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FluffyDinosaur
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Default Jul 14, 2020 at 01:38 AM
  #1
Just wondering if anyone else experiences this. Apparently it can be a rare side effect of lithium. Basically what happens is I try to look at something and then my eyes start flitting back and forth very rapidly. This continues for a few seconds during which I can't see. It happens a few times a day (but of course not when Pdoc tries to test for it). Does anyone have any knowledge as to whether this is permanent even after going off lithium?
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Default Jul 14, 2020 at 04:33 AM
  #2
Ohhh. I took Lithium for 1 year, however, į didnt notice Any improvent and changed to Lamictal.

Į got nystagmus from flupentixol. But it was severe. I had constantly for 3 days. Į quit immediately. However, my vision was good, just Į was dizzy and notice nystagmus by looking into mirrior.

IT depends, I woudnt choose such med, its really scary and uncomfortable. Į totally get you.

If your pdoc is not doing anything, and I understand that he thinks you're making things up. Maybe new pdoc would pay attention to your complaints. We have right to discuss about medication, to refuse it, and get proper treatment
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Default Jul 14, 2020 at 05:05 AM
  #3
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Originally Posted by signs View Post
Ohhh. I took Lithium for 1 year, however, į didnt notice Any improvent and changed to Lamictal.

Į got nystagmus from flupentixol. But it was severe. I had constantly for 3 days. Į quit immediately. However, my vision was good, just Į was dizzy and notice nystagmus by looking into mirrior.

IT depends, I woudnt choose such med, its really scary and uncomfortable. Į totally get you.

If your pdoc is not doing anything, and I understand that he thinks you're making things up. Maybe new pdoc would pay attention to your complaints. We have right to discuss about medication, to refuse it, and get proper treatment

Thank you, yes, I'm also trying to get off lithium in favor of Lamictal. I do hope the side effects won't linger after I'm off the lithium. Did your nystagmus go away completely after you stopped flupentixol?
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Default Jul 14, 2020 at 10:02 AM
  #4
Yess it stopped after few days, į guess until it eliminated from my body.

There are better treatment options for you, please dont choose a way that wont satisfy you :/
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Default Jul 15, 2020 at 05:08 AM
  #5
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Yess it stopped after few days, į guess until it eliminated from my body.

There are better treatment options for you, please dont choose a way that wont satisfy you :/

Thank you, that's reassuring to know. And don't worry, I'll keep on looking for the best treatment options!
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Default Jul 15, 2020 at 07:29 AM
  #6
No need to say thanks! be sure to try lamictal. Į take 300mg. No side effects at all. Just frustrating to up dose for 2 months. Į call lamictal a stimulant, like good 3 cups of Coffee 😀
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Default Jul 15, 2020 at 08:15 AM
  #7
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No need to say thanks! be sure to try lamictal. Į take 300mg. No side effects at all. Just frustrating to up dose for 2 months. Į call lamictal a stimulant, like good 3 cups of Coffee 😀

That's encouraging that you have no side effects! I'm currently getting started on Lamictal, but I am only at 50mg so far. Once my dosage is higher I hope that I will be able to stop my lithium and Seroquel and use Lamictal as a monotherapy, but it depends on how I respond. Fingers crossed!
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Default Jul 15, 2020 at 12:26 PM
  #8
Hi FluffyD, I'm so glad you have brought this subject up. Nystagmus is a weird and disturbing sensation. It's one I have been concerned about in the past.

I have not had nystagmus from lithium - although lithium commonly causes it - but I have experienced it with a few other meds. I wish I could recall which meds...I know I was experiencing nystagmus last year, quite a bit. It is very possible that Gabapentin caused it.

I did speak with my pdoc about it, she took me seriously and told me that yes, it is a side effect of some meds. The good news is that whichever med caused it, it did abate after a few months. Well, either that or I stopped taking that particular medication. I don't recall.

I noticed that nystagmus happened more frequently when I was tired and/or had been doing close work for an extended period of time without taking a break. So my eyes were weary. In fact my pdoc's exact words were, "It might be a good idea if you stop doing work with your eyes when you notice the nystagmus, because it can indicate that your brain is tired and needs to rest."

Hopefully, Lamictal will not cause it for you.

With regard to Lamictal, I really haven't noticed any side effects from it. Many people do say that it's activating; unfortunately, I haven't noticed that, either.


My only complaint about Lamictal is that I feel rather "flat" on it, but my pdoc and therapist tell me that what I'm describing is not really flat so much as it is normal/stable. i.e., I miss hypomania...but it, unfortunately, morphs into mania

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Default Jul 15, 2020 at 02:28 PM
  #9
@BethRags: Thank you, and that is an interesting point about the eye fatigue. I first thought the nystagmus happened when my lithium levels were maxed out, right after I took it. But that theory didn't quite fit because it also happens throughout the day. Maybe this theory about eye fatigue will explain things better.

All the reports I hear about Lamictal make me hopeful. I'm currently already rather flat, as in anhedonia, little motivation, and so on, but I think it's the depression. I'm actually hoping the Lamictal will help against that... I could use the activating effect for sure.
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Default Jul 15, 2020 at 02:37 PM
  #10
Almost everyone I've spoken with or met here on PC experiences activation from Lamictal. I suspect I don't because of other meds I take, which sucks. I would really like to feel more energetic and "up."

Hopefully, you will find it activating...seems like a decent way to replace a degree of the good aspect of hypomania.

50mg is still very low. It seems that 100mg is when most people report feeling an effect.

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Default Jul 15, 2020 at 03:32 PM
  #11
Lamictal iš The newest mood stabiliser. However, dont be scared if you'll feel its harder to think. Its temporary. However, as for me, its a benefit, my anxiety thoughts are slower.

Į felt extreme activation every time my dose was upped. IT settled down, but it is still activating.

At 300 į feel stable for few months, and as pdoc said, im really near remission. Prognosis is good.

We are lowering seroquel dose by half, every consultation. Pdoc said, to feel real AD effects, you have to quit or lower AP dose as much as possible. Tianeptine was added for mild depression (not severe anymore), inner tension and to lower anxiety. IT also helps irritable bowel syndromd, which is a plus.
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Default Jul 15, 2020 at 06:02 PM
  #12
For me, Lamictal has brought down mania. I don't think it's been helpful for depression, and certainly not for racing thoughts or anxiety. I keep asking my pdoc to give me her blessing to lower my Lamictal dose, but she refuses. She's so concerned about mania. Anxiety, the severe bipolar nuts anxiety, is what gets me.

But I dunno...I seem to have an odd reaction to Lamictal. I do believe that it's supposed to alleviate BP depression and slow racing thoughts.

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Default Jul 15, 2020 at 06:28 PM
  #13
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Originally Posted by signs View Post
Lamictal iš The newest mood stabiliser. However, dont be scared if you'll feel its harder to think. Its temporary. However, as for me, its a benefit, my anxiety thoughts are slower.

Į felt extreme activation every time my dose was upped. IT settled down, but it is still activating.

At 300 į feel stable for few months, and as pdoc said, im really near remission. Prognosis is good.

We are lowering seroquel dose by half, every consultation. Pdoc said, to feel real AD effects, you have to quit or lower AP dose as much as possible. Tianeptine was added for mild depression (not severe anymore), inner tension and to lower anxiety. IT also helps irritable bowel syndromd, which is a plus.

It's interesting to note that Tianeptine is not legal in the U.S. Seems too bad, as it sounds like a helpful med.

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Default Jul 16, 2020 at 12:14 AM
  #14
Ohh. Its interesting. Brought down to mania? could you tell me more?

Į wouldnt ask pdoc to lower lamictal dose, it helps me sooo much. Depakine, Lithium, carbamazepine, Ssri, Snri, olanzapine didnt help me. ADs from ssri, snri category į cant use. Either they dont work, or increase my BP so much. Thats why we decided to try tianeptine. As i read studies, it also helps with cognitive function improvement, lowering consequences of depressive state.

And pdoc assured me, its One of safest meds, even better than other ADs, tricyclics. IT has minimum side effects if taken properly. And what i really like, that worst side effect is hypomania, not mania!
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Default Jul 16, 2020 at 01:30 AM
  #15
Thanks both! I'll be on the lookout for temporary problems thinking. I hope they won't be too bad, but let's see. Surely it can't be much worse than the brain fog I already have.


I should be titrating up to 100mg Lamictal in two weeks from now, so I'm very hopeful about that. This is kind of the last medication that I'm really hopeful about. If it doesn't help enough I'll seriously consider ECT. My Pdoc wants me to try a bunch of other antipsychotics first but after Seroquel I'm kind of done with antipsychotics tbh...

@BethRags: From what I've read about Lamictal so far it's indeed meant to primarily target bipolar depression. I'm sorry to hear you're having such an atypical reaction to Lamictal.
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Default Jul 16, 2020 at 09:27 AM
  #16
Thank you, FluffyD. Yeah, my pdoc originally prescribed Lamictal as a mood stabilizer and an AD. I've wondered if it doesn't act as an AD for me because I tend toward mania. Just don't know, but it's disappointing.

I'm really curious as to how Lamictal will work for you. I'm hoping you receive all the benefits from it.

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Default Jul 16, 2020 at 10:00 AM
  #17
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Originally Posted by BethRags View Post
Thank you, FluffyD. Yeah, my pdoc originally prescribed Lamictal as a mood stabilizer and an AD. I've wondered if it doesn't act as an AD for me because I tend toward mania. Just don't know, but it's disappointing.

I'm really curious as to how Lamictal will work for you. I'm hoping you receive all the benefits from it.

Thank you, and I hope you manage to find some improvement with your Lamictal issues!
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