Joined: 17 Feb 2008 Posts: 32 Location: Lynwood, IL
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Off Lamictal for Bipolar Posted: 02-29-08 01:04am
I'm on vacation and I stayed longer than I
expected and ran out of Lamictal...I was
off it for 3 days...I finally took it
again today... I was wonderin if anyone
has gone off it cold turkey like that and
what side effects they had from it...also
if they went back on, how long it took
them to feel somewhat normal again... I'm
feelin so bad like I'm gunna die or
somethin...and everytime I move or get up
I feel real dizzy and my head hurts real
bad...my whole body aches...and its hard
to walk and this comes and goes when I
take advil.. oh yea I'm on 100mg of
Lamictal and 1,500mg of Depakote..if that
matters... If anyone has been in the same
situation and could help that would
great!!
Thanx,
Jen
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noisesnob
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 13 Feb 2008 Posts: 23 Location: ,
did it... but with trileptol.... Posted: 02-29-08 01:39am
I had some effects, but with a different
drug. Trileptol isn't much different from
Lamictal anyways.... Usually it takes a
week for the drug to get completely out of
my system before I start having any
effects. Actually, I went through this a
couple days ago! I have the bad idea to
sometimes stop taking my meds for a little
bit in hopes that maybe I don't need them
anymore! lol, wrong idea for a full time
student! Usually what happens to me is I
get a bad case of what I like to call
"zombie death." I have a really hard time
getting out of bed, falling asleep at
night, focusing, even reading or writing,
and my anxiety reaches phobic proportions.
I even noticed that the thing I used to be
most fearful of -that I enjoyed doing when
stable - which was driving, started
scaring the hell out of me again.
It may be your anxiety about skipping out
on meds that is causing you pain. Stress
is a b****. I don't think 3 days is enough
to clear out your system... but on the
other hand, 100mg sounds like a low dose.
Are you having any psychological
symptoms?
keep us posted
diana
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taprootjld
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 17 Feb 2008 Posts: 32 Location: Lynwood, IL
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Posted: 02-29-08 22:06pm
this does feel like what you said "zombie
death" I'm also having a hard time
focusing and all that...It feels like I
have a really high fever or something...I
get really really cold then really
hot...my whole body hurts like hell!! What
do you mean by psychological symptoms??
And what do you mean phobic proportions??
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antigone
Moderator
Joined: 27 Jan 2008 Posts: 922 Location: IL
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Posted: 03-01-08 21:49pm
Just an FYI for you - these meds fall in
the category of being anticonvulsants. You
should never stop taking them cold turkey.
You need to wean down the dose to come off
of them. You can have rebound seizures as
a result of spontaneously coming off the
medication. Try to keep enough of the
medication on hand. If you do run out you
can go to a pharmacy and buy of few doses
to tide you over till you get home. Most
pharmacists will do this, knowing the
possibilities of the outcome if a patient
does not get their medication. No
judgement here, just concern. Don't want
to preach, just teach. Hugs.
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puzzld
Supporter
Joined: 19 Nov 2007 Posts: 220 Location: gulf coast =), USA
Posted: 03-05-08 13:38pm
i've been through this. i used to come off
cold turkey and flip flop about taking
meds in general. bad idea/action. have to
wean to keep your body from completely
flipping out and your mind. same as above,
no judgement just concern for u.
side note - re: antigone and seizures. one
dr. overdosed me on paxil! and i began
seizing at work and my husband had to rush
me to the emergency room. the neurologist
said that u can overdose your serotonin
levels. i was shocked... had no idea that
could happen. needless to say, i told that
dr. what he did and to f-off.
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CarolDiane
Supporter
Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Posts: 2393
Thanks: 111
Thanked:156
Posted: 03-12-08 16:19pm
Depending on how long you have been on the
Lemictal, you should be alright. As a
matter of fact, I just was at my doctors
office this morning due to the fact I am
breaking out in all blister type sores all
over my hands. Seems since I started
Lemitcal this has happened. She told me if
I see on more blister, I am to go off
Limectal all togerther and she will try me
on depacote. Shame, cause it is really
working for me. But one of the side
effects that could be severe, is a rash.
You might want to consult you doctor as to
whether or not he/she wants you back on it
again.
Carrie
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mole2112
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 13 Mar 2008 Posts: 3 Location: Parts Unknown, NJ usa
Don't do it!! Posted: 03-13-08 19:36pm
We have become "experts" on bp meds. It
is sort of entertaining that we are all in
the same boat. I guess everyone will have
different reactions, but I tried to wein
off a 200mg per day dose down to 100mg per
day. Had severe anxiety, a panic
attack,and was white as a ghost. all this
luckily at home!!! Was colse to being
admitted. Ah- Good times! Flashback from
18 months ago. Went back to the 200mg and
in 2-3 days was back to the ho-hum middle
we all have.
I hope you can do it, just tell the
pdoc/tdoc so they can break your chops as
they did to me.
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CarolDiane
Supporter
Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Posts: 2393
Thanks: 111
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I have to agree here Posted: 03-14-08 00:35am
I am only on 100mg a day for now. Was told
I could go up to 200 if I felt the need.
So far so good. Being on 200mg may need to
ween down. I would consult my doctor first
and get some input. I guess going off
100mg is not as bad because she did not
tell me to ween down, just stop as my
symtoms could be fatal. No more new
blisters, so I guess it was something else
I am allergic too. Good thing, I am doing
so well on it, I would hate to have to go
off.
