GoodEnuff: Intro + Another Lamotrigine Taper

[GoodEnuff]

Hello! I’m currently tapering Lamotrigine. I know 10% taper is recommended but I’m extremely overwhelmed by how to do that with these pills.
 

I’ve been on 200mg for 3 years. I tapered to 175 by cutting 200mg tablets and 150mg tablets and taking one in the morning and one in the evening. Did this because I worried it would hit me all at once since cutting them makes them IR. Did this for a week and then went to just the 150 pills, still splitting them since I believe that dosage is IR. I have 150 refills and no 200 refills so getting to that dosage was the first goal. 
 

Today is day 9 of 150mg, 75mg morning and 75mg night. I’ve noticed irritability, crying spells, noise and light sensitivity, headaches, restlessness/fidgeting, anxiety, nausea. All manageable except for yesterday and today have been awful. I have propranolol and hydroxyzine prescribed as needed so today decided to take hydroxyzine and it got rid of my anxiety, I felt very calm and collected but sleepy which is a problem. Curious if anyone has used these as bridge drugs? To help cope with the withdrawal symptoms. I also have been taking Vyvanse for a year, and stopped completely cold turkey for 2 weeks. Yesterday I did 150 lamotrigine and 30mg Vyvanse (40mg was my dose) and had an awful day, today I tried 150 lamotrigine and 20mg Vyvanse and not feeling great either… perhaps Vyvanse has to go but the brain fog, irritability, restlessness, from Lamotrigine withdrawal + untreated ADHD is awful!!! Looking into supplements for ADHD, I know supplements aren’t recommended here.
 

I plan to stay at 150mg for the next few months as I’m starting a new job. Then my next goal is to get to 100 and stay there for 3-4 mo. Basically getting to normal prescription amounts for my holds.
 

I’ve been wanting to taper for years. For the last 2 years I’ve been experiencing double vision and blurry vision. Even went through expensive and intense vision rehabilitation. Doctor insists it’s not possible that the Lamotrigine is contributing but I want to see for myself. I also have rapid heart rate and hair thinning. These symptoms have all improved but there could be other factors since I’m on week 3. I was misdiagnosed with bipolar 2, turns out it was ASD and ADHD, so I see no reason to continue Lamotrigine. Although I’ve considered just staying on it because this is hard and very little support… doctors don’t understand but I want to know what I’m like without it. 

 

Curious if anyone has any advice or thoughts! Am I completely insane with this approach? 

Edited July 19, 2023 by manymoretodays
name to topic title

[Altostrata]

Welcome, @GoodEnuff

 

I am sorry that doctors know so little about adverse drug effects and tapering.

 

Since you are having withdrawal symptoms with your tapering method, if I were you, I would stop tapering and let your nervous system settle down. Occasional hydroxyzine may help but the effect probably will wear off. If your withdrawal symptoms get worse over the next week, a small updose might be called for. Please let us know how you're doing. 

 

We advocate a much more gradual taper. Here are our Tips for tapering off lamotrigine (Lamictal)

 

To help us out, follow these instructions Please summarize your drug and withdrawal history in your signature You may need to use a computer to do this.

 

[GoodEnuff]

I don’t see a way to taper less, since I only have these pills available and doctor believes in the 50% reductions over 2 weeks thing… 
 

My anxiety has been really high. I’ve been at 150 for 22 days now. I’m having thoughts of, is this withdrawal, or was the Lamotrigine helping with my anxiety more than I thought? So hard to distinguish… 

[Altostrata]

Virtually no one on this site is tapering according to their doctor's instructions. Doctors don't know how to taper, that's why this site exists. Everyone has had to figure out how to make smaller doses for tapering. 

[GoodEnuff]

I know that… it’s why I’m not following that instruction. I’m trying to learn how Lamotrigine affects the brain, if my anxiety truly means it was helping me then perhaps there are other ways to get similar effects. I think Lamotrigine lowers glutamate, I wonder if there’s a supplement or lifestyle choices that do that too… unless this anxiety is purely withdrawal, guess only time will tell. 

[Altostrata]

Did you read Tips for tapering off lamotrigine (Lamictal)

 

Lamotrigine is a seizure drug. It slows the nervous system. It's not a magic anti-anxiety drug.

 

Before further discussion, Please summarize your drug and withdrawal history in your signature 

[GoodEnuff]

I don’t think it’s a magic anxiety pill… but it is used for mood and lowers anxiety in some people… all I’m saying is I don’t know if my increased anxiety is withdrawal or if the med was helping with my anxiety 

[Altostrata]

If it doesn't have any benefit for you, it doesn't matter that it has the reputation of benefit for other people.

 

Still need to see this: Please summarize your drug and withdrawal history in your signature 

[GoodEnuff]

I don’t think you’re reading my messages… 

[Altostrata]

Before further discussion: Please summarize your drug and withdrawal history in your signature 

[GoodEnuff]

Done

[Altostrata]

If you  read Tips for tapering off lamotrigine (Lamictal), you will see the immediate-release drug comes in a range of doses that will make tapering easier for you. You also can get it made into a liquid by a compounding pharmacy, or make your own liquid.

[GoodEnuff]

I’ve read that a lot of times, it’s not that easy to get a compounding pharmacy and I’m afraid of making my own liquid… I’m unsure why some people like Dr. Campbell from Free Range Psychiatry say you shouldn’t even cut pills? 

[Altostrata]

3 hours ago, GoodEnuff said:

I’m unsure why some people like Dr. Campbell from Free Range Psychiatry say you shouldn’t even cut pills? 

 

Do you mean here? I couldn't say. We have hundreds of people here tapering by splitting their tablets. We carefully explain how to do it.

 

We also explain alternatives in topics such as Tips for tapering off lamotrigine (Lamictal)

 

If you prefer to engage Dr. Campbell, please feel free to do that. Otherwise, you'll have to figure out how to titrate your doses. If you don't want to titrate your doses, you'll have to take your chances with withdrawal.

[GoodEnuff]

Hello, could you offer some advice?

I was reading the link on making a liquid, it says I can’t use XR tablets but I don’t know what mine are.

 

https://www.drugs.com/imprints/d-96-14543.html

https://www.drugs.com/imprints/g-lg-150-14180.html

 

Can these be used to make a liquid?

 

I have access to these 200mg, 150mg, and 50mg XR. Im on 150 right now and trying to reduce. No idea how to reduce to ~135 with these pills… I’ve thought about taking half of a 150 (75) and a 50mg XR, to make 125 but unsure if I can take both together or split the dosage to twice a day… since I don’t know if my 150 and 200 are IR… the 50mg don’t have a line and trying to split them makes a powdery mess 

 

When I take Lamotrigine at night I believe it interferes with my sleep but not sure if it’s safe to take it all at once 

[Altostrata]

On 8/9/2023 at 5:51 AM, GoodEnuff said:

I was reading the link on making a liquid, it says I can’t use XR tablets but I don’t know what mine are.

 

 

If it's not on your drug label, ask the pharmacist who filled the prescription.

[Ma205]

On 7/18/2023 at 4:30 PM, GoodEnuff said:

Hello! I’m currently tapering Lamotrigine. I know 10% taper is recommended but I’m extremely overwhelmed by how to do that with these pills.
 

I’ve been on 200mg for 3 years. I tapered to 175 by cutting 200mg tablets and 150mg tablets and taking one in the morning and one in the evening. Did this because I worried it would hit me all at once since cutting them makes them IR. Did this for a week and then went to just the 150 pills, still splitting them since I believe that dosage is IR. I have 150 refills and no 200 refills so getting to that dosage was the first goal. 
 

Today is day 9 of 150mg, 75mg morning and 75mg night. I’ve noticed irritability, crying spells, noise and light sensitivity, headaches, restlessness/fidgeting, anxiety, nausea. All manageable except for yesterday and today have been awful. I have propranolol and hydroxyzine prescribed as needed so today decided to take hydroxyzine and it got rid of my anxiety, I felt very calm and collected but sleepy which is a problem. Curious if anyone has used these as bridge drugs? To help cope with the withdrawal symptoms. I also have been taking Vyvanse for a year, and stopped completely cold turkey for 2 weeks. Yesterday I did 150 lamotrigine and 30mg Vyvanse (40mg was my dose) and had an awful day, today I tried 150 lamotrigine and 20mg Vyvanse and not feeling great either… perhaps Vyvanse has to go but the brain fog, irritability, restlessness, from Lamotrigine withdrawal + untreated ADHD is awful!!! Looking into supplements for ADHD, I know supplements aren’t recommended here.
 

I plan to stay at 150mg for the next few months as I’m starting a new job. Then my next goal is to get to 100 and stay there for 3-4 mo. Basically getting to normal prescription amounts for my holds.
 

I’ve been wanting to taper for years. For the last 2 years I’ve been experiencing double vision and blurry vision. Even went through expensive and intense vision rehabilitation. Doctor insists it’s not possible that the Lamotrigine is contributing but I want to see for myself. I also have rapid heart rate and hair thinning. These symptoms have all improved but there could be other factors since I’m on week 3. I was misdiagnosed with bipolar 2, turns out it was ASD and ADHD, so I see no reason to continue Lamotrigine. Although I’ve considered just staying on it because this is hard and very little support… doctors don’t understand but I want to know what I’m like without it. 

 

Curious if anyone has any advice or thoughts! Am I completely insane with this approach? 

did your vision issues improve? Mine started with a fast taper of lamictal 10 years ago