Lamictal?

[ILoVeNY25]

Hi Guys,

I wanted to know if anyone has been on Lamictal, it's an anti-siezure medication but it is being tested for phsychiatric conditions like bipolar, mood swings, manic depression. My psychiatrist prescribed it to me but I have yet to have it filled. My boyfriend is a pharmacist and doesn't suggest I take it, Let's say he really, really disagrees. I am currently on a anti-depression, Wellbutrin and she wants me to try the combination of Wellbutrin and Lamictal. If anyone has any info, It would be greatly appreciated and I would love to hear from Mr. Lodwick on this. Thanks everyone, Take care!!

 

[hensylee]

Hey Young'un - you be careful with this psychiatric stuff, hear? Go and read your boyfriend's PDR and read every word on this medication - and any other medicine you are taking. While my brother has been ill I have explored every single medicine he takes - after damage was done, much to my sorrow. So, my dear, you read it for yourself before you make this decision. It can be very important to you and to those who hold you as precious - like us. God bless

 

[Ross]

Nicole check your email for the PDF file on that stuff. It sounds very dangerous to me. As Ann suggested, watch like a hawk. Sometimes the things they say will help you, screw you up even worse.

 

[LUVMyBirman]

Hi Nicole,

I don't have any experience with this medication. As Ross stated, it's sounds dangerous. Remember one thing. Your in charge. Doctors at times may not always know 'what is best'. And, at that safe for you.

Post op they tried to put me on something like Prozac for depression. After reading the side effects......it was amazing how quickly...... on my own I 'got over it'. Beleive me, depression can be a real issue. But, I don't feel medicaion is always the soluiton.

Take care....

 

[Christina]

Hey Nicole,

Please read the site below. Most of the Anti-Depression medications have many side effects and you should read up on those.
About 7 years ago my daughter Michelle was diagnosed as being Bi-Polar/Manic Depressive, and was put on all kinds of different Anti-Depression medications during those years. Nothing really worked, but every month it seemed they tried something different. Being on those meds didn't make her feel better, I think it made her feel worse. She became sluggish and all she wanted to do was sleep. I don't want to go into all the things that happened, but let me just say that she really screwed up many things in life that she's sorry about now.
This past summer she decided on her own that she was done with taking all those mind altering drugs (because that's what they are) and took the decision that she really wasn't bi-polar afterall. After she decided this and not to take the drugs anylonger, she's been doing a 100% better and things get
better all the time. Her moods are 100% better, and she's much nicer to have around. I can't believe it when I see her. She's losing the weight she gained (most of those meds will make you gain weight) and for the first time in years feels pretty again. She's making new friends, got a new job and loves it. That sounds like music in my ears and hasn't happened in years. I know because I am her mother.
I've got my daughter back!

Here is the site.
http://www.psycom.net/depression.central.lamotrigine.html

Hope you decide not to take anything. You are better off without. Everybody gets depressed at times, that is just part of life. Life is up and down, at least this is how it has been for me. If a depression takes longer than three weeks I would go and TALK with a good friend. We women need women friends to talk with. Men don't understand that talking stuff, so don't even try. They are from Mars and we are from Venus. Remember? BTW, the book "Men are from Mars and Women from Venus" is excellent! Was a real eye opener for me.

Take care,

Christina
AVR's 8/7/00 & 8/18/00
Tucson, AZ

 

[Nancy]

Nicole-

It sounds from what you have said that they are "testing" this drug for conditions other than what the original use was for. You be very careful.

You are not in a medically normal condition with your serious heart problems and will have to be careful of any medication which is in some kind of testing phase.

Maybe you should run it by your cardiologist and your PCP. Different medical disciplines are wonderful in their own fields, but are sometimes "all at sea" when venturing too far away. Your cardiologist will know your heart the best.

Joe has many specialists and we find that it's a tough balancing act. I try to get them all to talk together, but that's hard. They are all so busy, but I did manage to get a couple of them to communicate with each other.

 

[Granbonny]

Go with your Boyfriend's advice

Go with your Boyfriend's advice

He is a Pharmacist and know medicine and YOU more than we do..We love you and will be here to support you..but we are not trained Medical people. Just Dr. Marty and Al.....Always remember if you need to chat..a lot of us have our E-mail available under User's name... Bonnie

 

[hensylee]

Sometimes ya'll see me saying be very careful about your psychiatrist/psychologist. After reading the link that Christina posted about this drug, I again say be careful about your therapist. They are in the business of rxing these sorts of drugs and sometimes the drug is just plain BAD. And sometimes when they feel they are helping, by rxing some of these drugs, they are doing harm. Many of the drugs are wonderful and do the job, but as Christina says, they can be harmful. As Matrx can tell you "first, do no harm".

 

[sylviayasgur]

hi nicole!
how about another spin on things.... i am definitely pro meds when they are effective. i have a brother who is very depressed and is a former drug addict. without meds to help him, i don't think he can manage. they have truly been a life saving component. i cannot tell you how fortunate we are to still have him around and functioning amazingly (he has a job, a girlfriend and a life)_ i never thought he would get here and missed him for many years (emotionally speaking).

that aside, did you know that wellbutrin is also known to cause seizures in many people? i know several people who take it and do just fine. i would run this new med past several folks who have much experience with it (administering it and maybe know some who take it).
please remember that drug companies have to note all these warnings as a safety, fda precaution (to avoid lawsuits). sometimes it is the drugs that are/ seem the most frightening that can be the most effective.
case in point, amiodarone. any drug, when monitored closely, and in the right hands can be great.

please don't dismiss this so quickly. if you prefer, however, maybe ask your doc for an alternative.
remember, you have to be comfortable with it.
wishing you all the best. please let us know what happens.
stay well, sylvia

 

[ILoVeNY25]

Hi All,

Thanks for your responses, and Ross I did get the e-mail and will look over it...32 pages, Might be my project for tonight. I still have not taken the prescription out of my wallet. My boyfriend has all the printed information on side-effects and so on. We have to go over it either today or tomorrow.
I'm pro-meds when it comes to depression, I've been seeing a psychiatrist who knows my medical background and takes coumadin herself. I've been on Prozac, Xanax and now the Wellbutrin. I feel it really does help me. I have not had any side effects from any of the meds.
I will have my psychiatrist call my cardio, and discuss it with her, I'm in the middle of changing cardiologists at the moment to have someone closer to home. I have an appt. on Dec. 2nd.
Well Thanks again everyone. I'll let you know how it all goes. Take care!

 

[Ross]

Sorry the PDF is so long, but it comes right from their site. I read a few pages here and there which is where I get the danger warning from. Just don't want something happening to you due to medications. They put me on Paxil and when I saw how addicting it can be, I promptly put the things away and refuse to take them. They had the idea that I'm having a panic disorder as well as anxiety attacks. (This was while I was in the hospital, of course) That all came about one night when they were once again short handed and I dropped the nurse call button on accident, then trying to reach for it, pulled the dang oxygen line off the wall. My sats started dropping like mad and I couldn't breath. All I could do to get anyones attention was to start throwing things out of the room in hopes someone would come to check and see what was wrong. It took almost 7 minutes to get someones attention. So I got labeled and medicated for panic/anxiety. Gee, I wonder why?

Sorry, I had to tell you my story because it still makes me mad to this minute.

 

[Nancy]

Makes me mad too, Ross. 7 minutes while you were not able to breath. Those stupid people. It's just not right, not right at all. I hope you had their names so you could report them to the nursing supervisors. Your monitor sounds must have gone off like mad. Were they deaf?

 

[Ross]

Were they deaf?

I truly don't think anyone was around! I threw practically every item I could get my hands on and then proceeded to start pulling off electrodes in hopes maybe they thought I'd coded. Since this happened, I got a sign and sent them a copy of it. Here it is: