my emotions than I had been in two decades and I felt very relaxed, very much more interested in socializing etc. I also found the way I felt with it varied materially depending on whether I drank alscohol (a single beer a night had a significant (some good, some bad) impact the next day). More strangely, the lamital interacted significantly with a magnesium potassium supplement I had been taking prior to the lamital on the chance that it would prevent future seizures. I kept taking the supp for two years without realizing it greatly increased the mental side effects (dimness) of the lamital (although it also increased the relaxing features).
Mainly because my work has suffered, I am trying to go off lamital and it has been extremely difficult for me. I am fine at about 180 mg (I have a pill splitter), but I began to crave the lamitial when I go down to 150mg. The big question for me is whether I simply need the drug (the emotional benefits, etc. without regard to the anti-convulsant purposes, for which I originally took it and may no longer need), or whether I am simply "addicted".