Fear is one of the biggest inhibitors to coming off psych drugs and anyone doing it has got to realize that the moods one gets as one tapers has nothing to do with who you are as a person and everything to do with how these drugs affect the brain. You're irritable and angry because of the toxic effects and adjustments your brain is having to make to get back to some healthy balance of its own. Give it time, take it slow, and don't blame yourself. Blame the paradigms that made someone recommend this form of treatment in the first place.

So tell me... how rare is it to be on 300 mg of Lamictal? I was on 200 for several months and using a microscope to search for some difference it had made. So my doc asked me to try 300. He's game for 400 if I am. I am still making with the microscope, trying to decide if I am just a little teensy bit calmer. (Note: I have never been manic -- and if I've ever been hypomanic it might take a microscope to detect it.)

It's not the first time I've been asked to exceed the standard adult dose when that failed to work or stopped working. Cymbalta was the worst. If 60 mgs does not do anything good for you, please: don't let anyone talk you into 120.

I ran out of Lamictal for 3 days. By the time I got into the psych last week, I had the most horrific back pain and what I can describe as spasm/charley horse type of pain all over my back. Once back on the Lamictal that stopped.

My daughter took this drug, allegedly for bipolar depression. Catastrophe ensued, as she was acutely suicidal in between her "time of the month", had hot flashes; the works. Tapering off required inpatient hospitalization due to the danger of the suicidality. Others like Phil have had good luck with it, and we told the FDA Medwatch and Glaxo about it. Haven't heard a word. Thinking about bringing suit. Almost lost her.

I have been on Lamictal since May of this year. I started to have a rash, but didn't tell my doctor because I was doing so well. When I finally did call my doctor he advised me to stop taking immediately, but then I started to have several symptoms. So I started taking it over the weekend until I could see him today. Some of my symptoms are swings of fatigue and hyper, unable to concentrate, moody/snappy, lips tingling, thoughts of amd I crazy and am I ever going to be normal.

As far as being hard on Glaxo or suing for unacceptable withdrawals, we must remember that the origin of the disease of bi-polar is unknown, which makes it nearly impossible to cure or treat. I am just happy that in these times there are drugs that we can try to help with this horrible disease. And even though these symptoms are difficult to go through, I consider them far less than when I didn't have medication at all. The reason we are incouraged to keep in close contact with our physicians are because of the side effects.

I tried suicide twice, the last time I was almost successful. It was ten years ago and because of the severity of the slash on my left wrist I was unable to do the right and still have very little feeling in my left hand.

I'm just trying my very best to stay positive while trying to find the best medication for me and not hinder the progress of a medication that is more than likely a miracle worker for others.

I've been on 200 mgs Lamictal now for several years. It has worked pretty well although like Johanna, I had not experienced hypomanic or manic symptoms until just this year. I'm also on 75 mgs of Effexor, which I hate cause of the sweats. I'd like to try a different anti-depressant but in view of the current new hypomanic symptoms, I'm scared to change. These hypomanic symptoms have only been in the last few months and since I keep a mood and journal, my stress levels are no better or no worse than the past. I also have to take synthroid due to thyroid cancer, and hormone replacement therapy due to age, etc. (Sweats are not caused by menopause since I take HRT) Other than that, there have been no changes in medications. It's a bitch getting it all in sync, but these rapidly changing moods is starting to get on my nerves. I think some type of change is in order and will talk to my Pdoc at next appt.

Hi.(sigh). Where do I begin? Well, I'll tell you where I am now. I have decided to come off Lamictal. I've decreased the dosage from 200mgs. to 100mgs. In time, I hope to be off it completely. I used to take it at night, but now I take it in the morning. Something inside me says that Lamictal is very wrong for me and is doing more harm than good. For me, that is. I have to listen to my body an my mind and my spirit.

The funny thing is, is that I didn't really "become" bi-polar until I started taking medication. I used to smoke alot of marijuana. I no longer smoke, by the way. My parents(they do love me, and do want the best for me) took me to a psychiatrist when they noticed that our constant arguments and disagreements became increasingly aggressive on my part. The alternative was to get "kicked out", thus my indoctrination into the world of prescription medication. I was initially treated for depression, and my doctor put me on to Effexor to treat it, even though I told him I smoked. He said I was self-medicating. While taking Effexor,I experienced hours of hyper-ventilation at a time, and an embarrassing side-effect of when I would urinate, the flow would stop, and semen would come out,and then urine. This happened everyday. I figured it was one of the sexual side-effects that the pamphlet wasn't too specific about. I told my doctor about it, an he didn't really say anything. So, I accepted it and continued the treatment. One evening I experienced a weird thing(if that wasn't weird enough) of... I just felt uncontrollable, I was aware what was happening, but could do nothing to prevent it-- shouting, my body felt super-charged, out-of-control, confused feeling, racing thoughts... I screamed, trying to hold myself together and told my Mom to call the doctor. Dad got Haloperidol and Depakote. I calmed down after taking the Haloperidol, and that was my introduction to bi-polar medication.

My doctor said I was bi-polar. So, I was on Depakote for about...eight months? Diarrhea every day. I went to the bathroom between six and fifteen times a day, everyday. Difficulty urinating(the weird thing stopped happening, thank God). My doctor didn't say anything about it, so I accepted it as part of getting better.

Eventually, he put me on to Risperdal. I can't remember all the side effects of that one, but I didn't like it either. I continued with it for a for another four to six months, and now I'm on Lamictal. I've been on it since late last year.

Once, some time this year, I was without my medication for two days. My prescription had run out and I couldn't get in touch with my doctor. He was away at a seminar. I felt like I was "losing it". I knew it was an effect of not having any medication, but there was nothing I could do at the time. My Mom knew the pharmacist, and though it was highly irregular to dispense medication without a prescription, I got some "medication". The effects were immediate. I felt "normal" again.

Last November, I told him that I still felt depressed. He suggested another anti-depressant -- Paxil. I was very wary of taking it because of my prior experience with Effexor. Well, after a few weeks of contemplation, I decided to take it because I couldn't deal with the depression any longer. I took it for three weeks and stopped of my own accord. It helped. On my next visit to him he told me to stop taking it because recent studies indicated that anti-depressants could trigger manic episodes in bi-polar patients. I kinda figure that would have been common sense, and that was partially the reason I stopped taking it before his advice.

This is embarrassing, but I have to say this, since being on these prescription medications, I haven't had an erection. Not that I think it's any measure of being a man, but it's a normal bodily function. I never had this difficulty before. I know it's an indication that's something's terribly wrong, but it's passed off as "just" a side-effect. I've thought of some of the symptoms that indicate the bi-polar disease, and while I don't deny that I'm bi-polar, many of them do not apply in my case. I've never been suicidal, or sexually indiscriminate. I did and do have spells of depression and hypo-mania. I had never experienced hyper-mania until my encounter with Effexor. Since being on these drugs, I have had incidences of extreme aggression, more so than in the past,and still do to some extent, although fleeting, but this was since being on these drugs. My doctor says that chances are I will end up being hospitaliszed or in a psychiatric ward if I discontinue my medication. Needless to say that I am still somewhat depressed.

I'm very artistically inclined. I used to write alot, keep journals, write poems, write songs, paint and the lot. But since being on these drugs, I feel creatively AND emotionally blocked. Very numb. I struggle to keep my band together, and I haven't painted in a while. I do feel I have a strong will-power that helps me to carry on in spite of these drugs, and m depression, and my blunted emotions. Please understand, I'm not knocking all these medications. I think it's a blessing, truly, that they have medications to treat us who are suffering from these types of illnesses, but I don't think that they work for everybody. I also think that most of them are still experimental, especially with words and phrases like "seems to" and "appears to". And from my understanding and reasoning, and after a round about conversation with my doctor, he finally admitted that persons, though not in all cases, who have no prior history of mental illness, were they to take these(ie.Lamictal) medications, and abruptly discontinue them, would exhibit symptoms of a psychotic nature. I don't know what that means, but it kinda says to me that if nothing was wrong with them before, well...

The cost is great -- financially, but far more importantly, to the patient -- to the Human Being who is being treated. I don't think doctors should be too heavily involved in capitalism. I think it conflicts with the "business" of making people better. I think the business is to keep us sick.

I agree with Phillip Dawdy that Lamictal has fewer side effects than the others I've taken, but I don't feel it's all that great for me. I have difficulty urinating, erectile dysfunction, some kind of acne, rashes, creative and emotional numbness... And in the two to three years since I've started taking prescription medication, I've never felt so miserable in all my life.

I'm now seeing a different psychiatrist, and spoken with my former doctor about my consideration of discontinuing my medication. He insists that I will end up in a hospital. That's his faith. He says I can discuss this with my current physician. Somehow, I think he's afraid of being sued or something, but to my knowledge, I don't know of any cases where this is true. I don't even think they can be held liable if anything happens to their patients or "clients" as we are now called. I mean, if we "flip-out", they can always say it was bound to happen, and wash their hands of it. Regardless, I just want the Truth. I just want to be well.

Currently, I am seeing another type of doctor in conjunction with taking this medication. He's a doctor with a PhD. in traditional Chinese acupuncture and herbology, and has Master's degree in psychology. He says to keep taking my prescription medication and to keep seeing my psychiatrist, whom, by the way, approves of my being treated with acupuncture. I was a little shocked by that response by my psychiatrist.

This treatment that I'm undergoing, accupuncture, rather than introducing a foreign substance into my body(which is a guessing game anyway when it comes to regulating dosages), will enable my body, over time, to produce what it needs to be healthy. I have been receiving positive results in the one month of being treated. My depression is subsiding. I'm recalling my dreams now(I haven't remembered my dreams since being on these medications). I have an increasing sense of well being. AND my "friend" is starting to wake up now. Not fully, but at least I know something is happening.

I just feel that there's more to this "medication" game that we're not being told. I know how desperate we are to be Well, but right now, psychiatry is still in it's infancy, otherwise they wouldn't have been so many drug re-calls, and that ever so soft voice you hear on the t.v. sugar-coating all the devastating side-effects of the drugs.

I am in no way suggesting that anyone come off of their medications, but I have to do what works for me. I have to do what's right for me.

I'm really glad to have found this web-site, and relieved to know that I'm not the only one going through stuff like this.

Take Care.
Be Well.
And find YOUR Way.

P.S. I'll keep you posted on my progress.

Hi. It's me, again. Just wanted to say before I forget. I just visited another site where one person reported not being able to rememb(e)r things. Easy stuff like spelling words that he knew that he knew. I'm experiencing similar symptoms. I have difficulty doing simple mathematical functions, and retention of p(h)one numbers now. I'm sure some other stuff is messing up in my (b)rain, but it's hard to kee(p) track of since, to paraphrase someone, What I comprehend is with the faculty of my mind. And if my brain's not all here, well...

Anyway, just thought I'd let you know. Also, if there are are any typos in m posts, I can (b)lame it on my keyoard. The keys stick.

* "()" inserte(d) (m)issing letters due to sticking keys. The spacebar sticks,too.

Hi. Okay, where do I start. Right now, I'm worried about how I am going to pay for my Lamictal. I have been on Lamictal 150 mg./twice a day for 3 years or so for epilepsy. I recently heard that it was also being used to treat Bi-polar disorder.

I got married this past April and went from my old insurance which I only paid a $15 co-pay to my husbands insurance which has a $3000.00 deductible per person! We have a HSA acct but between my dr. visits and Effexor XR, I've depleted that acct down to about $40. I went to the pharmacy yesterday to get my Lamictal filled and when he came back and told me that it's $252.00, I freaked! Had to tell him that I had to wait until Friday.

I'm so worried about withdrawal symptons. I have 2 pills left, which I'm going to take 1 per day instead of 2 but I'm not even sure I'll have the money come Friday because this was not in our budget. My husband is going to change his insurance plan at the beginning of the year but I'm not sure how we'll manage until then.

I know, I tried to come off of my Effexor last month and.... OH NO!! It was absolute hell. My husband went to the pharmacy on a Sunday morning and was waiting at the door when they opened. I thought I was going crazy!

I'm on Effexor for anger outbursts that I was having when I found out that my ex-husband was having an affair 4 years ago. So, I thought that I could come off of it now that I'm no longer going thru that.

I'd like to know that since Lamictal is being used for Bi-polar disorder, I wonder if I could be on it alone, instead of Lamictal AND Effexor. Effexor has really helped me but coming off of it is worse than anything I've went thru. I didn't make it. I had to stay on it.

I guess I will be going thru Lamictal withdrawals for the next few days and I hope that I don't start seizing as I haven't had a seizure in several years.

Can anyone tell me what I'm in for (withdrawals)?

Thanks!

I have been on Lamictal since December 06 and received all of it free--per Pharma reps leaving samples. Ask your psych if they have samples.

Thanks Stephany! I hadn't even thought of that. Did he give you enough for the whole month? I'll check into that today. Thank a bunch!

I hate Lamictal...
I got the Rx 2 weeks ago, stareted the day I got it, even after almost having a stroke when the Pharmacist told me my script was going to cost $329.00. I took it for 13 days...on the 14th day my skin turned bright red and became hot to me and to the touch. I decided that this was too close to a rash for my taste or comfort. So I stopped taking Lamictal. The day after I stopped, I am exhausted, look gray, was throwing up, had a headache, backpain, bloody noses, disorientation..I told my husband that I felt like a drunk kindergartner. This has been going on for 4 days!! My Dr's only suggestion is "wait it out" you are having withdrawals. Withdrawals?! I olny took it for 13 days. Had I known about the possible nasty withdrawal symptoms....I would have never agreed to take this crap! I have enough problems with my brain lol I don't need to add to the fire.

im taking myself off lamictal at the moment. i was on 200mg a day for bipolar along with topamax and risperdal. for personal reasons that i strongly feel. i am reducing meds to come off as much as i can with out going nuts. i have come off the risperdal ok . am still on the topamax. but coming off the lamictal is proving tough. my skin has broken out completely. i have aches everywhere which feels like i have been beaten up. i feel completely dehydrated. my skin, lips and hair is so dry and my throat. im so thirsty. my body is thirsty if you can understand, its very uncomfortable. and its making me high nearly, manic feeling. in general i feel very strange physically and mentally. but you know what i never felt like it really did anything for me anyway. my doc always kept upping it and it never made me feel any different. ?

I was extremely happy to find this website, because it let me know different things that I didn’t know about Lamictal. I have been on Lamictal for about 2 years now. The doctor currently has me taking 400 mg a day and 300 mg a day of Seroquel (both at night). When I miss a dose of my Lamictal I feel like I am going through withdrawals. I get dizzy, a massive headache and nauseous. These symptoms go away shortly after I take it. Some of my friends are constantly telling me how bad it is for me, but it helps keep my moods semi stable. I still have “flare–ups” of both mania and depression, but they are not as bad as they were on other medications. I have been on just about all the psych drugs out there for my bi-polar, and both my Lamictal and Seroquel are working the best for me so far. I don’t plan on trying to stop taking my Lamictal or Seroquel anytime soon, but if I do decide to try to come off of either one, after reading these posts I will talk to my Dr first. As far as the financial cost I feel extremely lucky having the insurance that I do, because I only pay $20 for a 60 day supply. However I have been to previous psych doctors who have been able to give me samples for free when I couldn't afford my medication. Good luck to everyone who is on this medicine, and you all have made me feel like I’m not alone in taking it.
Nicki

I have been taking 25 mg daily for mood swings, depression and anxiety with hyperactivity. We went up to 50 mgs and although I felt less hyper and more calm, I felt more depression that I ever have before beginning this medication. We went down to 25 mg and I am doing better. We decided to try and taper off of it completely as the decision was made that it may not be doing much. The second day I was Lamictal-free I was very hyped up throughout the day and then extremely depressed in the evening. I started taking again immediately. I am terrified of this horrible feeling of depression and depersonalization I felt upon discontinuing this medication especially since the dose is so very small. I also take 25 mg Seroquel each evening. I take 150 mg of Zoloft each am. Does anyone out there feel that depression and anxiety/mood swings gets any worse with age?

Andrea, I'm not a doctor, but from my daughter's experience with 150mg. a day of Zoloft, that created wild mood swings and severe[suicidal]depression. I also take Lamictal, and could not tolerate Prozac. Just a thought, that it might be better to keep a mood stabilzer on board and reduce [slowly]the Zoloft.Just my opinion, not medical advice.

I am starting to get very frustrated with all of these medications. I am beginning to think that some of these make matters worse especially in a person like myself who has not had a clear diagnosis. I have been diagnosed with OCD and Panic Disorder. I was placed on Zoloft 50 mgs daily in my late teens. I did quite well. I struggled with depression occasionally and had some substance abuse issues, but nothing intolerable.

I did not have severe problems with depression until last year after the birth of my second child. Both the depression and the panic disorder got significantly more serious and intolerable. I was placed on 150 mgs of Zoloft and the panic issues resolved for the most part. But, I became more hyperactive, had racing thoughts, became more intense and irritable. But it was not disabling, just annoying and anxiety-producing. I went to a shrink.

When I was a kid I was diagnosed ADD and placed on Imiprimine which made a great difference in my grades. I thought maybe the hyper-activity and racing thoughts were just resugence of ADD and went on Strattera. I became VERY moody and out of control.

I think I may just go back to just Zoloft and deal with being wild and hyper. Hey, I sure got a lot done. My neighbors say I have the cleanest house on the block!