Medication makes me feel detached - why?

[cowgirlnerd]

I just tapered down from Geodon and I'm completely off of it now.  I was feeling panic, anxiety, depression, overall feelings of doom.  My pdoc told me that he thought I was having bad side effects from the Geodon, so now I am off of it.

Right now, I am taking Lamictal 400mg per day (for bipolar 1).  I still feel confused, sedated, and overall just bad.  I feel like I have the flu almost.  This has gone on for months and I can't seem to shake it.  

My pdoc did increase my Lamictal from 300mg to 400mg a few weeks ago when he took me off of Geodon, but I've never had any problems when increasing on it before.

I just feel horrible and don't know if Lamictal could be the remaining reason or what.  Should I feel (and obviously look like) a zombie?

Help, please.

[cowgirlnerd]

The ONLY time I feel stable is about 45 minutes to an hour after I take the Lamictal at night.  When I get up in the morning, I am confused, tired (exhausted), paranoid, racing thoughts, severe anxiety, naseous (I have lost over 50 pounds in six months (a lot because I can't eat during the day).  The loss of appetite is about the same time that I took Geodon.  I'm now off of Geodon.  The symptoms haven't improved.

I really haven't felt well for about a year.  Everytime I talk to him about my problems, he increases my Lamictal.  Six months ago he put me on Geodon because of the racing thoughts.  It didn't help - made it worse (the feelings of paranoia, confusion, and etc.).  

I just want to feel stable.  

[Peter Forster]

This is how I would approach your question if you came to see me:
First I would want to consider what your mood is and how it might be contributing to your current state. It is surprising how often what seems like a medication side effect is actually a manifestation of inadequate treatment of the mood disorder itself. And as you probably know, depression when it is severe is very much a condition that is experienced physically.
Second I would want to think whether your current medications are right. Sometimes with Lamictal I find that getting a blood level can be helpful. Also Geodon and Lamictal is very different from just a higher dose of Lamictal in terms of therapeutic effects - do you need to have a replacement for Geodon?
Third I would look at the time course of your symptoms,  when did you start feeling which symptoms? You have had two changes in medications - what were the effects of those changes.