Feeling better on Lamictal, A Mood Stabilizer
79
Recovery with bipolar illness
Hi everyone. :)
It's been about 9 months since I started Lamictal, a drug for bipolar which helps to stabilize moods, and since I wrote Lamictal-A Wonder Drug For Bipolar, and I have been doing great!
Compared to what my life was like before, Lamictal has helped me to focus better, to be less emotional -when I was overly emotional- and clear my head to such a degree that I feel more alive and notice things like trees and flowers more, and am even able to keep from being so irritable which has been a huge torment for me for years (and others as you can imagine, not fun.) There are numerous effects. Also, Lamictal does not require a blood level every few months like Lithium does. I am still on some Lithium but only half as much combined with Lamictal. Lithium can greatly affect one's kidneys over time and let me just say that things improved in that area as well!
Lamictal is associated with a rare deadly rash. I was worried about this when planning to take it but I told myself, "Why not? The benefits could be sooo amazing [as I'd heard], so taking it is worth that small, small chance of getting a rash." But the chance you develop a deadly rash is very minute like 1 in 1,000 or more. Also if you do get any signs of that rash, you go directly to the ER and you should be okay.
I did get some minor rash for a few months on my breasts, upper arms, and thighs which passed. I knew it was from Lamictal even before I had a biopsy done, but since it was minor and it passed, it was okay.
I find myself improving my relationships with friends and family and again, it has been a lot easier to not be irritable which is part of bipolar. You see with bipolar, one gets mood swings of highs and lows referred to as mania and depression. In my case I was getting very little mania, and instead of getting manic I got really irritable which seemed worse to me. But the combination of Lamictal and my own efforts has really helped me to the point where my relationships have improved which is great. Nothing short of a miracle really...
There is hope
With modern science, miracles can happen. Lives can improve. I'm so grateful for any improvement in my life. I recommend anyone who has bipolar to try Lamictal....
Besides improvents in my relationships, health, mood, and overall being...Lamictal has not given me any significant side effects. I had some minor headaches at first but they went away. Of course, medicine is not the only thing that changes someone. It requires hard work in therapy and personal effort. I am happy to have found Lamictal....it has been out for years now, long before I found out about it. I believe I first read about it in a hub here on hubpages and then I asked my doctor about it, I wish he had suggested it a long time ago.
In my other hub on Lamictal, I go into much further detail about the rash associated with it, and exactly what happened and what the pills look like, so check that one out too. If you have bipolar, you know what a difficult illness it is and that it is life long and requires medicine for the rest of your life. Other medicines such as Lithium cause significant weight gain which Lamictal does not. I have written many other hubs on bipolar if you're interested, feel free to view the list below!
- List Of Celebrities And Other Famous People With Mental Illness. How it affected them and their contribution to society.
There is no discrimation when it comes to becoming mentally ill. It affects all types including celebrities. In fact, some of the most talented people suffered from bipolar- sometimes considered a "creative" illness. Read on and share this page. - 2 years ago
- Pros And Cons of Psych Pills
The point of this article is to not only warn about the side effects that occur with psych prescriptions, but to point out the benefits as well. Mental illness is real and not imagined, and there are many ways to treat it besides pills. Just accept it as real and not imaginary. - 13 months ago
- Poor Diet and Environment Can Cause Mental Illness: Exposing Abuse and Thorazine resulting in Tardive Dyskinesia.
I often wonder "Why do so many people have a diagnosis today?" From doing a bit of research it appears that mental illness or madness has existed since the human race has. Following will be some examples of different time periods and places that... - 6 weeks ago
- The Relationship Between Mental Illness and Creativity
The correlation between mental illness and creativity by the evolutionary process is a very interesting piece of information that explains how mental illness goes hand in hand with high intelligence and creativity. Just read my hub on Famous People... - 5 weeks ago
- What Makes Mental Illness Worse Is The Stigma Attached, Invisible Illness
The stigma surrounding mental illness in general, even the word "mental illness", though it be simply anxiety, or depression, is painful. Let me show you how it feels and how you can help stop the stigma. - 2 years ago
- Psych Meds that cause weight gain: Seroquel causes weight gain
As a person who takes mental health medicines, I feel it's very important to know how these can affect your weight and health. Seroquel in particular causes diabetes, high cholesterol, and massive weight gain. I hope this article helps you to research before you take! - 2 years ago
- Mental Illness and Christianity
MENTAL ILLNESS AND CHRISTIANITY Using God and Spirituality to Help Cope With Mental Illness How to ease mental pain- How to survive I have to have a higher power like in AA or Al anon. There's no way hardly you are going to survive the... - 8 weeks ago
- Experiencing manic depression is an extremely challenging thing
As someone who experiences manic depression or otherwise called "bipolar", I live with a heavy cross. But there are some perks of it, as it involves enhanced creativity, or so I've heard. I used to stay up all night creating all kinds of things. ... - 2 weeks ago
How bad is your bipolar? Please share more details in the comment box below
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There are two types of bipolar disorder, I and II. I is having frequent mood swings during the day and II is less frequent. Catherine Zeta Jones has recently come out with being bipolar and she is a wonderful example of one who is very high functioning!
Bipolar is said to be partially in the genes and triggered by extreme stress. Once it develops there is no cure. This happened to me at age 16, I was suffering from tremendous stress also brought on by an emotionally abusive environment. I hope these vides below help you understand bipolar better. Millions on Americans suffer and 1 in 5 commit suicide, so getting help is very important.
Family support
I also must mention how important it is to get support from family. It's quite an extremely difficult disease to have and then have to worry about disrespect from family and lack of moral support to fight the disease...I know many people whose families are extremely rude to them and many whose families are very helpful. I believe as in things like cancer, it is better overcome with support, don't you agree?
Creativity and Maintaining Stability
It is a fact that many bipolar people are incredibly talented and creative. Just to name a few incredible talents: Jim Carrey, Robin Williams, Catherine Zeta Jones, and important figures like Abraham Lincoln are just a few. I find myself given an amazing creative streak which seems to go hand in hand with bipolar. Also many many bipolar people are very high functioning and bipolar is a higher functioning illness than schzophrenia. It can be treated well.
Catherine Zeta Jones
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Thankyou hon. I felt it would be important to continue writing about it, but as a recovery series. It's sorta depressing to look back on all the bs. now that I"m feeling so much better...I can't complain!
I told my pastor..just last night that (suffering made me feel closer to God cause as in that I asked Him for help more often, and lately I haven't felt so close to God! that I feel I was blessed to have suffered as it made me a good person.....but now Im to focus on other things, like being a patient person, and practicing things I couldnt' before..not sure if that makes sense but I have to look at these things in a positive way!
Thanks again, you have been a comfort and fun friend that I am glad to have!!
Love,
Rosie
Rosie, my name is Barbara Bethard, I write here under rnmsn. I believe there is no such thing as coincidence. My shrink got so pissed off at me this month (Ive been seeing him since my last suicide attempt in fall of 2009) that he blessed me out/said I wasnt trying hard enough/did want to live with the rat in the cage inside my head all my life/did I want to keep hearing the voices and having the mood swings? finally he told me come back in a month "you are a nurse and intelligent, look the psychotropic drugs up and decide for yourself, I am putting it in your hands, you must take responsibility"
needless to say i havent exactly been level headed since then and I have to see him 071711! I think God made me read your hub...I have been resisting lithium for a long time/now I know what I will suggest and it will be Lamictal!
thank you Rosie and God Bless You so very much!
barbara b
Hi,
This was information I never heard of, but glad I did. Thanks
Hi Bri Gee!
Thankyou for commenting and I'm so very glad you gained something from all this. One thing that really inspired me was the video(s) about Catherine Zeta Jones, a very beautiful and talented actress who is such a family woman! I admire her beauty talent AND inner beauty. She was recently diagnosed and it was said because of extreme stress of her husband's illness, his ex wife taking him to court, her step son getting 5 years in jail..talk about stress, and God love her.
This illness is really triggered by stress a great deal and what's good about it, is it's VERY treatable...
Thanks again!
Hi Barbara,
So very glad this helped you, best of luck!
I want to learn more Rosie...keep writing like this..
As writers we are evolving to be, it seems we write for ourselves, and for others..how incredible is that...
keep going girl..I'm jealous and I hate you..ha ha ha
don't tell anyone but i do love you, my dear friend..
bb,
boy! what do I say to that?! You want to learn more about bipolar or me or both?!!! Yes we do write for ourselves for release and for others- opening up ourselves to hopefully help others which has been happening with all my hubs on this subject :)
You're jealous? Of bipolar?! No, I think you mean of my writing..anyway right back at ya....I'll have to check up on you.
I have been on Lamictal along with other drugs for bi-polar disorder for a few years now. I always fear I will be on these drugs for the rest of my life. Everytime I open my medicine cabinet I almost cry because it looks like I have my own pharmacy. A few months ago I was so fed up with taking these medicines that I tried to wean myself off without the help of a doctor. Big mistake. The first to go was Lamictal and I slowly reduced pills every few days. When it was gone I was in Hell. I had the shakes, cold sweats, could barely walk, was throwing up, and it felt like someone had stabbed a knife into my neck. For days I was on bed rest but I wouldn't give in to taking it again. I needed to be off this medication even more than ever because I was furiated with the massive control it had over my body. My husband kept threatening to take me to hospital but I knew all they would do was give me more which would defeat the purpose. After another week I was delirious and couldn't take it anymore. I refilled my prescription and as soon as I had the bottle in my hand I took the amount I usually took. About five minutes later it felt as if the knife had been slowly extracted from my neck and I stopped shaking. Within an hour I was back to normal. My husband and I decided to start to have a family and no way am I going to risk being on any medication. I went to the doctor and he set up a plan to get me off the medication as well as the others. I won't be fully off Lamictal for another 2-2 1/2 months. The feeling of being trapped by this medication is overwhelming.
Hi sj_workman79,
Well!
This is certainly a Very interesting comment you left. Let me start by first saying I hate taking medicines and I know how you feel...I've gained over 100 lbs.....I know very well why you wouldn't want them.
Do you really think you're not bipolar? And..if you are do you think you can live without medicine?
Hmmm....I believe bipolar is real. Unfortunately mental illness is real...Back in the 1930's people were put into aslyums when there was no medicine...it was miserable. Anyways...let's say you have bipolar (if you don't Halleluiah...) ...I know some people, my sister for one, who I believe has bipolar by observing her highs and lows and paranoia, and I really think she could benefit from meds, though she manages to get by...I'm still not quite sure it will work out in the long run.
When I first took Lamictal, I forgot my dose one day...and I had a fit. It was awful. yes, these meds are very strong and powerful.
I would recommend anyone who questions medicine to read up on Dr. peter breggin's books "Toxic Psychiatry" or his latest "Medication Madness" he is a non believer in medicine...and believes in talk therapy, which I agree...but he admits 8% of his patients MUST HAVE medicine...
This is a very controversial topic which can be thoroughly discussed much more. I'm aware of how many believe in the money making pills, etc.
Sometimes, my dear, we have to ACCEPT that we have a life long illness...It's common as it was for me (it happened at least a few times before I realized) common to THINK one doesn't need meds...esp with schzophrincs they don't think they need help and unfortuntately some are forced. Please don't take this the wrong way, this is just exploring all possible options.
PLEASE NOTE EVERYONE WHO IS ON MEDICINE: IT IS NOT I REPEAT NOT SAFE TO STOP TAKING MEDICINE ALTOGETHER. PLEASE WEAN YOURSELF OFF IF YOU PLAN TO STOP. AND YOU NEED TO DO IT VERY VERY SLOWLY WITH A DOCTOR'S HELP OR AS DR. BREGGIN SAYS 10% at a time.......anyways,
So, yes you can get off medicine and that's okay, esp if you want children. But...some people need medincine and that's just the way it is. Most women who are on medicine like Lamictal or Lithium will plan with their doctor to get off it before getting pregnant, and be on little or no meds, which is usually hard and then restart after birth. Very common, you can still have a family if you are willing to do that.
The biggest question is....can you live with a chemical imbalance without any medicine? I got manic when the doctor took me off Lithium...so maybe I (really) have bipolar??
medicine or no medicine I wish you the very best and if you have trouble in the future this MAY be a sign you need meds. Anyways let me know! I'd be interested in how you do!
I haven't finished reading your comment yet but I can already answer the question that yes I am bi-polar. I guess I still have this hope somewhere that it is something I would grow out of even though I know I won't. I know years ago when I was off of medicine for a very short time because of no health insurance I could barely function normally. I did tell my psychatrist that once I'm off to have a baby if things aren't going so well we need to come up with a plan B and once I have a baby I will most likely go back on everything. I dread the day though.
Hello, sj_workman79, :) glad to see you back. It's been a long long journey for me, but it seems sorta like yesterday you know? It's been 19 yrs since I was diagnose (at 16..) and luckily there are better meds out now..many are leading great lives..
I think many people don't regard bipolar like an illness similar to cancer..but it is and it's not curable :(
The best optimistic view though is we can get relief thru meds...luckily Lamictal does not cause weight gain, I've got 100 lbs to lose now from seroquel and lithium.
I went through what you're going thru and it took me awhile to accept...I'm sorry to hear of your pain but I know it all to well. You'll be ok...God bless!!
Hey SGFR-what an awesome job this is. You've such a gift for writing honestly and openly. How easy it would be/has been to sugar coat this med vs. no med controversy. I'm 54 and was diagnosed only 2 years ago. My first reaction was denial, of course, but as I considered my past and present behaviors, my sick eyes began to see-clearly. Thankfully, my dr. prescribed Lamictal-it's worked wonders. My only complaint is that with this drug, as with all bi-polar meds, manic creativity has lessened. But I'd rather be balanced than insanely creative!
My challenge now is to find that inner artist without mental illness.
Thanks so much!
lorlie6, wow! I can't really tell the difference between losing or not losing that "manic creativity" prob cause I got diagnosed so young. But to tell you the truth, just a year ago, when I was writing "Thinking during a manic episode" I was still getting a little manice from time to time and I did have a strong force for writing, but now even though I'm not manic anymore (I don't think I am) I CAN still be creative. But like you said maybe you have to Look for it.
I'm not sure if you were the one who had mentioned Lamictal before, but someone did and that's how I told my doctor. (I don't know why they didn't tell me a long time ago...)
Thanks for visiting and commenting. Your testimony will help others too...who need to know that it's important to get to the point where you realize you (need) meds.
Thanks!
I think it was me, who knows? But you go, girl, I love what you're up to, educating those who need it. Love you, hon!
Thankyou lorlie6, we are sisters in many ways, and it probably was you, and so I thankyou heartily..this has changed my life greatly!
Love you too. Keep up the good work!
Actually the combination of Effexor and Lamictal does it for me-though most people I know STILL think I'm a nutcase! ;)
I have not tried Effexor...but not all bipolar people are alike anyways, so whatever works, though I'll mention it sometime,
Yeah people WILL still think anyone's a nutcase, no matter how well they are doing, or if they work full time, etc, once you tell them...though not all. It's the stigma attached. People think I'm a nutcase, (not all) too...but aren't we all. I feel if I have neighbors who are snotty and think I'm a nutcase, I might as well enjoy myself and be nutty than to hide , because they'll think that way anyways. And I'm sure many who read these articles think so too!!! Ha ha ha
Have you ever tried Lexapro? When I started on it it worked wonders and I became this social butterfly. After a year it did nothing almost as if I wore it out.
Hi sj!
No I haven't tried Lexapro, is it new? The new ones seem to work well...and have fewer side effects. I wouldn't recommend abilify, or geodone, they made me feel like the energizer bunny in a bad way! lol I would love to be a social butterfly!! I'll have to mention that one too. But right now I think my " cocktail mix" is doing well...:)
Hi! I enjoyed reading your Hub. I have been on Lithium (manic-depressive) for 25 years and doing well. Angie
Hey there angie
nice to see you again, I promise to stop by as soon as I finish this comment. ;)
I had several side effects on Lithium, shaky hands, mulitple cavaties due to dry mouth (and terrible thirst) etc. I recommend lamictal. It gives me no problem and helps alot. just beware of the rash.
Very glad you are doing well though, that is wonderful if that is working for you!
SGFR-"Normies" actually bore the h*ll out of me, so let's hear it for us nut cases!!!!
Always,
Laurel
Hey lorlie,
I totally agree LOL. There's something about 'wacky' people I like, Jim Carrey for example who is bipolar, they can be funny, creative and interesting and really bright all at the same time!
I just try to avoid the 'nuts' who really are nuts in trying to manipulate me or put their negativity on me, I don't need it.
Good to see you! Are we facebook pals? I can't keep track. Would like to be. :)
I didn't know JC was Bi-Polar! Interesting...
I think we may have been FB pals, SGFR, but my danged account was diabled last November. I know I haven't broken any rules, but they won't even write to me any longer! Weird. I really do miss the site, and it is quite strange to have such a thing 'taken away' from you!
Anyhow, if I ever get back on FB, I'll find you-is your name 'SGFR', or your real name?
Take good care!
I have an account called Blondy OnHubpages. Here's the link: https://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100002166637240
I understand, I don't like to spend too much time online, it prevents me from napping, taking walks, and enjoying my pet rabbit!!
The problem is, sgfr, that I can't log in AT ALL! So I can't see your profile, or anyone else's! I think I'll go search my email to see if anything's come from them.
I go in Internet spurts-sometimes I love it, sometimes, it bugs the sh*t out of me, so I stay off the thing for weeks at a time.
I used to have a pet rabbit, too...
Very cool!
Nice!
He had the Hawaiian name, Kolohe, meaning 'hope'. He was soooo fat, his pudge would fall of the sides of my hands. But, what a doll he was!
LOL! cool. I named mine after my cat Lenny who is no longer with us. Even though it's a female rabbit :) "Lenny" it is! I let her run around a bit earlier. Have to watch her, she likes to chew the carpet! ha. Going to get a nice big cage asap.
Hi to Lenny, then!
PS: Are you on Twitter? Just figured out how to use the thing, I think!!!
L,
L
I joined and then quit and now I'm "Overcome Bipolar"
;);)
I just found out from researching my new hub, that mental illness is hugely hand in hand with high intelligence and creativity and it said in Wikipedia, that through the evolutionary process , it was necessary for the brain to have these 'disorders' to sort of make it self more 'intelligent' if that makes sense to you.
I um...seem to notice that all or most genius inventors, actors, comedians, writers, artists, including nobel prize winner John Nash, Abraham Lincoln, Axl Rose, etc etc had/have mental illness like depression, bipolar, etc. It's very treatable......
Maybe Not (ALL) but the LIST goes on and on.
bbnix Level 5 Commenter 11 months ago
I'm so happy to you see you winning such a terrible war..
Hang in there sweetie...we're here for you...
You're doing wonderfully, I can see much improvement in so many ways..
Much love,
bb