Heres An Odd Question--please Help

[NIKI209]

I'VE JUST RECENTLY STARTED TAKING LAMICTAL BECAUSE I NEED TREATMENT FOR BEING BI-POLAR. IS IT NORMAL TO FEEL LIKE I'M ON SPEED?:eek: I'VE BEEN TAKING IT FOR ABOUT A MONTH NOW ALONG WITH ZOLOFT.... DOES THIS FEELING GO AWAY AFTER A WHILE OR SHOULD I TELL MY DOCTOR ABOUT IT?:confused:

[Serengeti]

Hi Niki,

I had no such feelings. I was on the same combo.

Infact when I miss a couple of doses it feels like I am on speed - which I am told is the mania caused by ADs uncontrolled by a Mood Stabilizer.

What kind of dosages are you on?

Love

[NIKI209]

I Started Taking One 25mg Of Lamictal For The First 2 Weeks Now I'm Taking Two Of Them Along With One 50mg Of Zoloft. I Take Them Both In The Morning Around 10:00. I Havent Missed A Day Of Taking Them. Do You Think It Maybe Triggering My Manic?

[Serengeti]

Not likely. 'suppossed to be doing the opposite. And the doses are very low. I don't know ...
Have you spoken to your PDOC?

[NIKI209]

No... I Havent Talked To Anyone About It. I Figured It Might Just Go Away, But It Hasnt. I Get In My Own Little World, My Heart Starts Racing, I Can't Sit Still, Have Trouble Sleeping, And Sometimes Can't Eat. Totally Feels Just Like Speed! Do You Think I Should Quit Taking It Until I Talk To My Doc?

[Mari]

Dear Niki,
Call the pdoc first thing in the morning.
This is not supposed to happen. Apparently, you don't need both meds.
Mari

[bizi]

I take lamictal at night...I agree you should call youdoc in the mornig.
bizi

[NIKI209]

Ok Thanks For The Advice Ya'll!! I'll Do It First Thing In The Morning. I Wish I Hadn't Of Waited This Long To Do It. I Guess Thats Normal Not To Know When You First Start Taking Them Though.

[waves]

Hello Niki, and welcome.

I don't know how long you've been on the Zoloft, but even at a low dose it can trigger manic switch. that can happen even if you have been on it a while.

the Lamictal is unlikely to do so, but there is a very small possibility (rare), so that is not to be discounted, nor as Mari says, is the combination.

Normally i should add, Bipolar Disorder pharmacotherapy includes a Mood Stabilizer as well as an Antidepressant. Most mood stabilizers serve more anti-manic agents. Conversely, Lamictal has recently been shown to be most useful as an anti-depressive agent and to lengthen time between episodes, but not statistically useful for mania.

so, the short of the long of it is, it sounds to me like you're taking a strong upper and no downers, so to speak.

Definitely, definitely talk to your pdoc; push for an appointment ASAP and ask what to do in between if he can't see you within a day or 2.

Tell him about the speediness and any other changes you may have noticed - increased speech, racing and/or disorganized thoughts, less/lack sleep, appetite, impulsive shopping, cravings, euphoria. also if you have any physical disturbances, report those too. several things can be associated with mood symptoms.

If he doesn't change your meds, get another opinion. Seriously.

Check in with us, let us know how it goes. hang in there. try to behave.

~ waves ~

[waves]

If you have recently taken a triptan, such as Imitrex, please be seen immediately.

by pdoc, neuro, or gp - a doctor.

That could do it. There are no specific studies with triptans plus SSRI's, nor with a Bipolar population which is even more at risk. But these two types of meds (Zoloft - SSRI, and Imitrex - triptan) affect the same neurotransmitter (Serotonin), in a way that can greatly potentiate its activity, with potentially ugly consequences.

If you have taken a triptan please be seen immediately.

[NIKI209]

i think i need to see a different doc. the earliest date i can get is in the middle of january.AAHHH!!! i'll be a nervous wreck by then

[bizi]

I agree!
yes you need to be seen sooner than this.
call again or go to a walk in clinic if you have one where you live.
Hang in there.....
bizi

[bizi]

bump for cooling...
I had to go off of trileptal..same thing...only I had the side effect of low sodim levels...hyponatimia...now am on lamictal.
I really like it.
The is a very small risk of this rash and that is why it is titrated upslowly.
You should be fine.
bizi