Lamacital stomach issues

[cowgirlnerd]

I have been treated for depression for the last 20+ years.  Recently, I received an "NO KIDDING" diagnosis from my new Pdoc.  I was relieived to be FINALLY diagnosed with bi-polar - even though that sounds weird.  The anti-depressants kept me UP UP UP so when I crashed, it was a hellish down down down.  Not to mention that another doctor diagnosed me previous to this doctor as ADD, so I was on Adderall XR 20 mg and Cymbalta 60 mg.  My Pdoc told me that it was a horrible combo for me - and progressively took me off of Cymbalta (withdrawals sucked big time) and put me on a progressively increasing Lamactical dose.  I went from 12.5 to 25 to 50 and now I am getting to the 100mg stage.  

My issue is that I have had bouts with nausia, diarhea, and bad headaches.  It does seem to be "leveling" me out - but the stomach things are horrible.  I guess on the up side- I will be losing weight, rather than gain the weight that others on Lithium have talked about.

Is this stomach issue a short term thing while the drug is increasing, or is it a from now on thing?

Thanks.

[jypseygal]

I was diagnosed with a chemical imbalance 6 years ago after the birth of my first child. My husband left me when he was 5 months old and I had a nervous breakdown and diagnosed with post pardum depression later being changed to bi polar with an orientation to the very nigh manic side. I have been on many medications and am now presently on 160 mg of Geodon at night, 100 mg of Lamitical twice a day and 1 mg of klonapam at night with 1/2 during the day for anxiety as needed. I have been fighting rapid cycling mania for 6 months with meds being increased trying to stablilize me and bring me down. I am better at the moment but any negative event can trigger a rapid deteriation of my condition. I am very weary and frustrated, I am sleeping and taking my meds, has anyone else experienced this situation and been on this med cocktail. I often feel more manic, rapid speech and hostility after taking my meds.

[RubyShooz]

Before I started on the Lamictal -- I was on Depakote and Seroquel and that made me sleepy all the time.  I would sleep up to 12 hrs. a night and still be tired throughout the day.  During that time I was also bored out of my mind and I was AFRAID to get out of bed in the morning because I feared another long, boring day ahead of me and I could not think of anything to do.

When I got off that stuff and started the Lamictal and Lexapro, at first I was not able to sleep at all -- It got so bad I was really AFRAID to go to bed at night because I knew I would be tossing and turning all night long.

What a mess I was -- first afraid to wake up and then afraid to go to sleep.

But after several weeks on the Lamictal and Lexapro I am now sleeping normally, about 7-8 hrs. a night which is good for me -- without the fatigue during the day.  And I am able to keep myself busy during the day (I am retired) just doing little stuff around the house and visiting the library, the senior center, the mall, the YMCA and stuff like that.

You may need something in addition to the Lamictal to help you sleep better -- the Lexapro seems to do the trick for me.  Ask your doctor about it.  My doc told me the insomnia would go away as soon as the Lexapro kicked in and calmed me down, and he was right about that.

Best of luck to you!

[cowgirlnerd]

Thank you so much.  I have days when my stomach isn't that bad, but when it's bad, all I can do is try to keep something down to throw up.  OR, the other way... (sorry).  

I am also having BIZARRE nightmares since changing, but think it might be from the last few weeks of coming off of Cymbalta (after 7 years).  

I will just be so happy to have my stomach back to normal, and feel better.  I mentally feel better, I think, and hope that when the stomach thing goes away, I will be able to get out and walk, etc., to get the final poundage off!  

Did/do you have insomnia issues?  I get scared when I don't sleep because on my manic side, I have stayed up for 3 days.  It's more like I sleep in 2 hour intervals (not just because of Lamactical - have for years.  

Thanks again!  

[RubyShooz]

I worked my way up to 200mg of Lamictal a day -- and the bad stomach cramps and nausea lasted about two weeks.  I was in tears some nights, doubled over with stomach pains and lots of gas -- my normal "anti gas" meds (Pepcid, Rolaids, etc) did nothing to help and I just had to suffer through it for those 2 weeks until the side effects passed.

After that, I have had no further problems with the Lamictal and it does seem to be helping control my bp mood swings.  I take it with 20mg Lexapro and am also losing the 30 lbs. I put on with Seroquel/Depakote last winter.