How did the wake-up feel for you? I have been on Effexor since 2005 and it started to make me cycle rapidly this summer so I started with a psychiatrist and Topiramate. And I woke-up. I am able to get a whole bunch of thinge done; not everything I need ... but I alot. and it is wonderful.
I went to see the psychiatrist this week and he was worried I was border hypomanic/manic. I told him I was normal-me. This is the hi-energy adult I was when I had my son and was working. THis is the hi-energy adult I was working 30 hours and taking 4 classes at the university.
I do not think the doctors will be upset with you for the medications (so long as you were honest with any and all meds you were taking and why). Your shrink will seem upset, but you know, it will not be with you!!! it will be with the neuro who upset the careful balance he had set-up.... it will be with the situation and the need to add the pain meds ... it will be with the need to set up a new balance.
hi windy, sorry you are in so much pain - that sucks! only thing i can add is lamictal is generally prescribed for bipolar - your 2 doctors need to talk and i had a bad, allergic ? reaction to lamictal - black/gold tongue and throat, coughing, it was horrible. quit after 5 days. good luck with getting what you need - it really is like russian roulette - glad to hear wellbutrin is helping you - i've been on it 5 days in addition to lexapro and i don't like it
You seem to have some valid concerns regarding Lamictal.............have you expressed these concerns to your neurologist? Did your neurologist indicate to you when the initial side effects will disappear so that you can atleast drive your special needs students around without being worried?
Let us know if the tests come back with a particular diagnosis.
I've never taken lamictal for nerve pain, but I do take 400 mg of lamictal for treatment resistant depression. the good news- the dizziness does subside. the bad news, it does cause me problems with sleep and having dreams, so I do take medication to get to the right stages of sleep so that I feel rested (not transition can cause you to be tired all the time). I've been on this medication for about 2 years (my memory is not too good, so bear with me). It has minimal side effects for me compared to other things I take.
I have taken lamictal in combination with other types of anti-depressants though wellbutrin wasn't one of them, so I don't know about that.
Of course, you know to watch for the rash and go to the doctor immediately if you see signs of it!!!!
I saw my neurologist yesterday because my pain in my hands and feet due to my neck and lower back has returned. The pain is over 10 and right now my dr has me on hydromorph but I still have the pain and neuropathy. At least my neurologist listened and has ordered another MRI and EMG tests to see if my body will show something physically as it has been 2003 since I had the last tests.
I am very concerned however that the neurologist has put me on lamictal and he thinks this may help with the nerve pain. I have tried all the other anti convulsants without success. When he recommended gababentin and lyrica it was havoc on my body. When I took it yesterday for the first time I was so woozy and dizzy I had to sleep right away and I slept for 10 hrs. I am having a hard time to wake up and I need to drive later today and go to work tomorrow. I know I have to go thru the side effects, but does anyone have the experience that the dizziness will go away etc....
Also, from July-Oct I think I have been experiencing an manic episode as when I do the online tests it shows that I should be checked for bipolar. I see my shrink next week and I want to ask him and I am very concerned that he will be angry with me because my neurologist prescribed lamictal. However, I am not responsible what med a professional recommends and I just told him my shrink put me on wellbrutrinxl on Oct 9/08 and it was as if I WOKE up. I now am eating/sleeping and using my excel budget daily and having a plan for exercise and following lists. I noticed a difference in a week and now I am taking this bipolar drug. I am wondering if this is necessary, because I also am on zoplicone for sleep again because I wake up in the middle of the night since I took the wellbrutrinxl.
Also if anyone has any experience with lamictal for nerve pain I would be very interested, because when I looked on the internet lamictal was not very promising for nerve pain. The neurologist told me it will be a month until I see an effect. Any comments would be appreciated because I am very scared and hesitant to try this med. I work with special needs students and I drive them and I am afraid the lamictal will make me too drowsy and not alert. Thank you for listenening. Windsy
PS: I could not even go to church for rememberance service as I planned because of the drowsiness. Today I will try to drive to my massage appointment.
