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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by T_R_D on May 10, 2004, at 13:07:42
Okay, I don't know what is going on here but it's something that seems strange to me and I've never felt this way before.
A few days ago I increased my Lamictal from 50mg to 100mg. I had gone through some minor swinging after a month on 50mg so I thought it was time to turn up the volume.
When I first started the Lamictal, it really energized me (possible hypomania?) However, one of my red flags for mania is to immediately self-medicate with alcohol. That feeling wasn't there so I thought, "Okay, this drug is just working well for me."
With this latest increase, I'm feeling some strange things:
- Sleepiness and fatigue, not only physical but mental. Usually when I've felt this as a side effect from a drug it's been *different*...I can't explain it but it's like mentally, I'm quick but I'm slow. I'm still feeling the mental acuity and ability--I'm still feeling "smart"--but...it's almost like I'm having arousal problems because when I concentrate I tend to feel more sleepy (ADD problem.)
- I'm nervous to the point where I have butterflies in my stomach. Now this has NEVER, EVER happened since I began meds 5 years ago. It's like my stomach is taking on the scatteredness of my brain.
What I'm NOT experiencing are any of the side effects that I had before when I initially began the Lamictal (headache, stomach upset, dry mouth.)
I am perplexed.
In terms of what's going on in my life, I am experiencing some stress as I have begun a university statistics course and I am not a math person. The Lamictal "brain boost" is helping a little bit but I'm still stressed simply because the content is challenging...and I need this course to apply to my nursing program. And...these weird feelings are creating a vicious cycle in this area.
Should I just wait a bit longer to see if things even out?
Now this is probably another email altogether but I'm going to throw it in here anyway.
I am also taking 150mg Wellbutrin and 75mg Effexor. I don't like the Effexor. I suffer from anorgasmia with it and now that my mood is lifting I am moving towards being interested in sex again. Obviously, I want to get off the Effexor. I don't really care about goal-oriented sex but hey, a release is nice at least once in a while, right?
Now the Wellbutrin and Effexor combo has never really done *that* much for me. It *may* have kept some of the suicidal depression at bay but didn't do squat for my cycling (of course) so it's hard to say what effect it is really having on me as I began taking it when I was misdiagnosed as unipolar. My gut says it's not doing too much these days.
The Lamictal, however has been great...is that a result of it alone or the combo?
I am constantly looking to make things better. That says to me that I'm actually not doing as well as I could be (if I stopped seeking answers it would be logical to say that I was satisfied with my current amount of knowledge/feelings.)
I know it's not a good idea to start messing with your cocktail until you've been "stable" for a while. I'm just feeling like a med overhaul for some reason.
Right now I'm all screwy because I'm up and I'm down at the same time...more physically than mentally; my mood seems not too bad, maybe a little lower than before? Maybe I'm mixed state right now? I don't feel THAT down though... I'm just having a hard time trying to divorce the physical from the mental to know what's really going on here.
Sorry about this long post. I hope it's easy enough to follow.
Thanks to all for your much needed help...
Karen
Posted by Sebastian on May 12, 2004, at 19:19:35
In reply to What Is Happening With Me...Can You Help?, posted by T_R_D on May 10, 2004, at 13:07:42
I would imediatly go back to the last dose. It will take a little getting use to, but the good feeling that you had on it will come back. I tried upping my celexa dose to 80 mg, I felt real good at first, but like you said I started getting angry. Not feeling as happy as on the 60 mg dose. So I expained to the doctor I was wrong and wanted to go back to 60 mg. I did it right away because I had the right amount of medicine. Just phoned my doctors answering machine and left a good message. He phoned and wanted to know why, and said OK.
Posted by T_R_D on May 13, 2004, at 11:48:54
In reply to Re: What Is Happening With Me...Can You Help?, posted by Sebastian on May 12, 2004, at 19:19:35
Oh that's good to hear. I stuck it out for a few days and things evened out. I was pretty sure it was the increase but you never know. When you're right in the thick of it sometimes you need an outsider to take a look.
I'm feeling better now. Although I do sometimes find that the Lamictal is affected by my hormones. I read that on another good/reliable site http://www.crazymeds.org if you want to check it out. Good info and Jerod Poore is very knowledgeable and a cool guy.
So we wait for me to stabilize. I've only been on the drug for a short time so we need to find the right dosage. Then I can start monkeying with the ADs...I want to get off one of them for side effect reasons.
Karen
This is the end of the thread.
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