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*Beth*
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*Beth* is practicing healthy breathing for brain, mind, body, spirit.
 
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Default Sep 03, 2019 at 09:42 PM
  #21
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Originally Posted by sarahsweets View Post
@BethRags
Are you bipolar? I am assuming you are. It is my belief that all people with bipolar experience the desire to stop meds, reduce them or change them especially when we feel well. I do not know why this is. I was non med compliant for a few years with my antipsycs because I was afraid of weight gain and I worked so hard to lose the 127lbs. I ended up on a good dose of geodon and it seems to only have me battling a 10lbs up and down weight issue. My meds work perfect now but I am 44 ans started the journey in my 20's so you are not alone.

Thank you, sarahsweets .

I dunno. I guess if I'm totally honest, I feel a bit burned. I thought menopause would bring great relief of (or do away with) my bipolar disorder symptoms. Well, not only haven't they changed - they're become worse.

People with BD do tend to be less med compliant that those with other mental illnesses. I think it's because of the episodic nature of the disorder.

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peacelizard
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Default Oct 15, 2019 at 12:53 AM
  #22
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Originally Posted by BethRags View Post
I saw my pdoc yesterday. She's generally excellent and I've been her patient for 2-plus years.

Since 10mg Abilify (which is recently added) is helping to keep me stable, I told her that I want to drop my Lamictal dose from 300 to 150. I am doing a lot of work in therapy and feel its important not to be so medicated that the underlying issues aren't presenting themselves in therapy.

When I told my pdoc of my desire to decrease the Lamictal to 150 she said NO! That will destabilize you - if you want to decrease it, 275, 250 at most! Case closed, make an appt. for 2 weeks.

Okay, but...if I'm so stable on meds that I'm not working out the more serious issues in therapy, that means I spend my life on a lot of medication. Not something I want to do.

Last night I took 200mg., with the intention of staying with that amount for now. I feel like this is my body and my life and I have the right to decide what to put into my body. Dr. W., however, will be so annoyed at our next appointment in 2 weeks when I tell her I've dropped the Lamictal down so much.

I'm wondering what others do in this type of situation? Please chime in with your own experiences.
Of all the meds, don't go rogue and start playing with your lamotrigine dose. Aside from seizures, when you play around with the dose too much and go up or down too fast/too slow or inconsistently take it you increase the likelihood of getting SJS (Steven-Johnson Syndrome) or its more severe relative, TEN (toxic epidermal necrosis). It's very rare, but that's not something you want to play with. Just look it up on Google images
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*Beth*
catches the flowers
*Beth* is practicing healthy breathing for brain, mind, body, spirit.
 
Member Since: Jul 2019
Location: Downtown Vibes, California
Posts: 15,701 (SuperPoster!)
3 yr Member
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Default Oct 19, 2019 at 11:56 AM
  #23
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Originally Posted by peacelizard View Post
Of all the meds, don't go rogue and start playing with your lamotrigine dose. Aside from seizures, when you play around with the dose too much and go up or down too fast/too slow or inconsistently take it you increase the likelihood of getting SJS (Steven-Johnson Syndrome) or its more severe relative, TEN (toxic epidermal necrosis). It's very rare, but that's not something you want to play with. Just look it up on Google images

Thank you.

I dropped my dose of Lamictal (with Dr. W.'s approval) to 275mg and def felt depressed with a few days. That was many weeks ago. Raised it back up to 300mg and have left it there. I won't be changing it anytime soon.

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Default Oct 29, 2019 at 12:37 AM
  #24
They do say no sometimes. I wouldn't want any answer from my psychiatrist that wasn't his best clinical judgement. Sometimes that means he says no.
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Default Nov 02, 2019 at 01:04 PM
  #25
Simply request to safely discontinue lamictal and record the convo Audio. If she says no find a lawyer cheers. It sounds like she was going to taper you down
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