success Hibari: tapering Remeron and want to start tapering Lamictal

[manymoretodays]

Awesome.  Sounds good Hibari!  Proud of you.

L, P, H, and R,

mmt

[Hibari]

Thank you.  

[Hibari]

So I have made the switch to split doses.  As of two days ago I have been taking 4mgs at 8:30am and 5mgs at 8:30pm.  

 

This has not been an easy time to say the list.  Every day that I take the liquid dose, I am.physically sick., hyper, dry heaves, headache, dizziness, nausea, vertigo feeling and usually a bout of deep crying. I have to lie down most of the day.  And now the night time dose is making me hyper as well. 

 

I'm afraid to take my medication. So I am switching to a compound formula via a new psychiatrist. I think the plan is to take smaller doses throughout the day.  She also feels my body is fighting the medication and I am now having a paradoxical reaction to what Lamictal normally does, which is calm the system.

 

So, just checking if taking smaller doses throughout the day sounds reasonable? .  

.

Thank you.  

[wantrelief]

I am so very sorry you have continued to have such a rough time, Hibari.  I really hope the spreading out of the doses helps calm your nervous system down. Sending you big hugs - WR.

[Hibari]

Thank you.  I think it might work.  I'm hoping it will.  

[ChessieCat]

On 10/4/2011 at 9:21 AM, Altostrata said:

- Signs that you're taking too much Lamictal: Queasiness or headache (or both), sleeplessness, agitation.

 

On 8/22/2011 at 6:46 AM, Altostrata said:

Half-life is 25.4 to 32.8 hours. Dosing can be tricky as too much lamotrigine can cause adverse effects and the lowest effective dose varies from person to person.

 

On 8/22/2011 at 6:46 AM, Altostrata said:

Removal of lamotrigine can cause a nasty rebound of "alerting," i.e. anxiety, restlessness, and sleeplessness.

 

[Hibari]

Thanks Chessie.  

 

I need to find away to spread the doses because the split dosing is making me sick, hyper and is not working.  It was important to try because I was struggling with insomnia.  Now, even with a split dose I am hyper in both the morning and evening.  The amount of medication in two dose is too much for my body to handle.  

 

I have had an headache and nausea the whole way though my taper. I know it happens on the way up and on the way down.  

 

I do feel I am taking too medication and my body is fighting this process.  

 

I saw in your thread that you experienced serotonin toxicity.  Hiw did you know?  

[ChessieCat]

1 minute ago, Hibari said:

I saw in your thread that you experienced serotonin toxicity.  Hiw did you know?  

 

I didn't know about it until I started researching antidepressant side effects.  I had been feeling horrible for quite a while and got to the point of being absolutely fed up with feeling so bad and started looking for answers as to what might be causing it.  When I saw the symptoms for serotonin syndrome/toxicity the pieces fell into place.  I have always been a person who felt hot, but even in the middle of winter outside I was sweating/hot, I realised that the increased diastolic blood pressure happened after the dose increase from 50mg to 100mg Pristiq, and I sometimes felt my heart flip, or what I think others describe as missing a beat.  I had been having about a 2 hour sleep nearly every day and was still sleeping normally at night.  As my dose got lower I also realised that I had felt confused and had trouble concentrating and had felt on edge most of the time.  All of these symptoms lessened as I reduced the dose.

 

I met a lady at work who was taking 200mg !!! Pristiq and she was displaying the same symptoms as I had had.

[Hibari]

Thank you for explaining.  

 

I am sweating profusely, and I mean its just pouring off me.  I too feel horrible and I'm not just talking withdrawal.  I feel poisoned by my medication.  

 

My new psychiatrist feels I am reacting badly to the med at this point.  

 

Did you just start reducing by 10% after you realized that?  

[ChessieCat]

I don't know what age you, could it be related to menopause?

 

Also, you are taking thyroid med.  Have you had a blood test recently?  Just did a search:  "When the thyroid gland is overactive (hyperthyroidism) the body's processes speed up and you may experience nervousness, anxiety, rapid heartbeat, hand tremor, excessive sweating, weight loss, and sleep problems, among other symptoms".

 

I (stupidly, because I hadn't found SA at the time) reduced from 100mg to 50mg because Pristiq is only available in those doses in Australia.  I  was fortunate to only have to updose to 75mg after 3 weeks and then started tapering a few months later.

[ChessieCat]

I also see you have Progesterone cream in your drug signature.  Hot flashing is a side effect:  https://www.rxlist.com/prometrium-side-effects-drug-center.htm

 

When I was given progesterone tablets many years ago, I experienced extreme rage which was not normal for me.  It was so bad that a friend had to come around to take care of me because she was worried that I would hurt myself or my family.  It was before I had taken an AD.

[manymoretodays]

14 hours ago, Hibari said:

I need to find away to spread the doses because the split dosing is making me sick, hyper and is not working.  It was important to try because I was struggling with insomnia.  Now, even with a split dose I am hyper in both the morning and evening.  The amount of medication in two dose is too much for my body to handle.  

 

I have had an headache and nausea the whole way though my taper. I know it happens on the way up and on the way down.  

 

I do feel I am taking too medication and my body is fighting this process.   

 

I saw in your thread that you experienced serotonin toxicity.  Hiw did you know?  

 

13 hours ago, ChessieCat said:

I don't know what age you, could it be related to menopause?

 

Also, you are taking thyroid med.  Have you had a blood test recently?  Just did a search:  "When the thyroid gland is overactive (hyperthyroidism) the body's processes speed up and you may experience nervousness, anxiety, rapid heartbeat, hand tremor, excessive sweating, weight loss, and sleep problems, among other symptoms".

 

I (stupidly, because I hadn't found SA at the time) reduced from 100mg to 50mg because Pristiq is only available in those doses in Australia.  I  was fortunate to only have to updose to 75mg after 3 weeks and then started tapering a few months later.

 

On 10/15/2018 at 6:11 AM, Hibari said:

So I have made the switch to split doses.  As of two days ago I have been taking 4mgs at 8:30am and 5mgs at 8:30pm.  

 

Hi Hibari,

Looks like a lot is going on.

I see that you've had 2 days now of the split doses(12 hours apart), as well as a decrease from 9.4 mg of the Lamictal to 9.0 mg? 

Is this correct?

So......it's only been 2 days of the current split dosing.  Can you HOLD for just a few more days, without further changes?

The prior dosing wasn't working either, as I recall.  I remember you noted the "hyper, revved up" feeling when you changed formulation a bit before.  Is is worse now than then?  And it does sound like you may be having that nasty rebound effect mentioned here:  Tips for tapering off Lamictal

 

This might be a good time to post the drug and symptom logs here on your introduction once again.  Time on the left, drug name and dosage on the right........as well as symptoms throughout the day.  Include all your medications and supplements as well as sleep.

I agree with ChessieCat......some of this could be related to hormonal flucuations.  And it certainly does seem that hormonal changes and drugging, as well as W/D does this.  I've been on some bioidenticals(hormones) all along.  I take them sublingually(under the tongue).  After I first got here, I cut the dose in half.  I do go in this week for my annual PE, which generally involves blood work.  And my GP is aware of the changes I made.  Unfortunately.......blood work is not that great, as far as the hormonal picture goes, from my understanding.......as the hormones fluctuate throughout the day so much.  I've......overall, felt much better, since being in menopause.  In comparison to the monthly fluctuations......and then that period of time when I did not know it was close(menopause).  Woah......that was really a wild ride as I recall.  Plus, I was drugged then.

Do give us some logs........as I think that will help right now a lot.........to get a picture.  Also a date on the Lamictal decrease in total daily dose.  I know it's rough right now Hibari.......but I just get concerned that you may not be waiting out changes, for long enough to see.........if they will help.......before moving on to something new.  Let's see what or if the logs might give us, in the way of information......okay?

Thank you.

Love, peace, healing, and growth,

mmt

Edited October 16, 2018 by manymoretodays

[Hibari]

3 hours ago, manymoretodays said:

 

 

 

Hi Hibari,

Looks like a lot is going on.

I see that you've had 2 days now of the split doses(12 hours apart), as well as a decrease from 9.4 mg of the Lamictal to 9.0 mg? 

Is this correct?

So......it's only been 2 days of the current split dosing.  Can you HOLD for just a few more days, without further changes?

The prior dosing wasn't working either, as I recall.  I remember you noted the "hyper, revved up" feeling when you changed formulation a bit before.  Is is worse now than then?  And it does sound like you may be having that nasty rebound effect mentioned here:  Tips for tapering off Lamictal

 

This might be a good time to post the drug and symptom logs here on your introduction once again.  Time on the left, drug name and dosage on the right........as well as symptoms throughout the day.  Include all your medications and supplements as well as sleep.

I agree with ChessieCat......some of this could be related to hormonal flucuations.  And it certainly does seem that hormonal changes and drugging, as well as W/D does this.  I've been on some bioidenticals(hormones) all along.  I take them sublingually(under the tongue).  After I first got here, I cut the dose in half.  I do go in this week for my annual PE, which generally involves blood work.  And my GP is aware of the changes I made.  Unfortunately.......blood work is not that great, as far as the hormonal picture goes, from my understanding.......as the hormones fluctuate throughout the day so much.  I've......overall, felt much better, since being in menopause.  In comparison to the monthly fluctuations......and then that period of time when I did not know it was close(menopause).  Woah......that was really a wild ride as I recall.  Plus, I was drugged then.

Do give us some logs........as I think that will help right now a lot.........to get a picture.  Also a date on the Lamictal decrease in total daily dose.  I know it's rough right now Hibari.......but I just get concerned that you may not be waiting out changes, for long enough to see.........if they will help.......before moving on to something new.  Let's see what or if the logs might give us, in the way of information......okay?

Thank you.

Love, peace, healing, and growth,

mmt

Hi MMT,

 

Thank you for your feedback.  

 

Yes, a lot has happened and I will try to be a clear as I can.   I know it looks like I am jumping around but part of this has to do with trusting my body,  taking in the support here and some now additional support.  I have not taken you, Chessie and Alto's feedback lightly and respect the time you have taken to review my thread.  It means a lot to me and you all have gotten me moving in the right direction.  

 

1. I found a holistic psychiatrist who studied with Kelly Brogan but is not rigid like Dr. Brogan is known to be.    It was a crucial visit and she confirmed and supported a lot of what I felt I was going through.  She feels my body is fighting the medication at this point and wants to help me taper down due to this reaction.  Nothing crazy but important to get moving again with awareness about anything I experience.  She also had me lower my thyroid med from 90mgs to 75mgs and we will monitor that. 

 

I came down on the initial med dose because it was too high.  Alto had given me that feedback and I also felt that the hyper feeling was about there being too much med as opposed to a wd symptom.  So I started rolling the back the daytime dose at 9.2 and then made another small reduction to 9mgs. 

 

2. I reduced my progesterone awhile back as I am post menopause.  I can't work any more on hormones till I get off Lamictal, it's too overwhelming.

 

3. I made a huge realization that dissolving my soluble tablet in water was making me physically sick.  I know now it has to do with the binders and fillers but not until l I had some days of being so physically sick did I figure it out.   So lesson learned about water solutions. 

 

Taking the dose 2x a day has been difficult, not because of the suggestion but because a split dose of Lamictal at this point is too much for my system to handle.  Even before I got to the 12 hour space between doses and it was 8 hours or 10 hours, I was still hyper especially after the morning does.   The evening dose made me hyper so I could not sleep, not always but often.

 

4. When the compounding pharmacist made up the dose of Lamictal, he prescribed it so that it should be taken in divided doses.  The amount of medication I am taking is on the low side so that even though technically Lamictal has that  28-32 hour half life, my psychiatrist feels that I am metabolizing the med faster as I am on a smaller dose and that just because the pamphlet on the medication gives a certain half life time frame, it's important to pay attention to how the body responds.  

 

On top of everything else, huge uncontrollable periods of crying.  Some having to do with my dog's passing and a lot having to do with Lamictal. 

 

5.  Yesterday, I took my med in divided doses.  It made a difference.  Though still having the hyper reaction when I initially take the drug,  it was less.  That helped me feel less trapped and panicked.  calmer and less upset.

 

6. Today the compounding medication arrived.  I will continue  taking divided doses and stick with 9mg till I am stable.  I then plan to start my taper again.   I am becoming aware that not stabilizing does not always have to do with wd.  Sometimes it has to do with tolerance and having a paradoxical reaction to the med.  I'm not saying that I am 100% certain that I fall in that camp but I have a hunch it plays a part. 

 

I will write a few logs in a bit, but need to take a nap first. 

 

Thank you so much MMT.

 

[Hibari]

Log for the past 4 days.

 

Sunday, 10/14/18  (9mgs)

8:00AM Broken sleep maybe  1 or 2 hours, Sweating, nausea, physical tension, panic, headache, cloudy head, blurry eyes

8:30AM Take 4.2 mgs of Lamical dissolved in water.  Take 75mgs of Thyroid medication

10AM Force myself to eat two turkey burgers, pounding headache, chemical taste in mouth, dizzy, take two magnesuim

10:30-12:00 Watch TV to distract from panic, shaking, minor twitching of muscles, extreme physical tension, anxiety, dry heaves

12:30-Go for short 20 min walk with my husband, eat a bannana

1:00PM -4PM- Lie in bed with ear plugs and mask over eyes, take 1 magnesium, call a friend, cry on the phone with a friend

5:00PM  Eat some scrambled eggs and potatoes, no real appetite, force them down

5:30PM-8:30PM Watch TV

8:30PM Take5mg Lamictal tablet

10:00PM Feel hyper, fear, physical tension, know I won't sleep, take two L-Theanine

10:00PM-7:30AM  Lay in bed with mask on, then go downstairs to lie on the couch, deep fear, sadness, physical tension, can't relax

 

Monday 10/15/18 (9mgs)
7:30AM Nausea, dizzy, cloudy head, blurry eyes, headache, depression, 

Decide to divide doses of my medication using tablets until compounding formula arrives on Tuesday

8:30 Take a 2.5 mg Lamictal  tablet

10-12:00PM feel physically anxious in the car going back to city,  slight dry heaves, headache, blurry eyes, and foggy head.  My new psychiatrist reaches out-tell her about my hard weekend and plan to divide doses.  She supports the decision and we schedule a session for the following day.   Start to feel physically calmer in the car after about 2 hours.

12:30 Take 2.5 mg Lamictal tablet,  lie down

12:30-1:15 Eat a banana, Get dressed for therapy

2:15-3:15 Therapy, cry about wd and the process

3:45-Make steak and potatoes

4:30 Take 2mg Lamictal tablet, feeling calmer, less anxious, no headache

5:00-8:30 Lie down, watch tv fo distraction

8:30: Take final 2mg Lamictal tablet

8:30-11 Watch TV

11PM Go to bed, feel calmer, no nausea or headache, a bit hyper, mood okay but can tell I won't sleep.

I would call this day a window starting in the early afternoon

 

Tuesday 10/16/18 (9mgs)

8:00 AM no real sleep

8:30AM take 2mg Lamical Tablet knowing I will be taking divided doses in 2mg once compounding formula arrives, get very sleepy, stay in bed till 10AM

10:00AM -Take 75mgs thyroid drink a gingerale sweetened with pineapple juice and honey to wake up.  Feel spacey and tired, get dressed, pick up new medication, and head to doctor

12PM Psychiatrist appointment, feel spacey, tearful.  12:30 Take 2 mgs of the compound formula in her office, eat some almonds as well, feel a slight headache.

2PM-Eat roasted chicken and sweet potatoes

3PM Call compounding pharmacy to check on whether I should take medication with food and headache issue.  Yes, with food to help with nausea, and headache part of the initial process of taking this compounding formula.

4:30 Take 2mg liquid Lamictal, feel a bit speedy about about an hour after taking it, but emotionally calmer.

7:00PM Eat ground turkey sauteed with ghee, and a peach

8:30 Take 2mgs liquid Lamictal, feel

Go to a meeting, cry about my dog and general grief

9:30-11 Rest on the couch, feel some sadness, slightly physically hyper and a minor headache but overall okay

12AM very hungry, make potatoes with coconut oil

1AM-3AM Awake

3AM take the final 1mg of liquid Lamcital to help with Cortisol awakening (plan formulated by my doctor)

I would call this day a window starting in the early afternoon

 

Wednesday 10/17/18

7:00AM Broken sleep, Wake up with nausea and headache, measure out my med and have it ready by my bed

9:30 Find measured syringe by my bed, realized I had missed that morning dose,  take 2mgs liquid Lamictal, overall feel physically dizzy, and nauseous and tired.  Eat a peach. 

10:30 Call compounding pharmacy to ask about reaction (if any) to the compounding formula.  Am told that the nausea is common for the drug-take with food and that dizziness is part of the inial reaction to the formula-should even out.  While not happy, at least I know what's going on

12:00PM take 75 mgs of thyroid medication

That's where I am so far.

 

 

 

 

[Altostrata]

22 hours ago, Hibari said:

5.  Yesterday, I took my med in divided doses.  It made a difference.  Though still having the hyper reaction when I initially take the drug,  it was less.  That helped me feel less trapped and panicked.  calmer and less upset.

 

6. Today the compounding medication arrived.  I will continue  taking divided doses and stick with 9mg till I am stable.

 

^This sounds about right.

 

Reviewing the daily notes you've posted above, it looks to me like the divided dosing of lamotrigine is settling down.

 

Do you have both 5mg and 2mg tablets?

 

When you take lamotrigine and get queasiness or headache shortly afterward, that dosage is too high. The pharmacist may be correct that nausea is common with lamotrigine, but that's because it's almost always dosed too high.

 

Please continue to publish your daily notes.

 

Is your new holistic psychiatrist writing your lamotrigine prescriptions?

[Hibari]

7 minutes ago, Altostrata said:

 

^This sounds about right.

 

Reviewing the daily notes you've posted above, it looks to me like the divided dosing of lamotrigine is settling down.

 

Do you have both 5mg and 2mg tablets?

 

When you take lamotrigine and get queasiness or headache shortly afterward, that dosage is too high. The pharmacist may be correct that nausea is common with lamotrigine, but that's because it's almost always dosed too high.

 

Please continue to publish your daily notes.

 

Is your new holistic psychiatrist writing your lamotrigine prescriptions?

Thank you Alto.  Yes, dividing the doses is helping.

 

I have 5mgs tablets but am now switched over to the compounding formula.  I had split liquid and tablet for about two weeks to make the transition easier.

 

Yes, the holistic psychiatrist is now writing the Lamictal prescriptions.

 

Are you thinking that if the reactions of headache and nausea continue, that I should start tapering down by small micro amounts?  The new psychiatrist is supportive of me moving forward with my taper and actually thinks at this point it would helpful.  

 

If you think so, what would recommend as the next small drop down?

 

Thank you for you time and I will make it a point to post my log daily. 

 

Thank you for taking the time to respond to this. 

[Altostrata]

There was a time when I took a tiny bit of lamotrigine in the middle of the night, too.

 

I see your lamotrigine schedule is:

 

8:30 a.m. 2mg

12:30 p.m. 2mg

4:30 p.m. 2mg

8:30 p.m. 2mg

3 a.m. 1mg

 

Since you've started to sleep, I might stick with this for a week or so. It may be you can eventually consolidate some of these doses, for convenience.

[Hibari]

19 minutes ago, Altostrata said:

There was a time when I took a tiny bit of lamotrigine in the middle of the night, too.

 

I see your lamotrigine schedule is:

 

8:30 a.m. 2mg

12:30 p.m. 2mg

4:30 p.m. 2mg

8:30 p.m. 2mg

3 a.m. 1mg

 

Since you've started to sleep, I might stick with this for a week or so. It may be you can eventually consolidate some of these doses, for convenience.

Yes, the above is correct.   Interesting that you took that tiny dose too. 

 

Haven't really had consistent sleep.  

 

Will gauge the next few days and see if things settle more or get worse.  It's quite a balance between symptoms of withdrawal and medication side affects. 

[Altostrata]

Since you've been moving the dosing around, it can take a while for your symptoms to settle down into a consistent pattern.

 

Dividing lamotrigine doses can eliminate adverse effects, they may go away completely.

[Hibari]

5 minutes ago, Altostrata said:

Since you've been moving the dosing around, it can take a while for your symptoms to settle down into a consistent pattern.

 

Dividing lamotrigine doses can eliminate adverse effects, they may go away completely.

Okay.  I wanted to let things settle and was caught off guard by today's reaction.   I think it was naive of me to expect all my withdrawal troubles to disappear after two days with windows.

 

Will continue with divided doses. 

[Altostrata]

Please continue with your daily notes, they will help us determine if any of the lamotrigine doses is causing problems.

[Hibari]

56 minutes ago, Altostrata said:

Please continue with your daily notes, they will help us determine if any of the lamotrigine doses is causing problems.

Okay. 

[Hibari]

Wednesday 10/17/18

7:00AM Broken sleep, Wake up with nausea and headache, measure out my med and have it ready by my bed

9:30 Find measured syringe by my bed, realized I had missed that morning dose,  take 2mgs liquid Lamictal, overall feel physically dizzy, and nauseous and tired.  Eat a peach. 

10:30 Call compounding pharmacy to ask about reaction (if any) to the compounding formula.  Am told that the nausea is common for the drug-take with food and that dizziness is part of the inial reaction to the formula-should even out.  While not happy, at least I know what's going on

12:00PM take 75 mgs of thyroid medication

12:30 make ground beef,carrots and spaghetti squash

12:45Pm Take 2mg of liquid lamictal

1:00PM-2:30PM Do some cleaning in the apartment, still feel dizzy and nauseaus

2:30PM Call a friend and cry deeply

3:00PM-4:00PM try to rest, feel panicky, foggy and still nauseous

4PM Eat some spaghetti squash with olive oil, feel low grade depression and sadness,  some dizziness and some low grade nausea

4:15PM  Eat a banna and almond butter

4:30PM  Take 2mg liquid Lamictal

5:00PM Feel some nausea and slight headache

 

[Altostrata]

Please keep to a regular schedule with lamotrigine. Taking it irregularly may cause symptoms.

[Hibari]

19 minutes ago, Altostrata said:

Please keep to a regular schedule with lamotrigine. Taking it irregularly may cause symptoms.

Yes, I get that.

Alto, you may have answered this but if the current divided dosage continues to be too much, would the next step be to do a micro drop across all divided dosages?  I'm not planning on doing it till I see how I settle. 

 

For example:

8:30 1.9 mg

12:30 1.9 mg

4:30 1.9mg

8:30 1.9 mg

3AM 1 mg

Total 8.6

[Hibari]

Wanted to complete Wednesday's log.

Wednesday 10/17/18

7:00AM Broken sleep, Wake up with nausea and headache, measure out my med and have it ready by my bed

9:30 Find measured syringe by my bed, realized I had missed that morning dose,  take 2mgs liquid Lamictal, overall feel physically dizzy, and nauseous and tired.  Eat a peach. 

10:30 Call compounding pharmacy to ask about reaction (if any) to the compounding formula.  Am told that the nausea is common for the drug-take with food and that dizziness is part of the inial reaction to the formula-should even out.  While not happy, at least I know what's going on

12:00PM take 75 mgs of thyroid medication

12:30 make ground beef,carrots and spaghetti squash

12:45Pm Take 2mg of liquid lamictal

1:00PM-2:30PM Do some cleaning in the apartment, still feel dizzy and nauseaus

2:30PM Call a friend and cry deeply

3:00PM-4:00PM try to rest, feel panicky, foggy and still nauseous

4PM Eat some spaghetti squash with olive oil, feel low grade depression and sadness,  some dizziness and some low grade nausea

4:15PM  Eat a banna and almond butter

4:30PM  Take 2mg liquid Lamictal

5:00PM Feel some nausea and slight headache, feel like crying again, Take 200mg Magnesium

7:45PM Eat ground beef with spaghetti squash and tomato sauce,

8:30PM Take 2mgs liquid Lamictal

9:00PM Feel slight pressure in my head and a little anxiety, hope I can sleep tonight. 

 

[Altostrata]

If we decide the dosage is too high, it would probably be more convenient for you to taper one of the doses rather than all of them.

[Hibari]

11 hours ago, Altostrata said:

If we decide the dosage is too high, it would probably be more convenient for you to taper one of the doses rather than all of them.

Alto, I really believe the dose is too high.   I've been hovering around this dose area since June, with the updose in September and then back down to where I am now.

 

Wednesday, 3/17/15

 3AM dose Took 1mg liquid Lamictal after not sleeping most of the night. An hour later later felt the nausea and slight headache.

 

Thursday, 3/18/18

After maybe sleeping a few hours?

8AM Woke up with headache, dizziness and nausea, moderately hyper, mood is fine

Am afraid to take full 2mgs dose of Lamictal

9:AM  Tale 1mg Liquid Lamictal to start in order to see how my body reacts.   I will be incapacitated for the rest of the day if I take 2mgs and it's too much.  

 

I know it may seem that I am jumping a bit but after the horrible days I had on the weekend with too much medication, I can't go through that again.   Then yesterday with the hyper feeling, dizziness and nausea throughout the day, it's another sign to me that I am over-medicated. 

[Altostrata]

I see the last time you increased your daily dosage was 9/4, to 10mg. Was that from 8.8mg?

 

You are taking 9mg now, which is a decrease from 9.4mg on 10/15.

 

Suggest reduction to 8mg:

 

8:30 a.m. 1mg

12:30 p.m. 2mg

4:30 p.m. 2mg

8:30 p.m. 2mg

3 a.m. 1mg

[Hibari]

2 hours ago, Altostrata said:

I see the last time you increased your daily dosage was 9/4, to 10mg. Was that from 8.8mg?

 

You are taking 9mg now, which is a decrease from 9.4mg on 10/15.

 

Suggest reduction to 8mg:

 

8:30 a.m. 1mg

12:30 p.m. 2mg

4:30 p.m. 2mg

8:30 p.m. 2mg

3 a.m. 1mg

 

Sorry, signature may be a bit confusing. 

 

Yes, I did increase from 8.8 to 10mgs (death of my dog, husband surgery: nervous system took a hit in August)

 

Here is the time line. 

9/4  Increased from 8.8 to 10mgs.  Too high, insomnia, SI, deep depression, uncontrollable shaking, nausea, headache, despair.

9/8 Drop down to 9.5mg still too much, insomnia, shaking, depression, despair, nausea, headache though I do feel some relief, sweating at night

9/13 Drop to 9.4mg  feel depression lift,  still have anxiety, insomnia, nausea, headache, uncontrollable crying bouts during the day, sweating at night

Decide that taking all my meds at night contributes to insomina, get advice here to start rolling back the dose into AM and PM

10/1 Drop to 9.2 and take 4.2 mg for the earlier dose in a water solution and PM dose 5mg tablet,  start feeling very sick in the morning/afternoon after dose, nausea, headache, foggy head, mental and physical anxiety. 

10/13 Drop to 9mg  Continue to have hyper reaction to the divided dose, shaking, pounding headache, dizzy, nausea, inability to relax, insomnia, uncontrollable crying. insomnia

Make the realization that the water solution is not good for my system.

10/15 Make the decision to go to divided doses, stop water solution, use tablets for 1 day till Compounding formula arrives, feel a difference.  Still anxiety after dose but able to manage, still insomina, still nausea after taking meds.

 

In the meantime I saw the new psychiatrist who also believes it's too much medication. 

 

So, I will lower the dose and see what happens.  Even though I want to go faster, I may start with an 8.5mg drop because I am so scared at this point of the physical symptoms.   I am not dismissing your suggestion, I just feel so fragile.

 

Thank you Alto.

 

 

[Altostrata]

1 hour ago, Hibari said:

So, I will lower the dose and see what happens.  Even though I want to go faster, I may start with an 8.5mg drop because I am so scared at this point of the physical symptoms.   I am not dismissing your suggestion, I just feel so fragile.

 

That's fine, you seem to be listening to your body.

 

I think maybe increasing from 8.8mg to 10mg was a mistake. More is not better when it comes to lamotrigine.

[Hibari]

17 minutes ago, Altostrata said:

 

That's fine, you seem to be listening to your body.

 

I think maybe increasing from 8.8mg to 10mg was a mistake. More is not better when it comes to lamotrigine.

Huge mistake.  That 1mg updose was way too much.  

 

My Lamogtogine taper has been very different from the wd pattern I had with Remeron. This has been much more up and down.  

 

Yes, my body has been a great guide when not in a state of confusion.  

[manymoretodays]

Yes Hibari.  Good job! 

And thank you......I did see some very un-confused responses  to my queries above.

Some mini windows too!!!

That's great you found some on the ground guidance too.  And Altostrata's input can be invaluable.

I was on Lamictal at one time......big time doses though.......lot of yuchy stuff with that for me.......blurry vision, nausea......and oh more of the GI.......dizzy, off balance.  But of course......it was in tandem with at least one other drug, and probably during a W/D from yet another drug........so my N=1(my own case) will not directly relate to yours. 

Don't stop with Wednesdays logs.......you are doing super with those babies!!!

Hugs, L, P, H, and G,

mmt

we are all sleeping soundly tonight, eh?

[Hibari]

Hi Mmt

 

Yes, Lamictal is a yucky medication.  I'm glad you as off of it. 

 

Had a window last night, which was good.  

 

Back to not sleeping but hoping it will get better once I am used to the liquid lamictal.  

 

Tired and blurry today but even though the nausea and dizziness is there, it is less.  Dose reduction is the right way for me to go.  

 

Thank you for your support.  

[Hibari]

I'm in such an odd place.  I still feel very speedy when I take my divided doses, especially in the morning.  I also am not sleeping again.  

 

Now, today  I'm also feeling the mental symptoms that come from a drop.   I've sobbed twice today.  I feel depressed, sad and scared.  

 

So even though I know it's time to taper, and that these are wd symptoms, it's still very hard right now.  I'm hoping that my brain starts producing more Gaba soon. 

[Hibari]

Does it matter if you combine a liquid and tablet method for your taper?

 

I have been trying to use a compounding formula this week for my Lamictal taper and I'm struggling. I've been taking it since Tuesday.   It hits my system pretty fast and I feel pretty hyper about a 1/2 hour after taking it.  I also am not sleeping. 

 

I am considering going back to  

tablets for the higher doses.  I thinking they take longer to absorb.  

 

8:30 1mg liquid

12.   2mg tablet

3pm 2mg tablet 

6pm 2 mg tablet

8:30 1 mg  liquid.  

 

I just dont feel well, continued nausea, headache and dizziness.  

 

Would welcome any feedback.