Lamictal~A Wonder Drug For Bipolar

This hub was written to share experiences with others medication wise. I was on lithium which is a very difficult drug for many years. When I found this one, It made great strides in my recovery and now I'm on Depakote which works even better. But here is what I wrote, at the time about Lamictal, in case you are trying it, and want to know a bit about it!

I've been feeling alot better lately than I have in years. I've been on Lamictal about 2 months and I already feel that:

• It's much easier and more natural to socialize
• I feel more relaxed and more easygoing
• i have more patience
• less angry
• my view of the world is much clearer and I enjoy life better

I am so grateful. You have no idea how much pain and torment I've been through, unless you've been reading my hubs! I tried and tried, before I even got on Lamictal to get my doctor to help me. I not only had terrible autophobia or fear of being alone in my apt for the longest time, ending up in a respite 4-5 times and then voluntarily the hospital, in which they did nothing to adjust my anxiety medication.

I was asking my doctor to help. It took a long time before he finally agreed to try me on Lamictal. It had been out for more than a few years, so I wondered why I hadn't heard of it before.

I wasn't going to share this with anyone right away because I wanted to succeed greatly first, and really be able to give you some real proof, but I felt I'd like to help people right away and I was excited and wanted to speak of it because I believe there's been a good change in me and this will explain why....

I can't tell you how happy and blessed I feel to feel so much better. I am so looking forward to the future and what it will bring with God's plans for me :-)

Some facts about Lamictal

Lamictal can be used to treat Bipolar. But first, you need to be on Lithium or another mood stabilizer first, for Lamictal works best when your moods are already stabilized. Basically it can't stabilize your moods, but it helps much better once your moods are stable. It will then increase your mood stability. Also Lamictal doesn't require monthly blood tests like Lithium. Lithium can cause kidney dialisis, I met a woman who just escaped it, it causes dry mouth and tremors in the hands. So Lamictal is much better.

LAMICTAL RASH

Lamitical is also used to control seizures. In a small number of people, LAMICTAL causes a serious skin rash. In these cases, the person must be treated at a hospital; rarely, deaths have been reported. Serious skin rashes are most likely to occur within the first 8 weeks of treatment with LAMICTAL, although people taking LAMICTAL for several months have also been affected.

Doctors start patients on lamictal at a dose of 25mg for 2wks, 50mg for 2wks, then 100mg for 2wks. Then 150mg. As for the serious life threatning rash that may occur but is extremely rare, Thankfully I did not get that. The doctor will tell you to be very aware, that it is likely to happen on your chest/arms area in the beginning, like 1st week, of taking Lamictal. There are no other side effects I've had except headaches occassionally in the beginning and I still feel a bit tired in the mornings after taking it. To be honest, I was afraid of the rash, because my doctor said "I've never had it happen, it occurs in very small amounts and if you get the rash go immediately to the hospital- he said they will be able to help you although in very very rare cases you could die.

Of course I couldn't decide right then and there, so I went to the library and looked it up. I was actually upset at my doctor for not explaining it better. After I looked it up, I calmed down and went back to my doctor and said "Yes! I want to try it, please give me the prescription".

You need to be on birth control if you are female because the medicine is so strong it would hurt the baby. Also if you're a male taking Lamictal, you should use protection.

I highly recommend Lamictal to anyone who has bipolar.