Bipolar Disorder Forum - Increasing bipolar meds?

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Q: Increasing bipolar meds?

asked by: soucie on October 10th, 2008

Experienced User

So here I am... 5 weeks on meds and over last few days I'm starting to wonder if it is time for me to increase them. I saw my pdoc 1.5 weeks ago and said all was good and we agreed to keep me at my current intro dosage for the moment. But she indicated that if I felt the need to increase to give her a call.

How does one know when or if an increase is needed? I'm starting to feel like I've built up a bit of a tolerance to the meds; like some of the old tendencies are creeping back in a little bit... Not extreme, but just enough for me to notice it.

Thoughts?

Replies(5)

MandMs

replied on October 10th, 2008

Extremely eHealthy

Usually, the full effect is experienced after several weeks of using LAMICTAL.
Although it may not remove initial mania or depression feelings, Lamictal will prevent the episodes from occurring.
If you feel like your mood is changing and taking bipolar pattern, call your doctor for increasing the dosage.
The drug must be started at a low dose and increased slowly for up to seven weeks (increasing your Lamictal dose faster than recommended, or taking more Lamictal than recommended) can increase your risk of Lamictal side effects.

soucie

replied on October 15th, 2008

Experienced User

It's been three days of the increased dosage and I've been feeling naseaus every day. Since being on Lacmital, I've noticed blurry vision. And I notice that when I am "due" for my meds, I get a headache that usually goes away after I get the meds into my system.

Perhaps those will lessen with time?

puzzld

replied on October 16th, 2008

Supporter

hey soucie!

yeah... those side effects should decrease with time. you have to give it several weeks. it sucks... i know. talk to your doctor if they become worse over time. i had to try several meds before i found the right cocktail. good luck and hang in there Wink

puzzld

MandMs

replied on October 20th, 2008

Extremely eHealthy

Up to 25% of people taking Lamictal have experienced nausea and blurred vision as a common side effects.
Headaches are in this group, too.
These side effects are dose-related.

unspokenwordsx8

replied on July 13th, 2009

New User

I have been having the same effects with Lamictal. I was put on Seroquel XR to help with my sleep pattern and once again I find myself staying up for days. I'm not sure if its a tolerance to my meds or if it is possible to continually be tolerant to meds after a while. I don't want to keep sounding like I just want more and more meds from my doc. What should I do?

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