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Daisyca: Lamictal / lamotrigine


Daisyca

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Hello. I feel fortunate to have stumbled upon this site. I have been taking antidepressants since 2000. I have tried several, all gave me side effects. Most recently, I have been on Lamotrigine 25mg for 2 weeks. I am experiencing flu-like symptoms as well as severe nerve pain in my leg. I have decided enough is enough, and have called my Dr. to work with me on stopping this medication, and all antidepressants. I know how important tapering is, as I tapered off Abilify 5mg last year and think I damaged my nervous system by going to fast. I now have insomnia as well as migraines and fatigue, nausea, nightmares, crying fits, irritability, depression, the list goes on and on.  

I just wanted to ask the group if anyone has experienced nerve pain from Lamotrigine?  Is there anything I can do to stop the pain? How long will this last? I want to stop taking it, since I've only been on it for two weeks, but am very afraid to do so, due to withdrawal symptoms. I have a call into my Dr today to ask about tapering, but don't trust their advice anymore. I only took half the pill last night because I can barely swallow something that is making me feel bad anymore. Any support/advice would be appreciated!

 

Wellbutrin 150 mg 2012-current - for anxiety/depression - caused more anxiety when upped to 300 mg for 6 months.

Lamotrigine 25 mg - 2/7/18- current - many side effects, extreme nerve pain in leg, flu-like symptoms

Abilify - 5 mg - 2013-2017 - tapered too fast, damaged nervous system, now have insomnia, depression, anxiety

Effexor XR - prior to 2010 - side effects

Laxapro - prior to 2010 - side effects

Pristiq- prior to 2010 - side effects

Trazadone - 100 mg April 2019 - current

Cymbalta - 40 mg April 11-April 13 2019

Metformin - 500 mg March - April 2019

Lithium - 300mg nightly July 2018 - March 2019

Seroquil - 200mg nightly October 2018 - March 2019, 300mg nightly July 2018 - September 2018

Gabapentin - 300mg 4x daily July 2018 - April 2019

Wellbutrin XL 100mg October 2018 - March 2019, 150 mg 2012-Sept 2018, 300 mg July-December 2017

Lamotrigine 25 mg - February 7, 2018 -Februrary 21, 2018, April 11 - April 13, 2019

Abilify - 5 mg - 2013-2017 

Effexor XR - prior to 2010 

Laxapro - prior to 2010 

Pristiq- prior to 2010

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Update: So I had a phone conversation with my Dr yesterday and it went something like this:

Me: I'm experiencing some serious side effects I believe from the Lamotrigine. They include flu-like symptoms and severe nerve pain in my leg for the past week.

Dr: I've never heard of those symptoms before. Are you sure you just don't have the flu?

Me: Yes I'm sure. I have a general sense of maliese that began after starting this medication, plus the nerve pain I read online that other patients experienced also.

Dr. I've never had any of my patients describe these symptoms. You can't believe everything you read online.

Me: I'm not going to argue with you about these symptoms, I'm in pain and I want to stop taking the Lamotrigine. How do you recommend I taped off, as I am very sensitive to withdrawal.

Dr: As I've said before, this is a "very clean drug". You can just stop taking it. 

Me: You're saying that I don't have to taper off at all?

Dr. No, just stop taking it.

 

So....I did just stop taking it because I couldn't handle the nerve pain. But I am not excusing my Dr. from her lack of empathy or understanding of tapering. I will be sending her a few articles today to support my claims. This just blows my mind. I have decided to search out a Naturopath. Onward ho........

 

Wellbutrin 150 mg 2012-current - for anxiety/depression - caused more anxiety when upped to 300 mg for 6 months.

Lamotrigine 25 mg - 2/7/18- 2/21/18 - many side effects, extreme nerve pain in leg, flu-like symptoms

Abilify - 5 mg - 2013-2017 - tapered too fast, damaged nervous system, now have insomnia, depression, anxiety

Effexor XR - prior to 2010 - side effects

Laxapro - prior to 2010 - side effects

Pristiq- prior to 2010 - side effects

Trazadone - 100 mg April 2019 - current

Cymbalta - 40 mg April 11-April 13 2019

Metformin - 500 mg March - April 2019

Lithium - 300mg nightly July 2018 - March 2019

Seroquil - 200mg nightly October 2018 - March 2019, 300mg nightly July 2018 - September 2018

Gabapentin - 300mg 4x daily July 2018 - April 2019

Wellbutrin XL 100mg October 2018 - March 2019, 150 mg 2012-Sept 2018, 300 mg July-December 2017

Lamotrigine 25 mg - February 7, 2018 -Februrary 21, 2018, April 11 - April 13, 2019

Abilify - 5 mg - 2013-2017 

Effexor XR - prior to 2010 

Laxapro - prior to 2010 

Pristiq- prior to 2010

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  • Administrator

Welcome, Daisy.

 

What symptom was the lamotrigine supposed to treat? You were only taking it a couple of weeks, do you feel better now that you're off it?

 

Are you taking only Wellbutrin now? How long have you been off Abilify? How have your symptoms changed since you went off?

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi Daisy and welcome from me too,

 

We ask all members to create a drug signature.  This appears below every post you make.  Please update it whenever you make a change.  This is the preferred format which makes it easier for us to see your drug history at a glance:

 

A request: Would you summarize your history in a signature - ALL drugs, doses, dates, and discontinuations & reinstatements, in the last 12-24 months particularly?

  • Please leave out symptoms and diagnoses.
  • A list is easier to understand than one or multiple paragraphs. 
  • Any drugs prior to 24 months ago can just be listed with start and stop years.
  • Please use actual dates or approximate dates (mid-June, Late October) rather than relative time frames (last week, 3 months ago)
  • Spell out months, e.g. "October" or "Oct."; 9/1/2016 can be interpreted as Jan. 9, 2016 or Sept. 1, 2016.
  • Link to Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature.

 

This is your own Intro topic where you can ask questions and journal your progress.  We suggest that members visit each others Intro topics so that can support and encourage each other.

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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Thank you, I tried to create my signature following the rules. Please let me know if it is not ok.

 

Trazadone - 100 mg April 2019 - current

Cymbalta - 40 mg April 11-April 13 2019

Metformin - 500 mg March - April 2019

Lithium - 300mg nightly July 2018 - March 2019

Seroquil - 200mg nightly October 2018 - March 2019, 300mg nightly July 2018 - September 2018

Gabapentin - 300mg 4x daily July 2018 - April 2019

Wellbutrin XL 100mg October 2018 - March 2019, 150 mg 2012-Sept 2018, 300 mg July-December 2017

Lamotrigine 25 mg - February 7, 2018 -Februrary 21, 2018, April 11 - April 13, 2019

Abilify - 5 mg - 2013-2017 

Effexor XR - prior to 2010 

Laxapro - prior to 2010 

Pristiq- prior to 2010

Link to comment

@Altostrata Thank you for your reply. Lamotrigine was supposed to treat my ongoing anxiety and mood swings, as an addition to the Wellbutrin, and as a replacement for the Abilify.

I only took it for a few weeks due to all the side effects I was experiencing. Yes, I do feel better now that I am off of it, thank you! The nerve pain stopped immediately and  my flu-like symptoms are going away as well. I am only taking Wellbutrin now, but plan to start tapering off soon. My goal is to be free of psych meds by end of year.  I have been off of Abilify since end of December 2017.  My symptoms worsened after coming off Abilify. I think I tapered too quickly, now I'm stuck with Insomnia, anxiety, depression, crying spells, irritability. I believe I damaged my nervous system, that is why I will taper off much slower from Wellbutrin, even if my Dr. says its ok not to!!! I'm considering a schedule somewhere around a 25% taper, but still need to discuss with the Dr. Wish me luck!

Trazadone - 100 mg April 2019 - current

Cymbalta - 40 mg April 11-April 13 2019

Metformin - 500 mg March - April 2019

Lithium - 300mg nightly July 2018 - March 2019

Seroquil - 200mg nightly October 2018 - March 2019, 300mg nightly July 2018 - September 2018

Gabapentin - 300mg 4x daily July 2018 - April 2019

Wellbutrin XL 100mg October 2018 - March 2019, 150 mg 2012-Sept 2018, 300 mg July-December 2017

Lamotrigine 25 mg - February 7, 2018 -Februrary 21, 2018, April 11 - April 13, 2019

Abilify - 5 mg - 2013-2017 

Effexor XR - prior to 2010 

Laxapro - prior to 2010 

Pristiq- prior to 2010

Link to comment
  • 2 weeks later...

Ok so I am off the Abilify and Lamotrigine and my next goal is to taper off the Wellbutrin XL 150mg. I meet with my Dr. tomorrow, but am very nervous about discussing tapering with her, because she did not seem to think it was necessary. I know my body and I am very sensitive to withdrawal so I will demand a taper, BUT I am really confused with this drug! So many different types and dosages, I am confused as to how I should approach this. I am thinking of trying a 20% taper every 2 weeks but have no idea how I will handle that. What would that look like as far as dosages (really bad at math here, sorry)? TIA!

 

Trazadone - 100 mg April 2019 - current

Cymbalta - 40 mg April 11-April 13 2019

Metformin - 500 mg March - April 2019

Lithium - 300mg nightly July 2018 - March 2019

Seroquil - 200mg nightly October 2018 - March 2019, 300mg nightly July 2018 - September 2018

Gabapentin - 300mg 4x daily July 2018 - April 2019

Wellbutrin XL 100mg October 2018 - March 2019, 150 mg 2012-Sept 2018, 300 mg July-December 2017

Lamotrigine 25 mg - February 7, 2018 -Februrary 21, 2018, April 11 - April 13, 2019

Abilify - 5 mg - 2013-2017 

Effexor XR - prior to 2010 

Laxapro - prior to 2010 

Pristiq- prior to 2010

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

You have only just finishing getting off Lamotrigine.  It might be a good idea to give your brain a rest from tapering and allow it to catch up from that.  2-3 months of not changing doses will give you a nice solid foundation for when you start tapering Wellbutrin.

 

There is another good reason to wait.  If you start tapering Wellbutrin now and experience issues you will not know if it is delayed withdrawal from the lamotrigine or if it's from reducing the Wellbutrin.

 

From Post #1 Tips for tapering off Wellbutrin, SR, XR, XL (buproprion)

 

"Wellbutrin (bupropion) is an atypical antidepressant with a lower reported rate of withdrawal syndrome compared to the SSRIs and SNRIs such as Paxil, Effexor, or Cymbalta.

However, patients have reported withdrawal symptoms, sometimes severe, from too-short tapering."

 

13 minutes ago, Daisyca said:

I am thinking of trying a 20% taper every 2 weeks

 

It would be much better to start with a smaller reduction.  Again from Post #1 of the Tips for tapering topic:

 

"How gradually should I taper buproprion?
 

"Start with a 10% reduction per month, as we recommend with other antidepresssants.  Base your decrease on the last dosage.  The amount of the decrease keeps getting smaller.
 
If you find 10%-per-month decreases cause no problem, you may wish to make them more often -- but no more often than every 2 weeks. If you get any kind of withdrawal symptom, stop tapering! You are either tapering too fast or making reductions that are too large.

If you are taking the extended-release (XR)  form, you will want to taper as low as possible using a combination of the XR tablets and SR tablets, finally ending up with immediate-release tablets at the end. If necessary, you can make a liquid of the IR tablets, you can't make a liquid of the others."

 

Keep Notes on Paper

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

Link to comment

@ChessieCat thank you for your suggestions. I think you are right, I am just so anxious to get off this stuff and feel better!! But I need to take it slowly, especially since I'm still experiencing insomnia and other symptoms from the other medications I stopped recently. I will be more patient. Thank you.

Trazadone - 100 mg April 2019 - current

Cymbalta - 40 mg April 11-April 13 2019

Metformin - 500 mg March - April 2019

Lithium - 300mg nightly July 2018 - March 2019

Seroquil - 200mg nightly October 2018 - March 2019, 300mg nightly July 2018 - September 2018

Gabapentin - 300mg 4x daily July 2018 - April 2019

Wellbutrin XL 100mg October 2018 - March 2019, 150 mg 2012-Sept 2018, 300 mg July-December 2017

Lamotrigine 25 mg - February 7, 2018 -Februrary 21, 2018, April 11 - April 13, 2019

Abilify - 5 mg - 2013-2017 

Effexor XR - prior to 2010 

Laxapro - prior to 2010 

Pristiq- prior to 2010

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

And during that time you can be learning how to talk to your doctor and planning what to say:

 

How do you talk to a doctor about tapering and withdrawal?


What should I expect from my doctor about withdrawal symptoms?

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

Link to comment

@ChessieCat I just want to say thank you for pointing me those articles on how to talk to my Dr., they were invaluable in my appointment! As mentioned, I remained calm and firm and stated that I would like to maintain my medication at its current level for a month to give my brain a chance to regulate. Of course, as expected, my Dr. tried to push 2 more medications on me,  Celexa (her "go to med") and another one I can't remember the name, but I remained calm and let her talk and just said "not right now."  Then I asked her what the smallest dosage of Wellbutrin was and she said 100mg of the SR tablets, but that most people end up taking that dose twice a day. So that means they would be taking 200 mg a day, which isn't lower than the 150mg I'm on now, so I'm a bit confused but at least I have a month to figure it out! Thanks again Chessie and all staff on this site, my deepest gratitude for your advice and knowledge and caring.

Trazadone - 100 mg April 2019 - current

Cymbalta - 40 mg April 11-April 13 2019

Metformin - 500 mg March - April 2019

Lithium - 300mg nightly July 2018 - March 2019

Seroquil - 200mg nightly October 2018 - March 2019, 300mg nightly July 2018 - September 2018

Gabapentin - 300mg 4x daily July 2018 - April 2019

Wellbutrin XL 100mg October 2018 - March 2019, 150 mg 2012-Sept 2018, 300 mg July-December 2017

Lamotrigine 25 mg - February 7, 2018 -Februrary 21, 2018, April 11 - April 13, 2019

Abilify - 5 mg - 2013-2017 

Effexor XR - prior to 2010 

Laxapro - prior to 2010 

Pristiq- prior to 2010

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus
40 minutes ago, Daisyca said:

those articles on how to talk to my Dr., they were invaluable in my appointment!

 

That's wonderful.  I like that you "let her talk" but were firm with what you wanted to do.

 

41 minutes ago, Daisyca said:

I'm a bit confused but at least I have a month to figure it out!

 

Yes, you do, and if you click on the SA logo top left to go to the main site page and type Wellbutrin in the search box, top right, you can check out members who take/took Wellbutrin and see how they are reducing.

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

Link to comment
  • 2 months later...

I have been experiencing nerve pain in my lower legs since February, after starting Lamotrogine for two weeks the nerve pain was extreme (along with other symptoms) so I stopped taking the Latmotrogine and the nerve pain diminished but has started coming back this month and it's very painful. I feel a burning sharp pain in my lower leg, first it was my right leg, now it is my left leg. It comes with no warning, at anytime of the day and can last several minutes. It is extremely painful for me, I even went to the chiropractor to see if it was related to siatica nerve pain but the Dr. said it wasn't related. So I searched online and found a forum on antidepressants that listed this nerve pain as a recorded side effect of wellbutrin: "Leg Pain - A hurtful sensation in the legs that is caused by excessive stimulation of the nerve endings in the legs and results in extreme discomfort. Wellbutrin side effects"

I am planning on tapering off Wellbutrin soon but am curious if anyone else had this side effect, if so, what did you do about it? Can anything help the pain? I'm afraid it will get worse when I start tapering but won't know until it happens. I'm very frustrated. :(

Trazadone - 100 mg April 2019 - current

Cymbalta - 40 mg April 11-April 13 2019

Metformin - 500 mg March - April 2019

Lithium - 300mg nightly July 2018 - March 2019

Seroquil - 200mg nightly October 2018 - March 2019, 300mg nightly July 2018 - September 2018

Gabapentin - 300mg 4x daily July 2018 - April 2019

Wellbutrin XL 100mg October 2018 - March 2019, 150 mg 2012-Sept 2018, 300 mg July-December 2017

Lamotrigine 25 mg - February 7, 2018 -Februrary 21, 2018, April 11 - April 13, 2019

Abilify - 5 mg - 2013-2017 

Effexor XR - prior to 2010 

Laxapro - prior to 2010 

Pristiq- prior to 2010

Link to comment
  • Administrator

Hello, Daisy. I moved your post here because I have to ask a lot of questions about your situation.

 

What are you taking now, at what times of day? Do you sit at the computer a lot?

 

Many people do better with fish oil and magnesium supplements, see
http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/36-king-of-supplements-omega-3-fatty-acids-fish-oil/

http://survivingantidepressants.org/topic/15483-magnesium-natures-calcium-channel-blocker/

 

A lot of people find them helpful. Try a little bit of one at a time to see how it affects you.

 

Magnesium is particularly good for leg pain. You can also get magnesium oil to rub on your legs.

 

If you're sitting at the computer a lot, you might try leg stretches every hour or two.

 

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

Link to comment

@Altostrata Thank you for your reply. I'm only on Wellbutrin 150mg and I take first thing in the morning. This nerve pain started after starting and stopping Lamotrigine, but I've researched that it is a possible side effect of the Wellbutrin as well. Over-stimulation of nerve endings caused by antidepressants is my best guess. My psychiatrist won't even acknowledge my side effects so working with her on this is hopeless. I'm hoping that tapering off Wellbutrin will alleviate symptoms but then again it could be permanent. :(  Pain is awful and I don't want to take pain meds which is all the doctors are offering me (nobody is suggesting finding the cause of this, just offering medication for symptoms, what a backwards approach!). Thanks for the supplement advice, I will look into it.

 

It is not a cramp or muscle related although I do sit at a computer all day. I already went to chiropractor and he determined it is not siatica related either. I've started meditating when the pain hits and changing my response doesn't help the pain but I think its a better way to deal with it anyway.  Thanks for the support.

Trazadone - 100 mg April 2019 - current

Cymbalta - 40 mg April 11-April 13 2019

Metformin - 500 mg March - April 2019

Lithium - 300mg nightly July 2018 - March 2019

Seroquil - 200mg nightly October 2018 - March 2019, 300mg nightly July 2018 - September 2018

Gabapentin - 300mg 4x daily July 2018 - April 2019

Wellbutrin XL 100mg October 2018 - March 2019, 150 mg 2012-Sept 2018, 300 mg July-December 2017

Lamotrigine 25 mg - February 7, 2018 -Februrary 21, 2018, April 11 - April 13, 2019

Abilify - 5 mg - 2013-2017 

Effexor XR - prior to 2010 

Laxapro - prior to 2010 

Pristiq- prior to 2010

Link to comment

I had joint pain on Lamictal.  I wouldn’t describe it as nerve pain, but everyone is different.  I only made it to 75mg before I had to start tapering back down.

 

now that I’m off of it, I haven’t had any of the pain I was having while taking it.  Also I had terrible headaches while on it and those have gone away as well.

 

 

Current medications - Tapering Klonopin

1/1/2017 - 1mg Klonopin (.25mg AM / .25mg PM)

8/30/2017 - 37.5mg Zoloft

 

3/25/2018 Jumped from Lamictal

 

Past Medications

Zoloft 50mg - 1998 - 2002 / Paxil 20mg - 2002 - 2005 / Paxil 10mg (round 2) - 2006 - 2011 / Klonopin 2mg daily - 2011 - 2013 / Lexapro 5mg - 2013 - April 2017.

 

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Specifically in my hips.  I went to a physical therapist because I was concerned with it being siatica.  It was not.   

Current medications - Tapering Klonopin

1/1/2017 - 1mg Klonopin (.25mg AM / .25mg PM)

8/30/2017 - 37.5mg Zoloft

 

3/25/2018 Jumped from Lamictal

 

Past Medications

Zoloft 50mg - 1998 - 2002 / Paxil 20mg - 2002 - 2005 / Paxil 10mg (round 2) - 2006 - 2011 / Klonopin 2mg daily - 2011 - 2013 / Lexapro 5mg - 2013 - April 2017.

 

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  • Administrator
6 minutes ago, Daisyca said:

It is not a cramp or muscle related although I do sit at a computer all day.

 

The pain may not be a direct side effect of the drugs. Nerve sensitization from going on and off drugs amplifies our bad physical habits.

 

Strongly recommend magnesium and stretching, get at least a half-hour of walking or other gentle exercise each day.

 

Why not try this? It doesn't cost much and it probably won't hurt you.

 

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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@Altostrata What do you mean by "Nerve sensitization from going on and off drugs amplifies our bad physical habits"?

 

I tried taking magnesium (Natural Calm magnesium supplement) but it didn't seem to do anything. I was taking it for insomnia.

I also walk on my lunch hour daily for 40 minutes and stretch twice a day, that's why I'm thinking it's not related to that. It hit exactly the time I was on Lamotrigine which I had such severe side effects from.

Trazadone - 100 mg April 2019 - current

Cymbalta - 40 mg April 11-April 13 2019

Metformin - 500 mg March - April 2019

Lithium - 300mg nightly July 2018 - March 2019

Seroquil - 200mg nightly October 2018 - March 2019, 300mg nightly July 2018 - September 2018

Gabapentin - 300mg 4x daily July 2018 - April 2019

Wellbutrin XL 100mg October 2018 - March 2019, 150 mg 2012-Sept 2018, 300 mg July-December 2017

Lamotrigine 25 mg - February 7, 2018 -Februrary 21, 2018, April 11 - April 13, 2019

Abilify - 5 mg - 2013-2017 

Effexor XR - prior to 2010 

Laxapro - prior to 2010 

Pristiq- prior to 2010

Link to comment
  • Administrator

What we're seeing is that going on and off drugs is stressful on the nervous system and can make nerves hypersensitive to all kinds of things -- light, sound, muscle tension. We have many, many people who have various types of pain as a withdrawal symptom. See

 

What is withdrawal syndrome?

 

Body aches

 

Non-drug techniques for dealing with body pain

 

Non-drug techniques to ease chronic pain

 

Tension, pain, twitches, excruciating spasms in muscles and joints

 

Paresthesia: Pins & Needles, Numbness, Tingling, Burning Sensations aka Neuropathy

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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  • 5 months later...

Hello,

It's been awhile since I last posted because things got very bad for me, I did a 6 week in patient treatment program to try and stabilize my moods and insomnia. I was put on a lot of new drugs (against my best judgement as I had been trying to ween off antidpressants), but turns out I was not on a mood stabilizer with my Wellbutrin and that's how things got bad. I am now on a handful of new drugs, noted in my signature, and I think the Gabapentin might be causing me the following symptoms: swelling of my lower legs/feet (very painful), weight gain (30 lbs in 3 months), uncoordinated movements (I'm dropping things now, I loose grasp), and lower back pain (which isn't going away with physical therapy). All this makes me very depressed, as it seems I will have to taper off of Gabapentin (which I read isn't easy). I have a Dr. appnt. next Tuesday to discuss side effects and tapering, and probably switching to another drug which I don't want to do either. I was prescribed the Gaba for depression and neuropathy in my upper legs which started in February of this year and has just gotten worse. The Gaba keep the nerve pain at bay, but not sure what it is doing for my depression. Anyone relate?

Trazadone - 100 mg April 2019 - current

Cymbalta - 40 mg April 11-April 13 2019

Metformin - 500 mg March - April 2019

Lithium - 300mg nightly July 2018 - March 2019

Seroquil - 200mg nightly October 2018 - March 2019, 300mg nightly July 2018 - September 2018

Gabapentin - 300mg 4x daily July 2018 - April 2019

Wellbutrin XL 100mg October 2018 - March 2019, 150 mg 2012-Sept 2018, 300 mg July-December 2017

Lamotrigine 25 mg - February 7, 2018 -Februrary 21, 2018, April 11 - April 13, 2019

Abilify - 5 mg - 2013-2017 

Effexor XR - prior to 2010 

Laxapro - prior to 2010 

Pristiq- prior to 2010

Link to comment
  • Administrator

Sorry to hear you're now on a drug cocktail.

 

Please put ALL your drugs in the Drug Interactions Checker https://www.drugs.com/drug_interactions.php
and copy and paste the results or a link to them in this topic.

 

While you're on drugs.com, you might read up on the side effects of all your drugs. Gabapentin is notorious for grogginess, Seroquel for weight gain. Lithium can cause kidney damage, are you getting regular blood tests?

 

Daisy, when you have a psychiatric diagnosis and ask the medical profession for help, almost always you will end up on an arbitrary batch of drugs. It's up to you to decide if your current situation is preferable to how you felt in May, when it seemed you were doing well except for the leg pain.

 

It seems to me that you started with garden-variety "depression" in 2000, had adverse reactions to drugs ever since, and are now on a drug merry-go-round basically to eliminate drug reactions rather than treat a psychiatric disorder. This will continue as long as you ask psychiatrists to fix you. Doctors have a tendency to over-medicate; to counter this tendency, you'll have to make drug decisions for yourself rather than rely on them to make them for you.

 

If you decide to minimize your drugs, as you've been taking all these drugs since July, they will all have to be tapered to avoid withdrawal symptoms.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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  • 5 months later...

Altostrata,

I do have to say that when I originally read your post, I was very upset to hear "Daisy, when you have a psychiatric diagnosis and ask the medical profession for help, almost always you will end up on an arbitrary batch of drugs."  and "This will continue as long as you ask psychiatrists to fix you."  I thought it was irresponsible of you to say this, because, where else would I go for help aside from the medical profession?!  But given my current situation, which is currently drug-free except for Trazadone at night for sleep, I have to say you were correct. I was so desperate to feel better that I ended up taking medications not to treat my diagnosis, which has also been changed from bipolar back to generalized depression and anxiety, but to counter the variety of serious side effects I was having. Leg swelling, nerve pain, diabetes, weight gain, hives, migraines etc.. 

Last week I was in the ER twice due to "medication adjustment," which for me was nausea, vomiting, migraine, insomnia, and hives. My body was having allergic reactions to any medication I was given, including hydracodone, doxycyclene, Cymbalta, Metformin, and Lamictal. I only took one-two doses of the psychiatric drugs before I found myself unable to keep anything down and in immense pain. It became obvious to me that I was poisoning myself with these drugs, so I had a phone interview with my new psychiatrist and told her I was taking a medication wash (vacation) until our next monthly meeting. I have absolutely no intentions of ever getting back on antidepressants of this nature. I have beefed up my other therapies, including talk therapy twice a month, weekly DBT classes, and am going to start a daily aerobic workout routine in swimming, which I really enjoy. I can't believe I've been taking all these meds for so many years and probably not needing them, actually making things worse. I feel better this week on no meds than I have felt in the last 10 years. Thank you for your advice and support. I feel like I needed to share my experience with others and this has helped me get through it. I think I am finally on the other side. 

Trazadone - 100 mg April 2019 - current

Cymbalta - 40 mg April 11-April 13 2019

Metformin - 500 mg March - April 2019

Lithium - 300mg nightly July 2018 - March 2019

Seroquil - 200mg nightly October 2018 - March 2019, 300mg nightly July 2018 - September 2018

Gabapentin - 300mg 4x daily July 2018 - April 2019

Wellbutrin XL 100mg October 2018 - March 2019, 150 mg 2012-Sept 2018, 300 mg July-December 2017

Lamotrigine 25 mg - February 7, 2018 -Februrary 21, 2018, April 11 - April 13, 2019

Abilify - 5 mg - 2013-2017 

Effexor XR - prior to 2010 

Laxapro - prior to 2010 

Pristiq- prior to 2010

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