lamictal ON / OFF phenomenon

[adel_ezz]

i am BP1 supposedly, perhaps 2 i don't know could be non-specified too.

The problem is that i was always on antipsychotics once diagnosed 2 years ago, but never on a proper mood stabilizer. A month ago i got fed up and my pdoc started me on an infantile dose of 2mg then 4 of lamictal etc...gradually to avoid side effects, e.g rashes, etc... since i was in the depressed phase already it was assumed not to help immediately so i intervened with seroxat/paxil an AD until my lamictal kicks in.

Unfortunately, i had to cut lamictal completely because something akward happened. my brain voltage was on and off i.e. my eyes seems to shut down so i get up jump a little on and off a process which repeats itself (funny the same happened to a lady in the forum here describing the same phenomena). so i am now on seroxat only for about a month 20mg along with my AP: seroquel, risperidone, stelazin in small doses. Today i started the anxiety, irritability so i gather it's the seroxat, i saw my pdoc he said to cut it to 10mg and to keep lamictal stand by.

My question, perhaps i am not in good terms with the lamictal or the mood stabilizers in general because once tegretol brought me serious headaches. My father said perhaps i am not BP (always in denial, however all my pdocs said i am) because had i been one then i should have got along with the mood stabilizers. Anyhow, does lamictal bring this ? or in general most MS ? i am afraid i am not left with other MS except lithioum and valporate which i despise the name, what about topamax? what about gabapentin (the missing link) gaba is important to BP but no one discusses it in forum brand name neurontin.

now is this on and off process familiar, next is it dangerous?. What is it excatly ?

i also know that anxiety is building up so i used an extra benzo today and it calmed me down. I had hopes on seroxat, yet SSRI in general are hazardous bringing cycling and mixed states if not covered by MS. So i can't rely on my seroxat for good i suppose

please feedback for those experiencing this on/off phenomenon
thanks
ezz

[opus88]

goodmorning ezz, just reading your post I am sorry I can't be of any help with your questions on MS and phenomenon ur experiencing.
However I do have a question for u abt the neurontin and its use as a stabilizer. I had never heard this before. I have taken this drug for along time for 'neuropathic nerve pain' but I would be interested to know more abt this referral of 'missing link'
thx

[ILADVOCATE]

I've never heard of Lamictal doing that. Sounds more like its from the Prozac. Please only make decisions in consultation with your psychiatrist but they have you on a fair amount of medications and they should consider titrating you off some as they raise others (generally one antipsychotic at a working dose is more effective and safer than 3 at a subclinical dose) but as Lamictal takes a long time to build up to a proper blood level that may take a while. SSRI's can bring on mania in a person with bipolar. Lamictal does have a strong anti-depressent effect but is a full mood stabilizer. Speak to them about all this.

[adel_ezz]

I was on lamictal 2mg infantile with no problem. i added seroxat 10mg no problem then i upped my lamictal to 4mg this on/off appeared. so it could be the interactivity of lamictal and seroxat. But in a different forum there was someone who takes both.

now i remember, i was on 2mg lamictal then once i added seroxat it happened

No i didn't post this question to IL, i am embarassed to bother him continuously. I just wish to know what was that. Parkinsonism is different my father has it like your fingers shake a bit when against a table say. But this is like switching off the light then turning it on. It's like the circuit is closed then openned. you got it. it's like voltage cut-off

you made me curious, i reread now the pamphlet of seroxat. it says it interacts with all mood stabilizers, e.g. lithium, valporate. It doesn't say lamictal but it can i suppose.

anyhow, WHAT is this phenomenon, is it serious, dangerous, alarming, or nothing to worry about

[Twelvesgirl]

I've only heard of the on/off phenomenon in Parkinson's. I have read papers on the simalarities between bipolar and Parkinsons in the way of rapid cycling in BP and treatment of Parkinsons (on-off phenomenon: a state in the treatment of Parkinson disease by l-dopa, in which there is a rapid fluctuation of akinetic (off) and choreoathetotic (on) movements from Drugs.com). When taking more than one or two or even three different meds it may be hard to tell which one of them is the culprit of the symptom. From your posts it seems that you have been on Lamictal for awhile, adverse symptoms usually appear right away. I am on 400mg/day of Lamictal, I have no side effects. I started on 200mg/day without any side effects.

Anyway, I'm sure you posted this for ILADVOCATE, so I'll stop! He is very knowledgeable, and may know about this.