Having been on many different psychiatric medications, I really wish i had never started on all these medications. I now have a permanent movement disorder thanks to lamictal and concurrent use of other neuroleptic psychiatric drugs. Its putting me into crisis all over again. Iatrogenic ( Dr induced illness) is real. We are told that these medications will help us with emotional state only to find that lamotrigine can cause suicidal thoughts, aggressive tendencies excitability and more. I feel so sad .Now doing a rapid taper. This is hell. Stay strong everyone. You can get through this. Find support wherever you can.
Was on effector for 15+ years and Lamictal. Stopped effector due to running out of the script due to pharmacy hold ups. It was like riding an elevator all the time. So after the last time I had to go 3 days without. I quit them. It took 4 months for my head to feel semi normal. It took longer to get over than meth and coke addictions. This stuff really screwed with my head. I will stop Lamictal also due to how much it messes with the head. I don't think phycologist have no idea what it feels like. You know they are strong when withdraws are worse than meth and coke (street drugs).
I will gladly tell you my story. About 20 years using exclusively 200mg lamictal. I have been of it for a year. I was one of those who didnt get the note about the slow tapering.... doing the "recommed" 50% taper for a week or 2... I can can tell what goes really wrong when u cold turkey... including agonizing muscular tension, pschosis, tinitus, debilitating fatigue and anxiety. I can also tell u how i am still alive today to tell the tale... and thriving.
@Nataly.Ellisuerte I treated myself as I would trauma... much body work (yoga, TRE, myofacial release, walking, music, hot/cold rherapy, accupuncture, etc).... I also aimed to reduce general body inflammation. Cut down refined sugars and starches, drink tea. Healthy diet, without mixing up food types too much. I found cannabis to be the only useful supplement.... as a full body anti-inflammatory, as well as helping relieve my physical rib trauma
I have been on lamictal for 20 years. I was put on it for bipolar disorder. I had a psyche test done 5 months ago. I do not have bipolar. I have been suffering from BPD my whole life. I have also been on klonopin for 20 years. I’m almost done with my 8 month benzodiazepine taper. Well after more of this video I’ve realized that I’m screwed.
I’m trying to get off this stuff at present and have been gradually reducing the dose (while being monitored)… getting a new therapist too… she didn’t want to reduce the dosage .. thank you for telling this story.. I feel less alone
Yes! I started developing flu like symptoms, debilitating muscle aches/weakness and after that I started developing a rash on my arms, neck and face. My lips started swelling. Swollen lymph nodes. I told both doctors I saw for this that I was on lamictal but I was told it was a viral infection and was put on antibiotics. Thank god I listened to my intuition and stopped lamictal…
Oh my god. She is explaining my experience- been on this drug since winter 2021 and it’s taken me this long to realize the short term memory loss; forgetfulness, clumsiness, brain fog - it all started and worsened with this drug.
Thanks Dr. Read all the comments - I so strongly relate to so many. Grateful to be mostly recovered from 30 years of psychiatric induced trauma. A year since my last mg of Lamictal. pfewww... i can breathe again...pfewwwww😌
I've been on this for 5 years; went from 50- 100mg each season/Oct. March. In March I was dosed by my Dr for 300mg. Can't remember names, gather words to speak. In May I started having some episodes of extreme bone pain, it gradually got worse. All I could do was work & sleep. I finally saw my Dr & she wanted to give me 2 other drugs, then something later for my mood stability. Even after I was explaining to her all these good things that I was doing for my program, 12 step, improving my life. Exercise, work, activities...... Etc etc... RX is for Bipolar. Anyone else experience de-Habilitating bone pain & High calcium levels.
I was on lamictal for PTSD twice over 5 yrs (1.5-2 yrs both times). I have never felt so validated in my life, watching this video. Currently experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms both mental and physical. I was given no recommendation for tapering off (getting off recommended by my pcp who didn't want me taking it during potential pregnancy), but I personally felt it was safest to do it slowly. I was on a very low dose (history of medication sensitivity + had mini Jacksonian marching seizures when lamictal increased too fast). I went down by half a tab at a time, held at 2wks, 1.5wk, 1wk, 1wk, 1wk, 5days, 5days, 3days (dropped off fast on the last half tab because I felt the withdrawal kick in and started getting an amalgamation of overwhelming issues and didn't want to draw it out any further). Severe suicidal ideation, chest pain, pain over heart, feels like my heart will jump out of my chest, occasional pain when breathing that goes to back, severe exhaustion, falling asleep against will and hard to wake up, never feel rested, can't perform basic functions or chores, intense sense of being overwhelmed and wanting to cry myself to sleep, blood pressure changes, dizzy, nauseous without vomiting, feel like I'm going to pass out talking or laughing or walking upstairs, insane anxiety just sitting, ptsd triggers are through the roof, constant sense of being activated, impending sense of doom, sometimes feels like I'm dying, don't have to be thinking or doing anything to trigger symptoms, chest pain rn just standing and typing this, jolted up right in bed the other night yelling "something's wrong, something's wrong!" because I had chest pain. Don't know if it's related, but I had sudden busted veins in my lower legs over the last few days of lamictal. Went to the ER against my wishes the other day when everything was at it's worst. Could tell that they felt I was wasting a bed because they couldn't measure anything wrong with me, kept threatening to toss me in psych. My pcp was concerned but only offered to PUT ME BACK ON LAMICTAL! This is after I already expressed continuous concern for being on it so long past recommended period for nonseizure related issues, and potential long term health issues and the anxiety it caused me knowing the rare risk of all your skin falling off. My dad had heart issues and it took years for him to be diagnosed with an arrhythmia (which eventually killed him). Genuinely looking to buy a holter monitor regardless of dr opinion and wearing it for a week. Was looking to start trying to get pregnant again next month but fear that it would be dangerous not knowing if I have damage to my heart. Greatest fear is that I am now worse off having been on lamictal and I will be even more disabled than I was before. I would have never started Lamictal if I had been educated of ALL the risks.
I 100 percent believe you. Lamictal is a very harsh drug. I'm sorry you had such a rough time. I myself am tapering rapidly and it's hard,very hard,but I feel like it's better to be off BC it can cause suicidal ideation, aggressive tendencies, excitability and more. On top of that, I started getting a movement disorder from it! So am rapidly tapering off. This drug made me feel like a different person and not in a good way. Now I have to taper and suicidal thoughts keep coming. It's terrifying. What,if anything helps you?
@@Simplicityandkindnesshonestly, distractions. Good, kind hearted people who love you can say all the perfect supportive things in the world, so can your therapist, but sometimes it doesn't help and you just need to turn part of your brain off and coast until you can effectively reach that calm space. I still struggle with some suicidal ideation and verbal tics that developed during lamictal (and got worse during withdrawal) but everyday I am building healthy patterns for myself one small habit at a time, and I'm allowing myself to enjoy things that make me happy and letting those things be a hyper fixation even if they only help for a couple days. Just distracting yourself long enough to give your brain the time needed to build new stable neural pathways is good enough. That's my main mantra now, when I feel completely overwhelmed by how little control I feel over my mental and physical health, I do what I am capable of at that extra moment and I say "Good Enough".
Hello, thank you Dr. Josef and Trudy🥰 I am part of the Facebook lamictal withdrawal forum....3 yrs off now. I am still having muscle movement disorders, muscle pain weakness/tightness, and bowel issues. I really want to interact to share my story and experience. Help others - share insights and lessons. I was poly drugged in 2009 after the birth of my 4th child.... (For 12yrs.) Tiptoed off lithium, Wellbutrin then stayed on respirdal and lamictal. 2020 I came off respirdal then lamictal in 2021. Thank you for your discernment and stand, much blessings and hope to both of you!
...around 20 years ago my doctor declared me bipolar 1 and put me on Lamictal...my psychiatric nurse friend wanted me on Lithium...my doctor said (and never admitted saying this) ‘I want you on Lamictal...i’m going to take you from the life you have been living and place you in paradise’)...i went on Lamictal...he ‘diagnosed my bipolar because I was talking too fast’...(also because I can be swinging in those bipolar / tripolar , tee hee , swings...not Mr. Stability...anger a big one...for me, ‘depression’ is a ‘good thing’ not a bad thing and always preceded growth, just something to go through and depression, eventually, passes to more growth...no growth without pain...always lonely on the growing edge...i was on Lamictal for years, maybe 6 years, can’t recall...my doctor, after I was on Lamictal for some years, said ‘I want you on lithium now’...i told him , ‘nope’...he told me to make sure I notified him if I got any ideas about quitting Lamictal...i told him ‘of course I’d not withdraw without telling him’...while taking Lamictal, first time in my life, I had gross ‘night sweats’ and I don’t know if Lamictal caused It but my doctor didn’t make a ‘night sweat connection’...i think I was taking 200mgs Lamictal daily… ...i cut it to 175mg for a few weeks or so, then 150 , then 125 , then 100 etc. until off Lamictal...i think I withdrew off Lamictal in about 4 months or so...i stayed off of Lamictal for 1 year before telling my doctor...i said to my doctor, ‘I HAVE SOMETHING TO TELL YOU AND YOU AREN’T GOING TO LIKE IT’...’what?’...’I WITHDREW FROM LAMICTAL...without hesitation or pause, doctor said ‘GOOD’ and he meant it...then, he said ‘just let me know if you are blue’...doctors are pill happy people and ‘blue’ means ‘bad’ to them instead of ‘growth’ indicator...point...i was ‘whacko’ prior to Lamictal and whacko off Lamictal...but, I’ve been off the stuff for longer than I was on the stuff and I wouldn’t go back to ‘head meds’ but not against others doing what they need to do...a combination of 10 hours regular sleep, friends, prayer and meditation and good eating habits seems to maintain me in good enough shape light years better than in those days I was on Lamictal...i use a little cannabis to relax and immerse , reflect and heal...live and let live...to each their own...excellent presentation, thanks... p.s. i became a massage therapist in Oregon and i'd recommend massage for dissolving any disease , both in giver and receiver of the loving, healing touch of massage therapy
I’m so excited to get into this. My husband has been on Lamictil as part of his regimen for Bipolar 1 for about 3 years now. About 2 months ago he decided (with his psychiatrist apparently) to cut down his dosage. Ever since then we have been having non stop marital problems… he’s been acting hypomanic. He also takes seroquel because he has been in psychosis before. I just assumed that the cut down was causing a hypomanic episode, and that might be the case. But I suppose it could also be compounded by withdrawal symptoms. Anyway, sadly I cannot rationalize with him when he’s like this. I mentioned his cutting down on his dosage might be causing some of our issues and he said I was “f*cked up” for suggesting it. Bipolar sucks because you truly do HAVE to take these medications to function normally. It’s such a serious illness. I’m so thankful for this video!!
Speaking as someone with severe cptsd who's symptoms display as hypomania, I'm so sorry you're having to go through this with your partner. Partners of people who suffer with mental health problems are practically saints. Idk what I'd do without my partner keeping me tethered to earth. Good luck to you both ❤
Lamictal punishes the all ready sick. they only have what s bad and never really notice anywhere long term help.keeps money in the pockets and destroys any possibility by fact @@ChardeeMacdennis339
Wow, the timing. I am starting it tomorrow, thanks for the heads up! I actually choosed this instead of a ssri because of PSSD, worth a shot! Good video
@@Waves353 We almost have the same scenarios. I only have social anxiety, i dont have bipolar. Do you? Did it work on the anxiety? My prescriber suggested it since i did not want PSSD from SSRI Absolutely, will try to keep it as low as possible, i just want some sort of relief.
I am 50. Was on it for maybe 20 years. Upgraded to it from haliperidol and lithium. The fatigue and muscle cramps I got in spades. Mostly recovered now with yoga, wim hoff, TRE, meditation. Hell of a ride
Hi, I’m thinking about getting off for the same reasons. Sure enough yoga and cold exposure have been helping me. Would you be willing to share more of your story?
Sure. I also have a good Chinese doctor. Being doing accupuncture for last 6 months. He is not naive to psych med damage and understands my condition in a way that 50 western medicine experts didn't.
I have not begun tapering lamotrigin yet but I have tapered four of my other medicines and lamotrigin will be next after I finished Seroquel. I have also used wim hoff, meditation and chinese acupunture and it helps me too 🙋♀️
My memory and reading is poor. I can also blame haliperidol from 30 years ago. That made me suicidal and have zero desire for anything. It's only been lamictal for the last 20 years.... and that certainly caused me body aches, fatigue, brain fog.... which got worse when withdrawing
After 14 years of taking Lamictal, today my dose will be decreasing for the first time. I have only had 2 seizures in my life, both were in 2009 when i was a teenager and I've been on Lamotragine ever since. I haven't had a seizure since I've been taking the medication. I take 4 25mg tablets at night, this will decrease to 3 tablets. My neurologist adviced that i decrease 25mg every month, but to be on the safe side, I will decrease my dose every 2 months. Im not gonna lie when I say im worried about the side effects of withdrawing from this medication after taking it for so many years. Will see how things go. Edit: So it has been a month since I started the withdrawal of Lamictal and I have to say that I am struggling the most mentally. Physically I'm ok, but mentally, it's very hard 😭 but I want to get through this.
Hang in there!!! It will be worth it! I was so fortunate to have a dr who supported discontinuing meds after 6 years with no seizures….but it was a long road…. Took 8 months How are you doing by now?
@@sandyyerg6774Hiya! I've been getting some really bad muscular pain and aches all over my body ever since I started the withdrawal which is a bit worrying, mentally I am SO drained, it's so hard, I'm not getting any sleep. I've also suddenly started experiencing really bad tinnitus. I'm just really annoyed at the fact that noone (doctors / neurologist) warned me about the side effects from withdrawing from this medication. I'm still not gonna give up, it's just exhausting. Part of me wonders sometimes whether I had been taking this medication for years for no reason, when I could've come off it after a year or 2 :(
@@rockymountainfoothillshey thanks for your comment :) I have finally weaned off Lamictal and today is my first day not taking the medication. 2 of the biggest things that have happened to me during the weaning off process, really bad muscular pains (aches all over the body) and mentally drained, I have been fighting so hard the past 3 months to get through it and I've done it. I've had no seizures and auras that I'm about to have a seizure. The psychological issue is because I had been taking the medication for 14 years every night. I finally feel free.
Its amazing...i was on lithium 900mg and got down to 300 no problem. But taking lamictal for a week and a half, and skip one day and feel like trash. Lamictal has crazy withdrawals.
I would totally give you my experience- I was on it for 5 years, and it’s taken me 1.5 years to slow taper. I’m currently 7 days totally off. It’s been a very disturbing experience to get off of this drug. The side effects from taking it and getting off of it are not talked about.
@@Rose.Bay. I feel amazing. I do a hot to cold shower every day for cortisol and circulation. I've been supplementing with high dose vitamin B & D & taking a quality multi vitamin + omega 3 fish oil. I have incorporated 'Grounding/Earthing' into my daily routine, and I'm in bed with no screens at 9 pm. All of this has helped me re balance, and I am SOOOOOO glad I stopped this medication.
I did the recommended tapering time the first time I got off it and it was horrible. The withdrawals were really bad. I ended up getting back on it because I'm bipolar and the highs and lows of my moods are hard to manage, but I think it's causing me to have cognitive issues now so I am planning to taper off of it over an extended period of time. I just dropped down from 200 mg to 150 today. Any advice based off your experience?
I was on 300mg Lamictal for severe depression anxiety(PTSD). I was on it for 3 years and ended up with Lamictal induced Lupus. I had to go off immediately and it was hell!! I was switched over to 100 mg Topamax, but still have major depression 6 months later. I feared having memory issues with Topamax, but since I’m only on 100mg it’s been nothing compared to the cognitive side effects of Lamictal. I started having major cognitive side effects at 300mg, but couldn’t taper it without side effects. I will say Lamictal worked amazing for depression,but I wish my Dr. would’ve kept my dose low and stopped increasing it.
I’m starting to feel that all these meds aren’t worth the risk .. unless you are fortunate enough to have really good private doctors rather than ones that just seem to throw medications at us .. topamax does have kidney stone side effects and I ended up passing them when I was in uganda in a rural village it was so painful and then back home they started passing more so I stopped that one .. I guess drink loads of water not soda etc but water may help
I was on many anti-psychotic meds for years. I had a traumatic event that brought me to my knees. The solution is to load me up with numerous mind altering drugs. In time. I started having elevated liver enzymes. The hepatic issue became dangerously high with a serious infection. Treatment was a toxic antibiotic. Gastro specialists me off everything, with not tapering. This resulted in extreme fatigue. Then, extreme smooth muscle atrophy. A nutritionist suggested NAC supplements. The results of boasting my immune system with NAC was unbelievably beneficial. Those toxins were neutralized, homeopathic improvement within days. Amazing supplement! Amazing results!
I have chronic protracted withdrawal - which includes neurological and sleep issues from Pristiq and Lexapro. Its been years. These drugs are neurotoxic
lexapro helped my depression greatly for 2 years and diden't work any more after that. getting off it was easy enough with a few minor sometimes unnoticeable brain zaps other wise it was easy to get off. went back on it after 2-3 years and no longer worked doing any thing with no side effects. so i was lucky with lexapro. Lamictal makes me sleepy with a slight stable like feeling.might get off it also for it does little and going no higher than 50mgs. BUT, Abilify ,lithium, tegratol, and a couple others put me in sevier Anxiety grave like feelings and family had to help me eat or walk out of the house with total FEAR PARANOIA With unexplainable grave like position. and taking up to 2 years recovery after weaning or stoping.
I took pristiq for 18 months and quit cold turkey and i actually just felt better every day ...no withdrawal. I have had insomnia for 5 years due to suboxone.....which is a horrible drug to get off of. It took me 5 years to get down to half a mg a day and i still feel like my skin is crawling if i go more than 2 days without it
I got this Lamictal prescribed for my Autism. At first I did not notice any side effects, but very gradually I started gaining weight and experiencing cognitive fog. I have a high demanding job and that cognitive fog was not tolerable. So I stopped it cold turkey having no clue about withdrawal symptoms... Now Im on the only three meds that are really helping me with my Autism : Venlafaxine, Concerta and Zolpidem. Those are great for me. But my psych insisted on me taking that Lamictal telling me it had no side effects 🤨 I'll manage this lethargy withdrawal symptom and will never pop a single Lamictal again. I was taking 200 mg every day.
I have tinnitus and neurosensoral hearing loss. Tinnitus equals pain. Strong ringing in the head as if someone were drawing with their fingernails across a blackboard. Living with him is extremely difficult. Tinnitus made me mentally ill.
Hi I wrote an hour response of my j journey and it was not posted. It was great. I am 71 and some one you need to interview. So sad my one hour to complete and compose story was deleted by google!
I stopped it cold turkey 4 days ago, had no idea about those withdrawal symptoms. Was taking 200 mg every day. Since then I'm feeling really sleepy, but I'm managing that successfully with strong coffee and some extra Concerta pills.
Mood stabilizing agents have the highest incidence of severe and sometimes life threatening adverse skin drug reactions. Carbamazepine, lithium, valproic acid, topiramate, lamotrigine, gabapentin etc. These skin issues are often neglected and ignored but very troubling for the patients. I also see SSRI associated pruritus and rashes that can be misdiagnosed as an allergic reaction.
I Agree But does little help when more are simply drug pushers for business jeopardizing Health aggravating the ignorance of America's E/R and hospitals? who also have no antidotes what so ever leaving many alone frustrated in their induced suffering Ginny pig life style is unfair. Why Americas Mental Health System can be more Embarrassing still today. Blood test could still be a determination for patient that would or not be beneficial on Certain Drugs but voided could be fear of slowing down the Pharmaceutical industries.
As a homeopath working with clients who are withdrawing from these medications, If the case indicates it I will us homeopathic HPA to help the body come into balance . Very interesting and encouraging results. thanks for this very useful interview!
I started taking Lamictal (25mg) 3 days ago for epilepsy and I felt a little tired the first day, the second day I felt a little weird and tired, this morning I woke up extremely out of it and agitated. I have heart palpitations, my eyes feel like they move weird and gives me a headache, I’m a little short of breath, and I feel like I can barely function. Definitely cannot drive. Hoping I can just stop taking it since I just started it without having trouble with the withdrawal.. definitely talking to my doc today but wanted to share this
This lady said auto immune disorders? Near the end of my hell I developed an auto immune disorder of Alopecia Areata and I've often wondered if it was connected to all those drugs. I used to have the thickest lush hair imaginable - I lost it all. I'm trying keto-carnivore to see if that will help clear up the underlying systemic inflammation.
Omg going carnivore/keto is literally THE ANSWER and CURE for bipolar and most mental illnesses. Big farma does NOT want us to know this! If everyone just started doing carnivore and treating their illness with their diet, Drs would be out of jobs!! It’s so CROOKED!!
ill talk to you. i have all the experience. well, 20 years... through horrible horrible changes in the medical system/insurance and brand lamictal going generic. ive never been able to take a generic. check out the prices of brand Lamictal.I'd be interested in having someone ask me the right questions... those which i don't even know to ask. thank you both btw. until now, ive never known anyone that had experiences like me, but i never have searched either. hearing both of your perspectives is absolutely bananas.
I had no idea about the heart problems it might cause! All the reasons to get off, I already had arrhythmia without it. I am getting off 100mg, on 25mg currently and the withdrawal is so bad they gave me a sick leave. Brain fog is so bad I cannot do my job, sleep increased to 9+ hours and I am always tired, and my anxiety has been actually getting worse, to the point of having panic attacks. Next psych appointment is a month away...
I didn't see the comments before. I'm doing just fine! It was a bit rough, in the end I decided not to do a super slow taper, I felt equally bad cutting 25 or 5 mg anyway. I got off all my psych meds in the end. Also got ferritin levels checked and it was super low, so some of the symptoms might have been from that. My condition is pretty good now that it's fixed and I'm not taking any medication.
My boyfriend went cold turkey off lamictal and did not tell me. I found him hallucinating and talking to me as if i were someone else. It was so disturbing he got back on it...
Im so grateful for this information,so sorry for all who are suffering. For me before lomictal my mental health was awful i had such mental anguish have been on lomictil 5 years and it works well for me 🥑🕊️🌹 i guess only time will tell
I had balance problems, blurry vision, fatigue after taking for 4 hours and then insomnia. Then of course I had a severe allergic reaction with a rash covered in hives starting at my face and down to my legs.. the withdrawal I’m having now is fatigue, shaking, nausea and anxiety.
Just for some added balance (not to take away from anyone's story, I believe them all), I was on Lamotrigine 200 mg for several months, felt amazing - no side effects, got off the drug cold turkey by accident - felt fine, no withdrawal symtoms. Maybe it was because I was on it for only 3-4 months?
I've been on it for 1.5 years, and my doctor wants me off because I'm pregnant. I am going from 250 to 0 in 9 days. So I'm taking 50 today, 50 tomorrow, and then I'm off. So I've been tapering for 7 days, and I'm still waiting for it all to hit me, but it's just not so far. I'm a little agitated this morning and I feel a little shaky, but nothing extreme at all. I'm just chugging water and just got done with a hard workout.
So happy I stumbled upon this today. I'm about to run out and my doctor isn't answering the phone. So I'm rapidly lowering my dose and need to know what to expect. Luckily I was only on 150mg
suggestion be expectation free...and hang in there...i wouldn't 'rapidly' do anything...casually, reflectively, contemplatively doing the doings between the beings...thanks
Doctors prove they pretend they care for priofit. These drugs were dangerous the day they came out. the ones they work for are temporary or some thing else not related. seems 80% are sick because of this poison. they find a reason to put you on it than actually help. they don;'t care what it does to your bodily organs.
I titrated too quickly and still slower than my doctor was pushing. Went from 400 mg to 0 over a few months. It was horrible. 3 months later I still have days my body hurts; especially my arms, wrists. I feel weak despite working out for decades regularly.
I didn't knew mood stabilizers or anti epileptics have prolonged withdrawal symptoms or post withdrawal syndromes. Alot of antipsychotics also block sodium channels and potassium channels
I've been on lamotrigine 25mg for a week, in combination with lithium 300mg which was started about a month earlier, both to augment my Effexor which I take for MDD/PDD (I'm not bipolar). Immediately on lithium I felt immense relief from the deep depressive episode I was in and the associated anxiety. But the addition of lamotrigine about a month later, even the very low dose, seems to be really activating. I'm back in the depression hole after 1 week, exhausted ALL the time, a bit suicidal even, and incredibly anxious, to the point of being too overwhelmed to leave my house. It's like it's undoing all the good the lithium was creating. Having only been on it a week, and at such a low dose, am I OK to stop taking it immediately? I tried to contact my doctor today for advice and got no response (otherwise I wouldn't be asking here, ha!). I really want to get off it. Do I need to taper, even after such a short period on this low dose? Any advice is hugely appreciated. I just want off of it as soon as possible.
Stop the lithium if it’s only been a week. Stay on the lamotrigine until lithium detox is over. I would highly advise NEVER take Lithium. I’m an old pro. Lithium will steal your soul.
Have you considered dysphoric mania, or a mixed episode? Forget that bit in the DSM about "euphoria", especially if you're female. Lamotrigine is effective at preventing reoccurrence of depression during maintenance, it doesn't prevent mania (there are supposedly 8 unpublished trials in which consistently failed to prevent mania from reoccurring). Lithium is an effective monotherapy, if you're depression was caused by neurotoxicity from dysphoric mania, then if you're truly stable the depression will gradually go on its own. I battled treatment resistant depression for over a decade, the moment I realised it was mostly dysphoric mania followed by neurotoxic receptor burnout was the moment everything turned around.
Get off it asap. Taper a little. But guarantee you that it's the lamotrigine causing all of your depression and anxiety. It can even cause aggression and suicidal ideation. It's a bad drug,at least in my experience.
lithium gave me a heart tacky cardia allmost dying as a healthy person when i was 28 years of age. i did recover with fast heart rate , what are the one with mood swings because of being abused being the victim of poisoned for Purchases and they don;'t give a dam.
I know I shouldn't give unsolicited advice on the internet, but here is the distilled wisdom of a decades long desperate search. You should always taper under supervision. My wife lives with bipolar and PMDD. I'll share some insights gained over a decade. I probably shouldn't say this, but you probably have bipolar. I should say all the usual caveats, but I'll save you the years of research. The TL;DR is that manic depression is the better clinical construct and mania in the DSM is poorly described. The manic depressive process is cyclical, mania proceeds depression, it's just that often you won't even know you were manic, just anxious, agitated, then depressed. That's called dysphoric hyperthymia and it's even milder than hypomania. Listen to Schou, break the mania and you break the cycle. If you don't think you have mania, think again, that agitation and anxiety is mania, if you got in a time machine and went back before 1980 that's what you would be told. For over 100 years people with anxiety, agitation, irritability and depression were diagnosed as manic depressive, it's only in the last few decades that we've gone wildly astray. Those old timey psychiatrists saw more patients and took more notes than anyone alive today and they did some good science, maybe even better science than today. The SSRI will increase the cycling. I know that is hard to accept. You could try an extremely low dose of flouxitine 5mg, even less. At 5mg the flouxitine will have almost no effect on serotonin, but it will help regulate something called allopregnanolone. Allopregnanolone could be the real reason SSRIs work for PMDD. Lamotrigine is supposed to be good for PMDD, but it has a bidirectional relationship with estrogen. Estrogen lowers lamotrigine which then raises glutamate which in turn raises estrogen. Sometimes this leads to a nice balance, sometimes it's disruptive. Lamotrigine is a great medication but its not to be taken lightly. Lamotrigine is not effective against mania once you're in it, that's according to one of the researchers who got it FDA approved. The negative mania trials were never published. The only other advice I can give is to read Kraepelin and listen to Kay Jamison, Jayashree Kulkarni and Nassir Ghaemi. If you own a DSM 5, burn it.
I'm in the process of coming off of Lamotrigene, Lorazepam because the combination isn't helping me at all because I've been on them for several years now.. I've noticed these meds combined together make me a very irritable and angry person.. My Dr. said to start taking 1 Lorazepam a day for 2 weeks instead..once the 2 weeks are up then I'll stop it completely..Next I'll take 1 instead of 2 Lamotrigene a day for 2 weeks then I can stop it completely My greatest fear is the side effects.. Thanks for all of the information I was taking both of these drugs due to my anxiety
My boyfriend went cold turkey off lamictal wo telling me and he had a psychotic personality break ..i found him talking to me as if i were someone else...he was rude and cut me down when he never had been mean. Ever to me....paranoid...slept all the time but he seemed to have one eye open and be aware of everything. Then i found him in the shower curled up crying and hallucinaring and he didnt even know me.....i left him and he threatenee to commit suicide ....then he called me nonstop and wouldnt ler me off the phone. I told him how he was acting and he finally told me he had quit lamictal two weeks ago. When he rook it again he went back to normal rather overnight.
I've taken Lamotrigine for 13 days in total.. The WORST decision ever! Developed a fever and after 2 days, went to the ER. 1 day later, I developed a weird rash on both arms, face, and chest. Everything was bright red. Had no idea it was this med, but something started to click. The rash looked similar to a sun burn and felt that way. They found nothing wrong, so when I went home, I stopped it immediately. The fever was still bad for 3 extra days, but then slowly tapered away. The rash is gone as well, and my eye pain. But I still have a major migraine and I notice my temperature still spikes to 99 when my migraine gets bad enough, esp from over exertion. I'm happy I'm starting to get better, but the slight fever and migraine thing scares me. Thats the most crippling thing I feel right now. It's been 6 days in total off of this. Have no idea if it's withdrawals because I just started trying medications and never withdrew from anything. Sigh. I really hope I get better :(
Ive been on it for 1.5 weeks, decided to quit yesterday. Im pretty sure im having minor withdrawals. Today when i was walking i felt jumpy and paranoid someone was behind me. That is NOT normal for me.
I felt super paranoid when I tried to get off it too and that’s what scared me and I stayed on it. Did you end up getting off of it? If so, did the paranoia stop?
How to get on FB group. I've requested and requested. Created FB account just to join. Messaged Her. Can Anybody help with this??? Desperate for support
cold turkey on 200mg because I had a missed appointment. is it normal to only be given a one-month perscription, refill contingent on dr approval each visit? Been on since Nov 2021 and this is my first time off, my withdrawal side effects are awful. the neurological diminishment began with brain fog and losing/switching words but now the migraines are in full swing. Wish this was safe to go off immediately, in case of an emergency or life happening. I hope my system recovers from their lack of large dose these few days.
I hope everything worked out for you. Are you better? Thank you for sharing your experience. I think it was the word switching, or saying the wrong word because I was looking at something but talking about something else. Like this ' will u pls take the dog 4 a walk, and take poopie bags' (and here instead of saying 'poopie bags' I'd say 'take salt' because we were in the kitchen and I looked at salt)😮😢...very disturbing. But other meds cause this too, they're neurotoxic. I like the way this doc terms this: a medication injury. Damn! It's horrid and it often flies under the radar because these are non-narcotic.
Been on it since I was a kid and whenever I try to get off of it I go limp (sexual dysfunction), get shaky, and really depressed. Kind of scares me to be in a situation where i'm unable to get more. I also had a bad movement disorder, some sort of ataxia, the first time I quit but I'm not sure if that was from lamictal or Zyprexa.
Was most likely the lamictal. I have now developed a movement disorder thanks to it. Doing a rapid taper. I hope that things improve for you really soon. Take extra good care of yourself right now.
Hair loss. Cant recall words in cbverdatiins so i aooeqr stupified lol was in 400mg for 9 years about. Im at 100mg twicr a day right now. Not sure if my recall will be better once of but im nore clear amd getting ny creativity back 80s n 90s music playing in my mind a lot since tapering. Fortunate to have some irritabikity then level out so far
That's horrible.I propably have difficult epilepsy,and i can't let that be untreated,epilepsy is not something to mess about...can't let that be untreated....dont want meds,but dont want to die,im tapering benzoz,they propably covered my epilepsy a little bit,but symptoms were daily even with benzoz.my problems started after c0vid v@ccin3s
1:07:34 I have been on Lamotrigine for about 3 years. Started as all of us moving up slowly. I was prescribed for drug resistant depression/anxiety. It certainly helped. I’m now much more stable mentally and have been reducing from 250mgs. To 225 no problem, then after weeks to 200, seemed to go well. Then to 175..for about 3 weeks, now at 150 for a few days! Maybe to fast, as I went from 175 to 150 and my tinnitus is so bad as is headache, these seem much worse late afternoon. So my question should I go back to 175 or stick it out..at 150.
Thanks, for the video. I am in Lamotrigine for seizures and also trying to get out of it, (doing it very very very slowly). I am on 75mg a day and trying to get on 50mg. I am having an EEG on May. 🙏🙏🙏 I am taking NAC supplements because I heard it is good for neurotransmisors and Inosotol (vitamin B8) because it is good for the brain, for hormones...... Do you know if they can interfere with Lamotrigine or Epilepsy??? Thanks!!!
I don’t know exactly what these kinds of videos are actually trying to get across to us. Everyone is different and almost every medication has side affects to some degree. IMO,.. all medications came to be because of the need among various medical situations. Each individual is going to have each their own affect,.. some worse than others. If the side affects are too bad, then the doctor can try another that may suit you better. Now,.. depending on the degree of one’s diagnosis,.. you have to weigh the “pros and cons” then decide which is necessary. Trying to dispute these medications as a threatening or scary situation may not be a good idea. Most of these medications do have some or many possible side affects, but truly need them. I’m not trying to disagree with this information,.. it’s just that some are needed,.. depending on each individual. Also,.. just as in any of these kinds of medications that can be mind altering and/or addictive,.. including pain medication, you have to take only if needed and when needed. When a patient who has a medical situation who truly needs help with these medications, has to be aware of the affects (which is given at pharmacy),.. and most importantly,.. do not take more than needed.
I took lamictal 13 years ago and was fine. Now I tried it again for a week and I feel super agitated. I haven't taken it since yesterday morning and I'm super anxious and randomly paranoid. I wonder if these are effects from the drug being in my system or if I'm having mini withdrawal....I may never know but either way I feel like trash
The reason for this information - is for people to have TRUE informed consent. Every medical Practitioner who has the power to prescribe should be watching these videos. And anyone that has side effects worse than what they initially took the medication should watch something like this so they don't have dangerous or permanent side effects from withdrawal. Many of these medications, especially when related to mental health - mask the problems and prevent actual healing in the long term - and tragically add MORE problems that most definitely will ADD to the severity of mental health challenges. At best they are a crutch. A way to numb or distract. But there a million ways of numbing and distracting that don't cost as much, are as needed, are safer and don't have dangerous of difficult withdrawal if one becomes dependant. So unless someone is literally disabled or on the verge of suicide - why take the risk? Even suicidal - can be mitigated with safer interventions. I know - there have been plenty of times where I had suicidal interventions where - a number of different non-pharmaceutical approaches saved my life.
Nah... the stuff is real bad.... you just tuned out.... so u just glad to be sane. Was on it for 20 years..... after a year off it feel I am born again. Change must just be managed
On it twenty years right now I have fatigue that I can’t get rid of , I’m on 100mg, my Dr wants me to go up to 150mg. Been on it so long don’t know who to trust or even trust myself.
@annmarierougier1042 yes. I got to a point I woke up anxious and in pain snd went to bed exhausted. Couldnt play with kids or be much use to the family. Coming off it is tough but worth it. I do cold showers, yoga, TRE for the physical relief. I meditate everything I am emotionally triggered to keep my mind straight. If I get depressed I take some rest. If I get too excited, I slow my breathing. Taper slow and speak to your supporters about it if you decide to try
Been on lamictal 22 yrs starting taper off of 75mg was originally on 200 but tapered down over many years , I do get agitated from starting my new taper from 75 it is noticeable, I started gabapentin for jaw pain maybe that will help with lamictal taper , I have also tapered completely off klonopin after 22 yrs and have been off 5 months , I am a bit apprehensive with doing lamictal taper. Since psych meds have been my life for 22 yrs
Started Lamictal today. First day and by evening have such pain in my kidneys and abdomen. I have a migraine and my scalp and face are numbish and Im having problems with my eyes and my face is itchy. I never have problems like this. Not sure Ill be taking this medication.
Hello I am under lamictal 400 mg since 2020 with trintellix and lexomil at hight dose and in last july my doctor switched my lexomil in one day to à aborder big dose of xanax and since that I began to have burns in my face and anti DNA antibodies in my exams. I wanted to persuad myself that with a changement in my medication this could be just a nighmare but I loose hope because I don’t see that with other people in the groups. I am so desperate with suicidal ideas because I am so sad that my life changed like this with just a swith it’s so hard to admit Thank you very much to reading me and if you have a little Hope for me I take Thank you very much
Depakote is horrific and its shockingly still on the market. Drug is a 65 year old psychotropic. 😳😳. I will put it this way. Depakote is the drug that can cause male breasts (gynecomastia)
Um No. Being on it now titrating off after 12 years I can conclusively say thats non sense. And as I use it for epilepsy I have to do it 100mg reduced every 2 weeks. Therefore since my reduction from 700mg to 500mg I have noticed a world of difference and experienced very disturbing withdrawl symptoms. Still got 11 weeks to go 🙄🙄
For many it is not well-tolerated, we get gaslit into believing this drug is safe and well-tolerated. This is a drug manufactured in hell. Worse than benzos.
10 years I have been Lamictal. I didn’t understand mental health, or even how to research anything at that point. I’ve I’ve watched a lot about benzodiazepines, and I’m saying that contributes to memory loss… Not for me Living in the fight, fight and survival for many years contribute to that. Now to talk about the lamictal… I had my first panic attack after two years of sobriety, and they chose to put me on LAMICTAL Lamictal is the reason for my memory loss. I’ll stand by 100% I went to the doctor that day, and I don’t remember the appointment. I don’t remember two months of my life on the time I started it. I don’t remember moving out of my apartment and in with my parents . I’m also believe that I should be on medication to live with them. Sadly, it was just lack of education and understanding but whatever. For a year and a half I woke up every single day, crying and confused. At this time, my mother is not speaking with me, so she’s on the other room and I couldn’t even get a hug or talk to her. They started me slow at 150 mg by the time I was finally able to research and educate myself which would be eight years later I have been all the way up to 650 mg a day. When I tell doctors that they told me there’s no way I was on that. I have a dosage as if I’m lying. Years later, come to find out, I am metabolizing. I’m very fast. This last two years it got down to having to take 50 mg every four hours. I tried coming off at choice before, and there was no way I could do it by myself without a support system. Some very major changes, and trauma happened in my life over the past few years . I had a psychiatrist, just cut my stimulant and was going through withdrawals, and I chose at this time, well, at the end of the withdrawal to try and get off of lamictal again. At this point, I have tapered down to 200 a day, and very slowly I was able to get down to 100 and down to 50. All these years, I was having a hard time just getting out of the house like literally walked out the door. I have noticed this very unhealthy, irritated frustration with myself, and I never paid attention enough to it. When I got down to the 50 mg oh yeah, the reality of the medication sit in hand. The frustration irritability was due to the Lamictal. I am now too much after the metal and within two days I was able to walk out my door with no problem. I have not watch the whole video yet, but the medication also has issues with perimenopause and hormones but they’re just now finding out about. Come to find out I’ve been in perimenopause six years already. Thank you
@@stephanieradford8324 i just reread everything. Im so so hsppy u were able to get off and feel better. Im at 200mg from 400mg and my gair isnt fallung out anymore!! Ive been able to decrease 100mg a week due to being on tegretol
