Bipolar Support Group

I am currently on 900 mg Lithium as my mood stabilizer. I have read the average dose is 900-1200 mg. I've been on 1200 mg and I felt like a zombie. In addition to this I'm on 50 mg of serequel, 30 mg of citalopram and 300 mg of Wellbutrin XL.

The reason I'm thinking of Lamictal is I have read it has more of an anti-depressant quality to it than Lithium. I have suffered a major depression now 1 and a half months apart.

My Psychiatrist had already asked me if I thought I needed a med changed, but I didn't want to at the time because I was tired of the side effects. Now I'm re-thinking it and wanting to look at my options and would appreciate it if people could share their experience good or bad with Lamictal. Thanks. Beth

You can add Lamictal (Lamotrogine) to your Lithium. You don't have to go off of your Lithium. Then maybe all your symptoms+the depression will subside. Lamictal also helps with anxiety. I added Lamictal onto a whole host of other medications. It helped my depression and is also helping with the generalized anxiety that I often feel. You have to go up on this medication very slowly. I felt nauseated at times, but it went away after I was on it a few weeks.

Post edited by: beentheredonethat, at: 12/15/2009 06:30 PM

I have been on Lamictal for almost 2 years( minus a couple months where I went off all meds on my own). I haven't had any problems with it. keeps me pretty level day to day.

Alyssa, beentheredonethat, thank-you. Beth

Post edited by: Fierosmom, at: 12/15/2009 06:32 PM

I have been on Lamictal for over 4 years now. My first pdoc put me on it for bipolar depression, telling me it was not good for preventing mania and he was right about that. I have to take Abilify for that. I now take 400 mg Lamictal daily and it seems to help with the depression side of bipolar, though not enough as I also take Wellbutrin. If it's stabilizing my moods, it needs the help of the other meds I take, which are listed in my signature. Overall, it works fairly well and I know there are others here who swear by it.

Thanks Uppity is there a weight issue with that one or does it just depend? Beth

It worked really well for me for a couple of years, but when I switched to the generic version in the US I got the rash and had to discontinue it.

btw, I never gained weight because of it, and I was able to lose Seroquel weight while on it.

Post edited by: bagofcandy, at: 12/15/2009 06:39 PM

There were no weight issues for me with respect to Lamictal. At first, there was a need to eat more, but that went away after two weeks. I have weighed 190 pounds all the time I've been taking it (good weight for a 45 yo man, 6'2"). I've been taking it for two years.

It's been neutral weight gain/loss on Lamictal. Had problems with other meds I've taken, but not with Lamictal.

Lamictal made me lose the seroquel weight. I love lamictal. It is my miracle drug.