Lamictal (lamotrigine) withdrawal from hell

Ugh… I went through that while going off my last 25 mg of Lamictal– and I was only ever on 100. That was the WORST my mood has ever been. Then stupidly cut out the klonopin (2 mg) cold turkey one week, got flu-like symptoms, and could hardly walk at all. Now tapering off slowly, and I’ve only been on this crap for one year.

By the way… decided for the protest at the SF APA meeting that I’m going to dress up as the Black Box Warning for Abilify, but haven’t picked my signage yet. Something like “Pills Don’t Solve Problems” or “End the Psychopharmaceutical Complex”

marigold…
yes, reinstating the drug is a very good idea…after 25 days it’s hard to know if you will have a lot of relief or not…but it’s still the best thing to do…

you said in another comment somewhere you had been on 100 mg…I wouldn’t hesitate to take more than the 25 mg if you need to, but add it slowly…not all at once…there is a risk of adding too much Lamictal too fast…so wait several days before increasing it…

I wouldn’t hesitate to go up to 75 mg with your doctors approval and then wait until you stabilize…and THEN don’t cut more than 10% of total dose at a time every few weeks.

you can get pediatric pills that are 5 mg to make this easier to accomplish.

good luck

Stephanie,
again as I say too many times in this thread…if you’ve read it, and you should, then visit my “about” page and if you choose to, I suggest you minimize the risk you’re taking.

Right now the way you’re withdrawing is simply very hard on the body.

Giannakali – I wouldn’t mind submitting my story because I feel that the public has a right to hear the truth. I’m sorry to hear you are not in the best shape right now. I know that feeling and it sucks. I’ll pray for all of you to get through this as I did. I’m not religious at all but I do say that prayer works. I had every family member and friend of mine praying for me and helping me get through the emotional hell and thoughts of suicide.

Even a year later, clear of this stuff, i have pent up rage inside and feel like a walking time bomb some days. I’m typically more manic but Lamictal made me feel so low and poor self esteem and I just wanted it all to end. I thank god that my husband watched out for me even when I uncontrollably put him through hell most days. I have signs in our bedroom that reflect positive thinking like “Happily ever after” and “Always kiss me goodnight”. He reminded me that I needed to believe those things like I once did and it did help me out.

I blame most of my problems that I was going through on being stuck in a job with a psycho, emotionally damaging manager. The company refuses to this day to realize what she put me through for 10 years and the end result was them getting rid of me because I had it and told the woman off (she well deserved it, as, I was not the only one she treated this way and got away with it). This was just short of my stay at the psych ward. While it was a horrible experience, it kept others safe from me lashing out when I was feeling so psycho.

I’m at a new job now and love it and my whole outlook on life has changed because of it. Many things of my past crept up on me (being raped when I was 19 was the grand icing on the cake). I think that man should be castrated and any other abusers out there. People that hurt you physically or emotionally have no idea of what it is like to be haunted by those memories forever. I have a tough exterior but am scared to death inside of getting raped or emotionally abused again. I honestly think that if someone tried something again, I would not let them survive it. The shrinks tell me that I have a sex addiction because of the rape. That is a common problem that occurs and it is just another thing to make you feel guilty by society’s standards and being a woman. Makes me sick!

So glad to have found this website…I’ve read down most of the posts and am grateful to find good information even if folks don’t agree 100% of the time.

I am tapering off Lamictal and thought I was doing pretty well–some fatique, headaches, etc. I just realized today though, as I took another step down, that I am not one bit fun to be around for the first two-three days of each “downsizing.” I don’t even want to be around myself. I’m mad at everyone and have no energy to get the things I must get done, done. I’m tearful, have panic attacks and dwell on all the (self-perceived) wrongs people how done to me. I feel hopeless though I realize now that I’ll feel better in a day or two until the next reduction.

Today I managed a morning obligation and grocery shopping but have been on the couch for most of the day. I have got to get laundry down and stuff ready for the week for my son and I. Guess I’ll just have to take one step at a time.

Just reading this blog has been so helpful. I am currently coming off of Lamictal and Lexapro. (I’ve been on and off of meds since I was 20–I’m 34 right now and a mother of three children). I’ve been on everything!!! Zoloft, Prozac, Paxil, Wellbutrin, Celexa, Risperdal, Geodon, Xanax, Ativan, Lexapro, Lamictal. It took my whole life up to age 32 to finally get a proper diagnosis (Bipolar II). Of course the price I had to pay for that was ending up in a psych ward because I was attempting suicide, only to find out that the 40mg of Lexapro that I had been on can cause suicidal thoughts, etc…especially in those who are bipolar.

I feel like me like has just been a big medical experiment! I’ve now been on 20mg of Lexapro and 150mg of Lamictal for two years and I can’t take the side effects any longer: weight gain from both (which has made me even more depressed), I always feel hungry, loss of energy and motivation, memory loss, loss of concentration, hard to hold conversations and try to say what I want to say (even typing this is taking everything I have to give just to get my thoughts out), loss of libido…I can’t take this ANYMORE!!!!

I recently started tapering myself off. I was doing okay at first. I experienced the electric shock sensations from coming off Lexapro. Then I got so fed up with the stupid drugs that two weeks into tapering off, I just said screw it!! I’m done. I’m going to suffer regardless—give me the fight!

I know I must be in withdrawal. I am full of anger, rage, I lash out at my husband, my patience is gone. I’m beside myself. Is this who I’m going to be for the rest of my life. I’m so sick of this. I’m crying as I type this. I know I will get a scolding from coming off to fast. What do those people do who are addicted to cocaine, etc…do they taper off the drug. I thought they just stopped? How long will these symptoms last. I’m tired, I’m nausiated (spelling?), I can’t think straight, I have these raging impulses throughout my body. Will it ever end. I feel so helpless.

I wanted to stop in after the disaster has been over for a year now. I think there should be a massive lawsuit against Lamictal! It took me a full year to feel good again and I finally feel normal again. I was fortunate to not have the bad side effects that others mentioned. I will tell you, not one day went by during that time that I wasn’t suicidal and couldn’t say a word about it because I’d be forced back into hospital under court order.

What I will say and suggest is that checking yourself into rehab is not the way to go. The system treats you like a criminal once you are in and they take great pleasure in pumping you up with a variety of meds. I don’t believe in using psychological drugs to “cure” problems but that is just me and my 2 cents. I think that people are often much worse off. What I have learned is that you need to speak your mind, not bottle things up inside and learn to be assertive (not to be confused with aggression).

To this day, I still say I am NOT bipolar! I am a woman with hormonal issues and have learned not to take peoples BS and it has made me all the better mentally, spiritually and physically. Did I have a nervous breakdown? Yes, I had too many things falling down on me in my life at that point when being forced onto Lamictal. Then being forced to go to a therapist that didn’t listen and when I would break down crying, he didn’t do one thing for me but just watch me and not say a word. That was the biggest kicker of all! Forced to pay a guy $ 200 a session to do nothing! I got more help from self help books about my addictions and fixed myself. I say to battle your own demons and steer clear of the drugs.

The system was a rude awakening to me and I’ll never go that route again. I thought I’d be safe and could recover but instead, I was a guinea pig for others sick pleasures and held in an institution for almost a month. Being walked out of the hospital in shackles to go to court and having people see you as Hannibal lecter was just embarrassing. I thank god they didn’t force shock therapy on me like others. They would try to pitch it as an incentive…hey, if you take shock therapy…you can get out of this hell hole tomorrow. I bucked the system and I’m glad.

My husband came to see me in the hospital every single day and the nurses would tell him horrible things about me and tried to drive us apart. Thank god he stuck by me and believed me when I told him what all happened in there. Then they put me on drugs that made me extremely violent (Depakote)? If I would have punched someone in there as planned, I would have gotten arrested. Makes me sick to know they can do this to innocent people.

Confusing pre-menopause with BiPolar is BS! Don’t take Lamictal…it will turn you into a demon!

I am taking Wellbutrin, along with Lamictal. Since Lamictal is not helping after almost 2 years, I’m switching to Abilify. So I’m on the Lamicatal withdrawal train. Feeling REALLY really spaced out and “off-balance”. which in turn makes my concentration at work terrible, not too mention interesting driving. And that tiredness really blows! I thought it was the Abilify, but after reading this forum, I now know…

Thanks for the email. It is remarkable that only 6 hrs after taking 200mg I feel much better. I’m sure I’ll be back to ‘normal’ tomorrow.

I see that you write about holistic? ways of eating that have helped you. I’m going to check those out.

At least I see hope as I find the bipolar to be getting more debilitating.

I eat lots of sweets. I guess that has to stop.

Thanks again.

Terri

Paige,
what you did was very dangerous…both with Klonopin and Lamictal seizure and death can result from cold-turkey withdrawal.

you are most likely past that window but I strongly caution NO ONE else do what Paige did.

Some people are lucky and get minimal withdrawal effects…you may be one of those people…

For others withdrawal effects or rebound can take about a month. So it’s hard to say if you’re out of the dark. One of the people I’ve learned from claims damage can become apparent decades later if we don’t support our bodies to heal from the invisible damage these drugs do.

Sweating, yes, is most likely a withdrawal symptom.

I wish you the best that you may pass through this with nothing worse than the sweating…

I have to wonder what you were on these meds for in the first place? Certainly underlying needs need to be addressed in most cases…in general the reasons we got on these meds in the first place don’t just disappear without other supports and self-care in place…

Giannakali, I am aware of withdrawals from psychiatric drugs. I was on just about every antidepressant medication for 25 years. 3 1/2 years ago I stopped all psychiatrtic medications with the support of my Doctor. I have been drug free for the past 3 1/2 years except for trying Lamictal. I wrote an article on my life story a year ago. The article focuses on my struggles with coping with depression and taking psychiatric medications. The only reason I decided to try it again is because my motivation level is low. I don’t feel like working or doing much. But I am convinced medications are not for me. I just can’t bring myself to take them. I will email my article and you can post it on your site if you wish. Thanks! Gary

Based on all I have read here I have decided to discontinue taking Lamictal. Fortunately I have only been on the medication for 4 weeks and the past 2 weeks at 25mg twice daily. My Doctor recommended to take 25mg once daily for 1 week and stop.

Please be careful coming off this medication. Do it slowly and with the help of your Doctor. If you go off too fast you can get seizures.

yes, cold turkey withdrawal from any anti-seizure med (most mood stabilizers) can kill you.

Same with cold-turkey benzo withdrawal.

I’m so sorry you went through what you went through.

you said:

The fact of the matter is that quitting your medication yourself will end up in more severe symptoms which will lead to more medication. It seems counter-intuitive but if your aim is to be phree of the pharmacy take your pills for now.

right…so I hope you’ve resumed your Lamictal and Cymbalta…both those meds have really really nasty withdrawal syndromes..

the best to you…

yeah, that is what withdrawal will do…and why it’s so important not to do it precipitously…it’s downright dangerous…

I wish you the best…

stay in touch.

well, my opinion is that drugs, do indeed make us deteriorate over time…

Robert Whitaker, an award winning journalist who wrote (click on the title) Mad in America is now writing a new book and that is his thesis…

the epidemic of disability caused by so-called mental illness is being propelled by us all having being drugged into debilitation…

it happened to me and I’ve been interviewed for his book…

he has researched this in depth and feels there is a book to be written…I agree…

Hi Jen,
EmPower plus works very well for some people, but it’s what I call a “shotgun” approach…basically throwing all sorts of nutrients to everyone who takes it regardless of what their individual needs are.

I won’t take it or try it because I react very badly to L-Phenylalanine…it makes me hypomanic…and it’s one of the ingredients in EmPower Plus…

I’ve heard a few stories of people getting manic on it…

I’ve also heard from people who swear it turned their life around…

that’s all I’ve got on EmPower…

It might be worth a shot…but it’s not cheap either…also I wouldn’t recommend it unless you also change your diet radically and cut out all the crap…

I have a post on nutrition which is really quite thorough to give you an idea of what a good diet looks like…

http://bipolarblast.wordpress.com/2008/07/20/my-nutritional-habits-and-suggestions-for-healthy-eating/

most people don’t believe they eat like crap when they really do!!

take a sharp look at what you’re putting in your body…

oh, I also highly recommend Fish oil, magnesium and good multi and vit C as a foundation for just about anyone.

Jen,
go to my about page and scan the links…there is lots of info or direction to info there…

http://bipolarblast.wordpress.com/about/

if you join the groups I recommend info on natural healing is routinely talked about in the groups…

look for the link that says “Email Support Lists”

take your time on the about page…it’s got a ton of info…buy some of the books if they speak to you…you can look at reviews on Amazon…

and read what I’ve written…

I think that page can be overwhelming, but if you use it as the resource it’s intended to be you can go back again and again…

best to you.

there are lots of safe, tried and true vitamins and minerals and things like fish oil that generally have no side effects (unless one is allergic) and do not cause unnatural shifts in consciousness…

on my about page are support groups and books full of this sort of information….

herbs need to be treated differently than nutrients because they are more like drugs…

diet and nutrients and meditation can heal on a foundational level…herbs in general are for short term use and are more often problematic…though they certainly have their place and I do use them from time to time.

well…do whatever you want, from what I’ve read, it simply seems that these herbs are psychoactive…and that seems to be reason for caution…

just because it’s a herb doesn’t make it safe….but frankly I don’t know enough about it…

the people talking about it on the web though, are pot heads on forums looking for a legal high…that does not mean it’s bad for you but it does suggest it’s psychoactive.

I only took a few minutes looking into it and it’s all I care to do…if anyone is interesting in something like this I recommend careful research…there is no telling whether or not these herbs could lead to dependency.

yeah, apparently this stuff is legal, but it also makes you HIGH. I would be very wary about using any mind-altering substances while withdrawing from psychiatric drugs.

Hi Jen,
It’s not unusual for people who are on one drug or people who have not been on drugs for many years to be able to taper off very easily the first time around…that is why so many of us that have problems are not believed.

I’m so sorry you’re finding the difficult side of things now. I highly recommend you find a doc to help you. You really need to be on Lamictal and taper off slowly.

Go to a public clinic if you need to. And then use slow and responsible tapering methods if you still wish to come off of the drugs…

My about page has lots of info and resources to come off safely…also it directs you to various book, support groups etc, which can help you learn to support your body in such a way so as not to feel the need for the drug.

I wish you the best…and I highly encourage you find some lamictal anyway you can…if not for you then for your daughter.

If you are in the UK, you can file adverse drug reaction reports through MIND, the mental health charity. They statistically collate the data to prevent it from getting flushed down the memory hole by the goons in Whitehall.

I reported my Lamictal withdrawal symptoms to the FDA on their MedWatch web site, http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm. I encourage everyone else to do the same. If you have a doctor willing to help, you can ask him/her to do the report. Otherwise, just do it yourself. It’s easy enough. And I would like to see the FDA require a black box warning on every drug that causes these withdrawal symptoms from hell.

Yes Jan, I did enjoy that!

Serenity is an excellent movie if you like sci-fi. Very well written, very well imagined, great cast and dialogue, the works. It was spun off from the one-season tv series Firefly but you don’t need to have seen that at all, the movie is kind of self-contained.

What you wrote: “I have the desire to not be alone at all with the wanting to be alone at the same time. Having two opposites going on at the same time is horrendous!” How I relate. It’s like throwing off the blankets at night because you’re too warm, but then you pull up the blanket because now you’re too cold, next you’re too warm again, too cold, too warm… all the while, you can’t settle to sleep.

Teresa:

It’s good we have this site to come to, especially on days like today. I’m so sorry you are going through this, and sorry you have to go through it at all. This hopelessness is just awful, but knowing someone else gets it and has it is a big help, if only for that brief moment when I read it. Wish reading it would make it go away altogether but it doesn’t. I hate the idea that I’m even thinking I could be better on the things (meds) that were so awful for me! Nothing worked and yet here I am, struggling so horribly, trying so desperately and feeling as anxious, depressed and lost as ever. And I do understand that wanting to be alone; I have the desire to not be alone at all with the wanting to be alone at the same time. Having two opposites going on at the same time is horrendous!

You hang in there, too. It HAS to get better.

Jan

Teresa and Froscha:

I’m glad you both enjoyed my ER visit and my reaction. It didn’t seem funny at the time, but when I look back, I can giggle about it. Another moment you might enjoy – I was sitting in front of a new psych at one of the psychiatric hospitals, and he told me that he saw I had a particular habit of always trying to land on my left foot whenever I got either to the top or bottom of a staircase. Don’t know why – I just do it for some odd reason. Anyway, he asked, “And what happens when you don’t land on the left foot, Jan?” to which I leaned in real close and said, in a kind of secretive voice, “I land on the right foot!” What an AH! Thought you two would enjoy that.

Teresa – I hope your move goes smoothly this weekend and I sure hope you will be enjoying that peace and quiet. I wish I could say that is something I could do, but I am in the throes of not being able to be by myself. I’m going through hell and it doesn’t look like it will end soon. Right now I feel as though I’ll be this way for the rest of my life!

Froscha – Some day I’ll have to rent that movie so that I can see the look on the girl’s face. Thanks for the humor!

Jan

Jan-
Sorry to take so long to get back to you. I thought I sent a message yesterday, but I guess it didn’t go through.
I have to say you gave me a good laugh when you said you wanted to kick her down the hall. I have definitely felt that way, as matter of face that’s how I felt with this new pdoc I saw the other night…. I wondered what he was thinking, and if he was even listening to a word I was saying!
Yes, I wanted to pour a bottle of Lamictal down his throat and say now let me know what you feel like, and what the withdrawals feels like Ahole!
Needless to say I’ve decided to NOT take the Buspar. I took it yesterday once and I felt way more dizzy than I already was! I also was VERY anxious last night! I have so much on my mind with moving this weekend and all I have to do! My mind is going in a million different directions and I am so stressed and anxious… I keep thinking over and over about EVERYTHING I have to do!!! Even the little stupid things because I am afraid I will forget, even though I’ve written them down over and over!!! I am down to 25 mg’s of Lamictal. I’m sure once I stabilize on that I will feel better again and hopefully after this weekend once I’m moved into my new place, even though I’ll still have a million things to do, I can relax a little bit. The hard part will be over!!!! I can come home and enjoy my new place with Peace and Quiet!!!!!! Thank you again for listening and caring!!!!!

Im so confused I was doing better for about a few days was driving again then i went back to noises being to loud wasnt even on computer for 3 days because I couldnt attach to anything separated from environment couldnt concentrate just stared into space Im back on Lamictal 6 weeks I still cant work Everyweek I say Im going to return next week and I cant I hadnt taken sick day in 9 yrs and Im out 6 1/2 weeks since I took Lamictal for 6 days stopped went 14 days started again It feels like 6 yrs to me not 6 weeks Does anybody know if you take 2 steps forward and 3 steps back and My Doc says theres no withdrawal from Lamictal and I asked doc if i could stop it if i didnt like it and he said it wouldnt be problem before i started it WHAT AN OUTRAGE and since he gave me starter pack there was no instructions on tapering off over several weeks or side effects to look out for Ive been having problems with urinating when i got follow up to starter pack it tells me to notify doctor if you are having this side effect also clay colored stools which i have had on and off since im on nice to LET ME KNOW P.S. sorry to get gross

I am wondering what would make him give it to me. He knows that I am on Klonopin still, very little. Also, from what I’ve read it is strictly for anxiety. I obviously have mood issues here, so I’m just blank at this point.

Well I went to the new Psych last night, and guess what? I didn’t like him!!!! Are there any good Psychiatrists or do these people get there License from a Cracker Jack box? I am over it!
Not to mention my throat hurts, and I am trying hard to fight getting really sick with all that I have to do this weekend!
Well he believe me that I a, extremely sensitive to meds, yet he basically about told me I was lying about how hard it was to get off of Lamictal, and couldn’t believe how I could be having such bad withdrawals on such a low does, and than proceeded to tell me well you have to get off of it anyway! I said well it’s easy for you to say because you aren’t the one going through it and having to function at work going through it!!!
He than gave me a script for 25 mg’s, which I wanted and told me to take 25 for a week, than 12.5 for a week and stop, and gave me a script for Buspar… He said that he has had success with patients who are very sensitive to meds with that. I read up on it and it seems to have alot of bad side effects as well, not to mention it is for anxiety. My problem isn’t anxiety, I have Klonopin for that if I need it, my problem is my mood swings, and the anxiety is worsening from the Lamictal withdrawals. Not only that, but he was asking me what was wrong with me, what my diagnosis is basically! HELLO- who’s the doctor here, and why am I paying you!!!! Ugh, I am very frustrated!!!!!!! Gianna- have you heard anything about Buspar?
He than told me that my last doctor sounded right about the A-Typical Depression…. Nice guess Buddy! What an IDIOT!!!!!!

Teresa:

I’m glad you are feeling a little better mentally; just remember that even a little bit is better than none or feeling worse. Do you journal how you feel each day and what you’ve eaten and taken re: meds and supplements? I do that and it helps to see if you have a pattern going that is either helping you or hurting you. If you haven’t done this yet, you might want to start. I think you could benefit greatly from it. It’s shown me some patterns re: eating that were hurting me and blocking the healing.

Hope today is even better for you.

Jan

Hi Katie,
I don’t have a specific recollection of joint aches being associated with Lamictal withdrawal, but I have heard of it with benzo withdrawals and I’ve also observed that most potential side effects are common to all psych drugs….it just takes the right individual to experience them…

anyway…it’s entirely possible and likely that it was related but there is no way you’ll know for sure unless you repeat the experiment and that is probably not such a good idea! 🙂

Hey Teresa,
Emergen C is just vitamin C (but expensive)…if you want to push vitamin C it’s best to get a Vitamin C powder and just take a tsp every couple of hours…some people use it to bowel tolerance when they are fighting something….

pills will make you feel bloated that is why the powder is good if you’re taking high doses…no fillers…

Just mix the powder in water or juice…

vitacost is where i get a lot but not all of my supplements…very good prices.

Jan,
most of us do have spiritual and psychological problems that need attending to as well.

there are lots of different modalities to help oneself spiritually and psychologically…

I have no idea what might be appropriate for you.

Meditation is a good thing to do if you can manage it….sit with yourself and experience your fear and discomfort….not easy but basically we are all alone and need to deal with the existential reality of being human and there are thousands of ways to do that….

I really don’t know enough about you to suggest a place to start…

do you have spiritual and/or psychological interests?

if so all I can say is pursue them.

In any case, I do understand the pain of being alone….though I’m married I spend a lot of time alone. I am much better with being alone than I used to be…

I’ve also spent a lot of time studying buddhist like teachings…I’m not a buddhist but I find the philosophy very helpful…..

If any of what I say triggers anything for you—I might be able to suggest something…i’ve worked with psychology and spirituality for two decades and am aware of many many forms of therapy and spiritual practices…if you give me some clues I might be able to make some suggestions.

Teresa:

I feel horrible with the depression and anxiety and some racing thoughts. It seems that could be one of the last things to clear up as the body heals. I still have a horrible night’s sleep, too, although I don’t sweat all through the night like I used to, which means the adrenals are healing. I wake up every day before I ever want to, and I believe it’s probably the adrenals giving my body a good shot of cortisol at the wrong time. That’s where a lot of anxiety and dread comes from – the body and brain are always perceiving things as threats even when there is none.

I am glad you found out about the anti-biotics. I had been on them when I was a teenager for acne, and I believe they screwed me up royally, including gynecologically.

We will all keep persevering and pushing through, and one day the cloud will lift, and we’ll be amazed! I have to keep telling myself that – I constantly feel like I’ll never get better.

Take care,

Jan

Jan,
Thanks for the info! I knew that antibiotics weren’t good for you, but I didn’t realize how bad they were, and I used to be on them ALL of the time for chronic Tonsilitis and Sinusitis. Less than a year ago I had my tonsils out finally, what a nightmare that was at 29 years old!
Talk about pain!!!!!
A couple of months ago I was on antibiotis several times for a sinus infection. Well I took three rounds of diff antibiotics until I went to the specialist and told him they werent working, well he did a CT scan and said my sinuses were clear!!! I now know that it was the withdrawals from the Lamictal that was making me feel so sick and like I had a sinus infection when I didn’t!!! So there I was on three cycles of different antibiotics for nothing, which in turn caused a serious feminine problem!!! Gotta love it!!!!
Thanks again for your support, right now I just want to sleep!!!!! How are you feeling today?

probiotics are a great place to start…they help heal the gut and allow for better absorption and possibly tolerance of other nutrients down the road…

as for the rest of it, yeah, it’s normal…especially if you came off too fast…

it can take a couple of years to really start feeling better ( that doesn’t mean you’ll feel really shitty all the time) just that the body takes time to heal and I would make sure that if you do want to heal that you find someone who can help treat you with nutrients…those will help a lot…

adrenals are a factor for me too…I’ve got adrenal fatigue…again treatment for adrenals pretty much demand at least some supplements (though don’t let anyone tell you you need cortisol–it can be dangerous for people with our sensitivities…it can be appropriate for others…)

adrenals themselves take a year or two to heal once they’ve crashed…

best to you.

Gianna and Teresa:

Teresa:
Couldn’t find the other postings to you and Teresa that we had kept going; it’s a bit difficult doing this through the work computer. Anyway, I just wanted to see how you were doing, Teresa. I think of you often and hope you are healing more every day.

Gianna:

I’ve noticed that my panic/hot flash attacks have diminished greatly, and I believe that one thing that has needed to heal in all of this are the adrenal glands. I still struggle BIG time with anxiety, depression and some racing thoughts. Is that still a very “normal” part of this withdrawal process? (Have been off of all meds 14 weeks, and you had mentioned I came off of them way too fast). Also, one amazing thing is that I am now able to tolerate a probiotic. That is the only supplement my body can handle right now.

Thanks,

Jan

hi guys im taking 12.5 mgs back on now 5 wks when will withdrawal symptoms go away I still have on and off noise sensitivity and a feeling that im separated from environment however i can drive again did’nt drive all of 09/08 what else can i do its frustrating because i cant make it better or just snap out of it

SSRI are the drugs like Prozac, Zoloft, Lexapro, Celexa, Paxil, etc…

they are serotonin reuptake inhibitors…

SNRI are very similar except they also mess with norepinephrine, that is they inhibit reuptake of both serotonin and norepinephrine.

They both have very similar side effect and withdrawal symptoms…

Lamical is an anti-convulsant drug used in psychiatry as a mood stabilizer. Fact is it’s not much of mood stabilizer in studies, though it often lifts depression, usually temporarily….

anyway, that’s extremely basic info and about all I”m up for right now…

you can google SSRI and SNRI to learn more…

K,
Thanks for your advice! I have found that once I am actually showered and ready for work in the morning, and than at work I start to get a little bit anxious as is, although still tired, anxious. Kind of sounds strange I know, so I have really tried to cut out caffeine, and I’m still trying. I’ve been on and off with it. Like Gianna, I am sensitive to it, so even though I am REALLY tired and want to have some I know it will wake me up, but also make me nutso and want to come out of my skin!!!! Amazing considering I used to drink a latte from Starbucks twice a day, strong of the strong coffees/espressos!!! I had to go back up on the Lamictal for now, I was just WAY too sick and I am trying to work, and am going to be moving on Friday, so I need to be functional. At least as much as I can be… I plan to stay this way for another week and once settled in my new place I want to cut down again, but slower this time. I like Gianna, have realized that I think 5 mg’s a time is what is going to work best for me!! My body seems to be VERY sensitive… Again, once in my own place again I plan to buy healthy foods and try to improve my overall health, and try to get up enough energy to exercise, and I think it will help with coming off of the Lamictal. I also start therapy on Wednesday and really PRAY that I like the lady!!!! I HAVE to really focus on getting healthy, because in the past I have always let myself get off track because of LIFE…. Well I have realized I will never really have a life, at least not a meaningful one if I don’t get healthy and put 100% into it. Sorry for babbling!!!!!!
Thanks again!!!!

Teresa,

I know this goes against what really is the right thing to do, but I just wanted to tell you that I am trying to cut the sugar and the caffeine at the same time while I was/am withdrawing from lamictal. I drive for my job, and like you, cannot afford to lose it. I have decided to postpone cutting the caffeine, and I honest to God feel a million times better, and I really think my life (back to the driving for a job thing–important to be alert) depends on it. I will wait another month or two at least before I try to quit the caffeine. It is another drug and to do them all at once is difficult. To do the lamictal and caffeine at the same time is brutal…again, just what is working for me. I try to stick to unsweetened teas, such as green and black.

Gianna,

I hope it’s okay that I posted this. If it’s not just delete it 🙂

Teresa,
I made suggestions to you in an email.
The best you can do right now is take one step at a time and educate yourself. I gave you some means to do that.

Don’t taper anymore if you haven’t made other changes in your life. You’ve made no indications to me that you have made any changes that will support your drug withdrawal.

You are probably having withdrawal symptoms from previous tapers and need to make some decisions about how you’re going to care for yourself in another way if you arent’ going to choose meds.

Until you’ve made those healthy changes, it’s best not to continue withdrawing and give yourself a chance to stabilize.

the best to you.

Gianna,
I responded to your email. Not sure what I am going to do. I made an appt with a new Psychiatrist for next Monday, NOT soon enough! I feel that I can not do this on my own! I am TOO sick and I really can’t continue to work like this. All I want to do is go home. I am so sick today, SO dizzy, neauseous, anxious, disoriented. I can’t stand it!!!!!!

Gianna,
Well I decided to stop the Pristiq because I didn’t like the way it was making me feel. I am still taking a small dose of the lamictal because the withdrawal is just too much. SO I am more dizzy and moody because of stopping the Pristiq, but I don’t feel as out of it as I did. I was in bed for two days with a headache that was so bad I couldn’t even get up!!! No matter how much advil or tylenol I took it just would not go away!! I am hoping that because I only took it for 6 days, after another few days it will get better and I can just focus on weaning down more on the lamictal. Although I am soooo moody and bitchy I can’t even stand myself, and feel so sick I am hoping that it will only get better!!!!

No I don’t …it’s new, but it’s simply just another SNRI (like Effexor and Cymbalta) so you can expect nasty ass withdrawals from it most likely since Effexor and Cymbalta are both really bad…

good luck—I hope you find your way out of the maze…don’t give up…

Gianna,
Thank you for responding! I agree with you about starting a new med before being completely off of, and having withdrawals from another. Against my better judgement, I did what my doctor told me to do. I don’t like the doctor at all, he didn’t even really listening to what I was telling him when I went in to see him for the first time, and just told me to stop the lamictal and start Cymbalta. I’m glad that I didn’t just STOP lamictal, because I knew better from the withdrawals I already had! These doctors amaze me with the way they hand out these meds like candy without even really knowing what is wrong with you!
I’m not sure at this point what to do, I’m just tired and tired of feeling so bad, mentally and physically! It’s so hard to pretend like you are ok, when you are barely making it through the day! I am making so many mistakes at work and can not concentrate, and if this continues and the lack of concentration and memory continues I don’t know how I will deal with it.
The headaches and dizziness and blurred vision are just overwhelming!!!!
Thanks again!!!!

Gianna,
I’m really glad to have found this site, and have been able to read your posts. You sound like you def know what you are talking about and have put alot of time and effort and energy into research which alot of us don’t do because we simply don’t have the energy when either depressed or going through withdrawals. By the time I get home from work all I want to do is lay down in bed and rest until I have to get up in the morning and do it all over again.
I am tapering off of lamictal slowly and am down to about 15 mg’s or so I would guess. I have 150 mg pills and have been cutting smaller and smaller pieces off. Although a new doctor I saw recommened that I just completely stopped taking it, until I mentioned the withdrawal symptoms, he than said go down slowly within two weeks. Easy for him to say because he has no clue what it feels like. He gave me Cymbalta which had really bad side effects for me, so I stopped, he than gave me Pristiq. After 6 days I don’t feel depressed but I am more axnious and out of it, and can not at all concentrate or stay focused and have HORRIBLE headaches and by night time am so dizzy and nauseous. During the day at work it’s very hard to deal with being so dizzy and unable to focus and concentrate and find myself making many mistakes ( I do accounting) so NOT good!!!!!! Aside from that my blurred vision is so bad, I am not sure if this is still from the Lamictal or from the Pristiq or both. I have been SO tired although anxious and just want to go to bed, and than my mind races until I fall asleep and I don’t want to get up in the morning I feel like I haven’t slept in days, but I have! I think what is the hardest part and most difficult for me right now is the blurred vision because I can’t keep working this way! Any ideas???? I’d really appreciate some advice from someone!!!!

Mason,
If you’ve withdrawn from multiple meds all very quickly you could be at risk of getting very sick…

don’t hesitate to go back on some of your cocktail until you learn how to take better care of yourself…

the goal is that we stay healthy and sometimes that means SLOWING down…and taking drugs a while longer…withdrawal is not something you want to mess with…it can make you very very sick…

i feel betrayed by my dr , he said theres no side effects or bad ones at least. yeah right! thats why he gave me 300 xanax a month and valium 120 and provigil im off lam, provigil, val, barely taking zanax the withraw is prolly a mix

yes, I have heard of situations such as yours…it’s likely withdrawal…

if you want help and are READY to commit to life changes I suggest you try Withdrawal and Recovery yahoo group…

you can find the link in my side bar under support groups…

otherwise if a group is not for you look at my “about” page at the top of the blog…lots of info and resources of what your might do to heal your body and mind…

the best to you…I know it’s truly hell…it will pass, but much more easily if you commit to some changes in diet, nutrition and lifestyle…

the drugs really do a number and we need to work to heal.

K,
brain zaps are usually a result of ssri or snri withdrawal…have you withdrawn from one of those…if so I would reinstate and slowly come off…many of these symptoms can be avoided…

as always I direct you back to my “about” page….

or join one of the support groups on the “about’ page…most notably Withdrawal and Recovery which can also be found on the side bar to the right of the blog.

Linda,
I’m not sure you’re having withdrawal or just a really nasty negative reaction to the drug….you’ve been on it such a short time…

Whatever is going on though it’s clear Lamictal is bad news for you.

And I have heard of people getting hooked on benzos in a weeks time, so it’s by no means impossible that you ARE having withdrawals…

I’m really sorry you’re having such a hard time.

Peace to you.

It’s an electrical sensation…as though one were being mildly electrocuted…but the mildly is making it sound like it’s not hell…and it is hell for some people…it tends to vary in severity from person to person.

Lamictal withdrawal from hell – that happened to me. I spent 6 months tapering off from 200 mg, stepping down 25 mg at a time. The symptoms are a hell beyond description; there’s just not anything else like them. One aspect is irritability. The slightest irritation, such as noise or a computer glitch, was amplified beyond toleration. All the worst memories of my life, from early childhood to the present, popped up spontaneously day in and day out. I felt disconnected from my visual input, as if I were watching a video game instead of the environment around me. I was dizzy, nauseated, and tired, with muscle aches and migraines. My eyes hurt. My teeth hurt.

I still have all these symptoms, just not as intense, 2 months after my last dose of Lamictal. It’s a very slow recovery. I took Lamictal 200 mg per day for 7 years. I started when I got divorced and wanted help recovering. My doctor convinced me that Lamictal was mild, safe, and beneficial for long-term use. I could use a long string of cuss words to describe my response, but they would not be adequate. I was deceived and betrayed. I was poisoned.

Colleen,
there is no crystal ball…all one must do is commit to taking good care of themselves and healing potentially can be spontaneous…

the generalizations are just that…

the best thing you can do is taper very slowly…

that generalization really applies more to people who have been on many drugs or been on drugs for years and years too…

so it depends on length of time, quantity and age….

youth makes things much easier in general too…

Wow! Please tell me it isn’t so–that last post. I’m trying to go off lamictal right now and I also have type 2 diabetes and I decided today that I must be hypoglycemic because I have felt like h*ll on and off for two weeks now. I can’t even work.

For those of you who have kicked lamictal, how long did it take for the extreme fatigue to go away (if you had it) I am so exhausted I feel like I could sleep though the night after being awake for 5 hours. I force myself to stay up because one thing I have done that has tremendously helped my life is keep a sleep-wake routine. I don’t want to throw that off. I have so many things that need to be done, but I just sit and stare at the wall. I am too tired to do my normal work-outs or even walk the dog. It’s only been a week I guess…It feels longer though.

I went off Lamictal full of fear, and all sorts of antipsychotics etc at the same time. slowly, and alone…looking at a picture of an angel.

I felt less anxious the less Lamictal I took.

I was on it for YEARS. It has affected my eyesight permanently. (there are three moons, for example)

In the years I was on this stuff I felt crazier than I do now. I am so grateful to be free of the strangeness of living-having to cover so many side effects, and the feeling of “rip-van-winkle” since I was out of it so long, that the world has changed.

This is a very dangerous tract. Make sure you get a couple of opinions before embarking on the drug thing. All people are ignorant, unless they have been on it. Even doctors.

I just finished reading this thread. I’m a little late, but hey I might spark a sudden resurgence of activity (I don’t mean manic activity:-) I’m so glad this blog is here. I learned of it through the alt therapies 4 bipolar yahoo group. Thanks Gianna.

It’s been fascinating to read what others have experienced with Lamictal. I have wondered if I was taking the same drug. I’m a freak though. I have told my ex heroin addict friend that if I was ever hooked even on heroin I’d go cold turkey and just be done with it by force of will. Because I refuse to let drugs have that much power over me. That might not be so true anymore…and I’ve never had to kick anything that strong. You can’t confuse and ignore those symptoms.

I want to say that I have a lot to learn from and I respect other’s commitment to their own healing, who are cautious, respect their bodies and most of all know their bodies well enough to listen to them.

I’ve been taking Lamictal off and on for a few years. The last year I don’t think I’ve missed a dose. I have fought taking psych meds for 13 years. I kept having manic episode after episode every year in the Springtime. This past year was the last straw when I thought I had gathered enough self control to stay well, I got manic again and couldn’t calm down on my own. I decided to take Lamictal and stay on it. I have gone off of it cold turkey a few times. Looking back that wasn’t too smart. But my internal chaos level at that time was such that I couldn’t single out side effects from my other swirling emotions. The posts here have given me a road map of what to look for should I choose to withdraw responsibly

Most of the reason I had been off and on was because I was sure it wasn’t doing anything for me. I’m currently taking 200mg and have no side effects. Maybe I do. I thought I knew myself pretty well, but I can’t tell if it does anything for me or to me. My moods are stable now for the most part. But I still do feel things, get angry sometimes. My thinking is clear, clearer than on any other drug. I am not sad anymore. I don’t know if that’s because of all the emotional and spiritual work I’ve been doing or it’s the drug.

In the first few months taking it regularly at 100mg, the doctor wanted to make sure I was stable. So we played a game like “I dare you to take more.” I said fine give me 200mg. It was like doubling up playing blackjack. No difference. I really thought it was a placebo! I’m taking it to be taking something, not that I believe in it. In order to get trust from the people around me and give a little security to myself, I have to be on something. I just happen to be doing well.

As an aside, I have stopped seeing that doctor because he was really out of touch with me and irresponsible enough to fling around dosages like a game. I said “what the heck” but shouldn’t he have been more cautious? or knowledgeable? I took 100mg right off the bat and then 200mg with no change since.

My main point to make here is, there are some people like me who don’t think Lamictal does much. I have so little respect for the choices doctors make about which drugs to use and what dosages. It all seems so arbitrary and experimental to me, that I don’t treat it as real, just something to be avoided as potentially dangerous.

That said, I really do think Lamictal helps me not get so depressed. I got glimpses of that back when I wasn’t so consistent taking it.

I know well that reckless, self-destructive behavior is a part of me to be healed not something to be proud of. But it’s my truth as I know it and thanks to God, it’s changing for the better everyday.

Good luck and good health everyone!

wife2dean,
without knowing whether or not you are taking care of your body, mind and spirit in other ways—diet, nutrition, meditation, exercise, etc—-and also without knowing how quickly you withdrew from drugs there is no telling what you are going through….

I do recommend you go to the About page at the top of this page and get resources there to help you take care of yourself in natural, holistic, healthy ways so that you can recover…

In general having a “relapse” a month after withdrawing too quickly is very normal….especially if you’ve not prepared your body and continued supporting it in alternative ways.

I wish you the best.

hi carly,
good luck with your journey…

I hope you find something that can be of help here.

Hi K,
It’s a pleasure to be made aware of you!

Don’t know how long you’ve been on Lamictal…but please try to be patient and split up the 25 mg and take a while to get off…

I’m tired…in the middle of moving, so not gonna say much more…just best wishes and I hope to see more of you around here!

and it’s Seroquel…

oh, and yeah, the foster child system is a travesty…absolutely sickening….

trauma gets labeled mentally ill all the time…

November,
No one here says to go off drugs precipitously. Also no one ever recommends any given individual go off drugs at all.

One must prepare their body and no, yoga may not be enough. But diet, nutrition, yoga, meditation and other forms of self care can be enough even for the worst of us.

Read the recovery stories. All sorts of people recover. (tab on top of page)

But you are right to warn people…it should never be done quickly or without careful research…

Since I wrote this piece I’ve found a doctor who knows what she is doing and I’m doing great…almost off everything…a few months a way most likely…

it’s possible

Sorry bee,
there is no way I can answer that…I have simply learned by lots of observation and in my own life that being conservative with withdrawals and taking special care of one’s body with diet and nutrition and exercise and meditation has the best out comes for people.

there are always a few people who do alright even while being reckless…

my opinion is that you’re taking a gamble…I’ll be out the rest of the night…

good luck

I can pretty much guarantee your doctor is wrong and what you’re feeling has everything to do with withdrawal…this is when doctors really piss me off..

In any case what you do and how you choose to advocate for yourself is up to you.

I would still reinstate and try to get healthy. But that is me.

Hi bee,
I can only say what I say again and again on this blog…you’ve tapered too fast and it’s probably a good idea to reinstate and get some cooperation from a doctor…

What you are doing can be dangerous…

go to my “about” page for direction to get started looking at resources that might help you. (go to top of this page—there are tabs there)

You do not have to suffer…when it comes to withdrawal a lot of how much you suffer boils down to being responsible with your body and your health.

I wish you the best.

I’m not one to talk to about hormones…they have all been awful for me.

Your diet does not sound particularly good and your supplementation is not nearly enough for what you need if you hope to go natural.

Also you really have tapered dangerously fast so you do have reason to be concerned.

I would start doing some serious research if you want to stay balanced. Most people once they’ve been on psych meds need to heal their bodies and mind in other ways..

you can look at my “about” page for ideas on how to get started and you can join some of the alternative mental health care support groups that I have listed on that page….lots of people to share stories with on those groups..

this is a decision you have to make to stay healthy naturally—

the information is out there if you look for it…good luck….I do hope this blog can be an inspiration for you. There is a ton of info on it.

Vic,
the best way to avoid problems is to have better self-care practices in place.

The ones I recommend are religiously healthy diet, meditation, and exercise—-I’m particular to Eastern forms of movement medtitations such as Tai Chi and Yoga…

Supplements are a huge part of my program as well.

Commitment to a different lifestyle and loving self-care are necessary substitutes to psych meds in my opinion.

I just want to thank you for this website. Reading all these stories help alot and thank you for all the information. I really do appreciate it. You take care too, Torie

Hi again! The one thing that I don’t understand is if you do taper off really slowly, you still have the same side effects as you do when you quit. why not just stop taking them and just get it over with because you will feel horrible anyway. I don’t want to start taking it again. What about the people who has to stop taking it because they get the rash. They have to stop it completely because of the horrible side effects. I just am wondering what difference it really makes. Why put myself through this for longer than I have to? I’m just so angry that my doctor just prescribes me all this medication all the time. I really don’t want to call my doctor. I just am so tired of feeling this way. I was tired of feeling the way I did on the medication. Why is it so dangerous?

Hello, I had been taking Lamictal for a year and decided I wanted to feel again. Since taking Lamictal, I haven’t had any desire to do anything and my depression hasn’t lessened. I have been diagnosed with Bipolar and have been my entire life. I have been put on every medication and nothing has helped me in finding that inner happiness. I don’t really take very good care of my body so I just decided to cut my 150mg in half for a week and then just stop taking it. This was a month ago. Well, I got the brain zaps so bad I wanted to bash my head in and I was so incoherent so I had my boyfriend drive me to the pharmacy to refill my prescription. I started to take it immediately and it took a couple of days for the withdrawls to stop. I was determined to stop taking it because I need my life back. I have been so lazy and zombie-like this whole year and I have gained so much weight because I just have no desire to do anything. I am not a lazy person and I have always been cocerned about how I look and my weight but for the last year I haven’t really had the desire to take care of myself. I took 2 weeks off of work and so I cut my dose in half again and then stopped taking it. This time I didn’t get the brain zaps but I don’t feel like I want to live either. I am so extremely depressed, can’t go to work because my brain is so messed up and just recently I have the worst headaches cold sweats and extreme naseau. It has been 3 weeks that I have completely stopped taking the medication and I’m going to work through this but it is extremely hard. I don’t know how to go to work. I have a very physical job and I feel like I’m going to pass out when I go to work. I also started shaking extremely bad and had to go home. I have called in sick for the last week and I have to go back in two days and I just don’t know how I’m going to do it. I can’t believe this drug is making me feel so terrible. How do I go to work and act normal when I feel anything but normal? I just want this to be over. I want my life back. I want my body back. Torie

Terisa,
I’m really sorry but there is no real answer for your question. We are all so different.

I find it odd that you’re having withdrawals at all being on only 25 mg for a couple of weeks…on the other hand it doesn’t surprise me either…it’s a very common phenomena with benzos…the problem is we know so much less about Lamictal because there simply isn’t as many people who have come off of it.

I can only suggest you hang in there—it might be a good idea to go back on half a tablet of Lamictal and taper more slowly too.

Oh, I was also wondering if you’d gone off an SSRI any time recently…the brain zaps are usually associated with SSRI’s, but I’ve now heard it from a couple of Lamictal users…it just makes me wonder if SSRI’s are in the mix…

also withdrawing from SSRI’s can make one extremely nauseated…

good luck…

Ruth,

Your support group is funded by Janssen Pharmaceuticals, makers of Risperdal, a neuroleptic, one of the most dangerous groups of drug in use in medicine today.

You acknowledge that you receive “generous” BigPharma funding, but what exactly does BigPharma get in return?

What does the Janssen cash mean for the editorial freedom of your group’s newsletter, leaflets and other publications?

Is BigPharma influence overt, or is it more subtle?

Are the BigPharma grants conditional?

Might future grants to your group depend on your continued support for Janssen products including Risperdal, and psychotropics in general?

Eileen

I quit taking Lamital 7 days ago after tapering over a few weeks. 150, 75, 37.5 and then nothing. Did under the supervision of a doc and cut my 150 pills into quarters. It has not been horrible, but it has not been great. Headaches. very irritable, exhausted, not sleeping well. I even feel like my eyesite is blurred. It is helping that I keep reminding myself that my brain is in a major state of flux and am just trying to keep my mouth shut as much as possible to protect my loved ones! Though a benefit is that in lieu of my nice ‘let me do it all persona’, everyone is scurrying around the house putting away clothes, toys, papers etc. In retrospect, I could have tapered more slowly (though as I said, this was doc agreed upon plan.)

When I cut from 15 to 75 to 37.5 it seemed like it was about 5 days of YUCK and it would get better. It has been a week since I have taken none. Anyone have any comments on how until the YUCK I am currently experiencing will pass. Will say that I am hoping the extreme irritatbility I am experiencing is due to withdrawal and not me post lamictal!!!

The point of this post is though I have described ill effects, it has not been an insurmountable fight to get off of this. It’s not great, but it has not stopped my life because of it. I am just looking forward to being done.

Thank you. For the suggestion and the encouragement. I hadn’t considered that there must be pediatric doses. I have, however, started using my naturopath’s suggested herbal tinctures. Three times a day, 15 drops each of calamus root and oat seed tinctures, plus ginger tincture to taste because calamus can cause nausea. So far it’s helping a LOT.

Hi all–
I posted my drug withdrawal story part I somewhere else on this site and can’t figure out how to move it here. It’s so helpful hearing from all of you. Even with all my expertise with drugs at this point, I forget why I’m feeling so nuts. Monday I tapered down another 25mg of Lamictal (started at 400 and am going down 25 mg every two weeks.) Yesterday was hell. I was hanging on minute by minute–someone said nails on a chalkboard. A kind of itchy, jumpy, panicky feeling mixed with inability to focus, headache, insomnia, skincrawling sensations, a feeling of tightness and burning around my head, nightmares and some very odd thoughts–last night when a small plane went over, first it sounded like a giant didgeridoo–a Native Australian instrument with a resonant sort of hum–and then like a large grumbling voice, and then it seemed like it was going to fly into my bedroom—at which point I laughed out loud, got up and turned on the lights and said OK this is lamictal withdrawal, and it’s getting scary, and went and took 25 mg. But thank God that we have these networks so we can tell each other “that’s the drug,” and not think we’re spontaneously combusting!

I’ve just moved my mental “withdrawal done” date from late November to maybe by my late February birthday.

When a doctor addicted me to codeine (which I didn’t realize is actually a form of morphine!) I had to detox inpatient and it was truly terrible, but there was someone monitoring me, and if it got bad they had some medication to get me through. It took five days full time, but I didn’t feel normal for a year. However, my naturopath recommended a tincture of calamus root, which is used in Australia in drug addiction programs. I don’t know if it’s helpful for anything other than opiates–I have a call in to find out. One thing I noticed is that at each step down, I show signs of detoxification–especially my urine has a very strong odor. It’s odd to me that coming down a step makes this happen, but I’m trying to help the process along by doing standard body cleansing thngs–lots of water, cleansing herb teas, and gut cleansers like psyllum husks. My favorite so far is something called Tri-Cleanse that is both fiber and a classic indian herbal formula used to cleanse the gut. Tastes and feels better.

I’m a little discouraged that even 25 every two weeks seems to be more than I can handle well. Because I’m on it for epilepsy,and too fast withdrawal of any drug can trigger seizures, II have to pay close attention to anything that feellike seizure risk–which I can only sometimes identify in time. And with all this fog in my head…!
Anyway, thanks for being here. I feel a lot less alone.
Aurora

Proxilin / Fluphenazine or Moditen
Antipsychotic drug withdrawal.
Jenny from the U.K. here:

Hi… any other people withdrawing from any Antipsychotic drugs called Proxilin / Fluphenazine or Moditen

This is the first time for me on this site. I am coming off a drug called Fluphenazine or Moditen in the U.K. and Prolixin and various other names in the U.S.
Fluphenazine has the most horrendous withdrawal effects coming off them, having been on them for 30 years. I was wrongly put on them for post natal depression. The only way to come off for me and others on a similar drug and withdraw safely is by reducing by 1 milligram per month to six weeks in my case, and even this is fraught with difficulties. People over here in the U.K. who have not managed to get enough stock of this pill, as Sanofi Aventis U.K. have run into manufacturing problems so they say, and they are being discontinued in June 2008. People who have stopped abruptly have experienced many side affects like Tardive Dyskinesia (involuntary mouth and body movements and drug induced Parkinsons) when the medication is stopped abruptly.

I have been tapering off now for two years and will take me another year or two to get off it as I can’t risk the horrendous and irreversible side effects discontinuation would cause.

I purchased very accurate laboratory milligram scales which for me have been a life saver, as they are twice the price over here in the U.K. and worth their weight in gold. The scales have enabled me to grind the pills down and reduce the dosage by 1 milligram per month to six weks. Any other way is impossible with a drug of this potency to reduce accurately. I am, down from 75mg to 19 mg (pill weight not drug content) as of the 30th March 2008.

I can not emphasize enough the importance of withdrawing slowly by weight on this particular drug called: Proxilin / Fluphenazine or Moditen in the U.K. Look in Wikipedia for other names.

If you require any help or information please email me at:
phillipathomas49@hotmail.com

Good luck if you decide to withdraw from the medication you are on but be careful and do it very slowly. I know from experience, it has been far from pleasant!

Best wishes to every one going through withdrawal from any prescription drugs.
Please feel free to contact me through this site or email address above if you would like to.

Jenny – from the U.K.

I know, people with manic, or ADHD should have trouble falling asleep, and not with oversleeping. But then there are things like bipolar spectrum, or cyclothymia (mild bipolar); and both of them have oversleeping as their symtoms. I think I have some difficulty falling asleep when I have to, but once I am asleep, I sleep long, usually about 12 hours. And after that I still wake up non refreshed. First, I thought I may be depressed, but anti-depressants did not work and I don’t feel this typical sadness associated with depression. I once had a depressive episode when my condition started, so I kind of know how depression feels. The major benefit of Lamictal or antidepressants I think is that they brought up my anxiety to the top, making me more aware of it, which I didn’t identify as a major problem before.

And thanks so much for your advices. I will look into the book about getting rid of depression naturally, but I am kind of sceptical since I tried yoga, acupuncture, various vitamins and herbs, fish oil, taking long vacations, but they did not do much. Maybe thats because I don’t have typical depression, I don’t know.

5th day off Lamictal, I am actually starting to feel better. No more headache, and everything started to fall into places where they were before Lamictal. I took 12.5mg yesterday, and today, to smoothen the transition, so that may also be the reason.

First of all, thanks for a wonderful site, with lots of information from personal experiences about Lamictal withdrawal.

I am at the crossroads with Lamictal now, not sure whether to continue giving it a try, or continue tapering off it. I have been prescribed it about 3 weeks ago, and started upping the dosage very slowly, fearing the rash. Started with 12.5mg for the first week, then took 25mg for about two weeks. I was not even sure whether I am bipolar. My primary symtoms were lack of motivation, inability to concentrate, feeling tired and fatigued most of the time, unrefreshing sleep, kind of a dreamy unfocused mental state. I didn’t have any noticeable manic-depressive mood swings, but after reading about the condition called Bipolar Spectrum , I though I may have some bipolar in me. However, judging from response to 25mg Lamictal, I am starting to think I may need more of an anxiety medication. Lamictal helped a little with motivation and dreamy (manic) feeling, but I became very anxious, actually crying a lot, which I would not normally. It kind of started to bring a lot of emotional issues from the past, and made me very tense. I started having tension headaches, and panic attacks, worrying about everything, so I thought I would go off it and give a try to anxiety med instead.

And then it began. Eventhough I was just on 25mg, after skipping it for a couple of days, I suddenly woke extremelly tired, excessivelly anxious to the point I did not understand why I am anxious, not being able to trace a thought that could have started anxiety. I felt as if my head was splitting in half, as if I was be going insane. Very tormenting experience. And thats just from going off 25mg. I am scared even to think what it would feel to go off 200mg, which is a standard dosage. But yet, as I begin to shift into my totally unproductive, oversleeping, dreamy-manic state; I begin to feel bad I didn’t give it a full try. Its interesting, that I didn’t have withdrawal effects going off Prozac, Celexa or Paxil; but this thing totally messes me up.

This is my first time to the site. Discovered it when I did a search on weaning times for Lamictal. I have been on Lamictal for about a year now. My husband and I want to have another child and are scared of the birth defects associated with Lamictal, primarily cleft pallete (spelling?). I was on a dose of 150mg twice a day. I am currently on day 5 of quitting cold turkey. So far, I have not seized and I am praying that I will not. I know I should taper, but at this point I am just going to go with it and see what happens. I am taking 4mg of folic acid and a prenatal vitamin. I am also reading The Food-Mood Solution by Jack Challem. I have found that if I keep my blood sugar as even as possible it helps with my mood/anger/irritablity. This is a great site and will be a valuable resource in the days ahead. Any recommendations for reading materials or websites that help to locate doctors that discourage prescription medications?

Yes, I totally understand about each of us having the right to decide what we put into our bodies. I was just curious as to the number people having difficulties dealing with the side effects versus those simply not wanting to be medicated. Please don’t infer that I was trying to judge anyone. I’m just trying to get a feel for others’ point of view relating to the medication.

I know that meds can work differently in different people; we all don’t have the same responses to a particular medication. And, I have been one who definitely does not like the idea of having to take medication, but I have learned (the hard way) that I definitely need something to keep me on an even keel. Without meds, or on the wrong meds, I can be very difficult to deal with, even to the point that I get frustrated with myself for being unable to control my behaviors, thoughts, and attitude.

Like I stated earlier, I’m still on a pretty low dose and working my way up to maintenance level, whatever that might turn out to be. I fully realize that I ultimately have to decide for myself what is working and what isn’t. Fortunately, my side effects with Lamictal have been few; I can only hope that it stays that way!

I’m just wondering…I realize some of you have had the rash, so that’s why you’re getting off the Lamictal. To those who aren’t getting off b/c of the rash, why are you trying to get off? I’m new to Lamictal, currently progressing through the 5 wk. pack and experiencing nausea for approximately one day, and that has taken place twice (once 3 days after starting the pack, once 3 days after increase to 50 mg).

Boy, am I glad I found you guys…..I have been taking 75
mg-About two weeks ago I decided to cut in half..

Weepy, bad cold and cough symptoms, rapid heart beat, little sleep. I could not figure out what the hell was wrong-THEN I realized I started into withdrawal. I do not have as much vitality on the drug, but at least I corrected the symtoms of withdrawal.

I also felt that manic agiatated behavior returning..So back to 75mg a day!

Better rug than most of the other ones, anyone have weight gain???

Thanks, Carol

Thank you so much. I do have mood swings and have for years although now I have a family and need to be in control of myself. I am seeing a psychologist and things are working very well with her. I’ve always been one to do things naturally (i.e.. water-drug free birth, naturopathic doctors, acupuncture etc.) but I really felt I was tearing my family apart with my mood swings but just learning how to deal with my past and my present and future within myself is the best way. I just feel so sorry for what these psychiatrists are prescribing without any knowledge of side effect or withdrawal. thank you again, it means so much for someone just to listen and take the time to do their best to help as you have done.

my best to you,
Jen

Jen,
Maybe you pediatrician can help you cut down slowly. You can get pills as small as 25 mg and cut those if you need too. Your baby needs you—you don’t want to withdraw too quickly if you’re such an emotional wreck.

Also, I don’t know why the pdoc thought you were bipolar but I imagine you described to him something going on. Are you getting support for whatever that was in some other way?

There are many ways you can learn to support your body and soul through natural means. I don’t suggest you do nothing else right now. Withdrawal really drains ours bodies and there is also usually a need to address whatever we were put on the drugs for.

my best to you Jennifer.

Muddychick,
No need to rush. On Feb 10th you were on 2 mg of Abilify and 50 mg Lamictal. Thats moving really fast, especially if you’re not supporting your health in other ways as you’ve indicated.

Please take care of yourself. I imagine something happened if you were forced to take these drugs. Take care of yourself so something like that does not happen again.

I’m worried about you.

Jeff,
Venting is fine…
Just to give you some hope—there are people who withdraw easily from Lamictal. They probably don’t find this web page or look for it either, but I’ve talked to people who’ve had no problem coming off Lamictal and other drugs as well.

I wish I was a poster child for it being a piece of cake—I would’ve been very happy to be such an example—but this blog has turned into a marathon of waiting things out and taking years to get off of many drugs.

This is to you—that it may not cause you the pain you’re thinking it will, okay? Try not to expect the worst.

goodluck Dylan,
I’m hanging in right there with you. I made three decreases of 25 mg once a week about a month ago now. The fallout didn’t start until a couple of weeks later. It’s been hell. I’m just holding for now. I still have 100 mg to go. But I did recover since I first wrote this post…I just resumed and am now back in hell!!

Try not to force it….be gentle and if need be reinstate a little and come off more slowly.

here’s to your health returning quickly (and mine too!)

(edit: many people need to reduce using the pediatric pills which come in 2 mg, I finished my taper by cutting down in micro doses)

democrat,
I can only suggest you try altering your lifestyle for the better if there is room for that (there usually is). Radical lifestyle changes including but not necessarily limited to diet, exercise, meditation/yoga etc can help many peoples mental health. If you make those changes you might find you feel more stable and you may be able to cut down on some of the meds which could potentially cause problems in pregnancy. It’s a tough call. I’ve struggled with not having children because of the meds I’ve been on. It’s a very individual and intimate decision. I wish you the best.

MC,
read the last two things I posted:

http://bipolarblast.wordpress.com/2008/02/10/more-on-recovery/

http://bipolarblast.wordpress.com/2008/02/10/neuroplasticity-of-the-brain/

both uplifting and both have good advice…(I”m needing that advice at the moment myself)

MC,
I haven’t done it yet, but many have. Lots of my readers have successfully come off all sorts of drugs and are doing very well and even better than ever.

Some people DON”T have a hard time with Lamictal as well. I’ve communicated with a number of people for whom it was the easiest drug to get off of.

Hang in there.

Are you doing other things to support yourself? Eating well, exercise, meditation, meaningful work?

Roman,
It’s not a good idea to take a large dose of Lamictal without titrating up slowly. Stephen Johnson’s Syndrome (the deadly rash) happens most often when not titrating slowly up.

As far as long term care—you probably need additional supports. Diet, exercise, meditation, nutrients, peer support, therapy and time to heal.

A month after a cold turkey withdrawal is not a long time and you may also have underlying issues on top of withdrawal issues if you haven’t addressed issues that got you on the drug in the first place so that is why I talk about additional supports.

I suggest trying to find an orthomolecular psychiatrist and support your body and mind as much as possible.

Hello everyone. I just found this website and it has answered alot of questions for me, made me feel better about some things, and helped me make some decisions. I have been on lamictal for about 4 months now. 100 mg daily. I know it doesnt sound like much in compairison to some of you. It was working nicely for the Bipolar all the while up until lately. I was having some joint pain, headaches, and bad dreams all along. I felt it was worth the side effects for the benifits of stabilizing my moods and dulling the depression. That is, until about a week and a half ago, when i broke out with a rash on the upper parts of both of my legs and some on my stomach. It itched like there was no tomorrow, and my skin crawled all over. I stopped taking the medication cold turkey, 3 days ago. Cant get ahold of my doc until tomorrow. I have noticed my skin is not so crawly anymore since i stopped taking it, and the itch is slowly getting less. I am a little worried about what side effects i may have, but i figure, its better than what COULD happen if i keep taking it?? All I can say is, I have decided no matter what, im done with the lamictal. Ive read too many bad things about the side effects. Good luck to all of you, and i wish you all the best in your journey. I hope we all itch our way through it, and get it out of our systems for good.

I (we) have started a website to address the issue of doctors subscribing these “mind-altering drugs” to women. It is Girl Talk Page. I wish that all of you would go to the forum, after reading the stories, of course. The stories are about tragedies in our lives, but the jest of our site is to give women, men are welcome too, a place to meet and get support for life and its hardships without the use of these drugs that don’t seem to have any benefit except to those who prescribe them. Please go to girltalkpage.com and comment at (on) the forum. We have been getting a lot of flack about it because of the legal issues it raises, but we are determined, as you all seem to be, to make women aware of the dangers of these drugs. Cindy have written some articles, such as “Women and Depression or Beauty and The Beast” for ezine and you would not believe the hate she received!!

Lamictal, which is just one of many, Lexapro is another, is the devil in disguise. Masquarding as an angel to save but destroying its taker. Please, we are new and need your support to survive. Log on, talk, and educate your sisters!

Thanks,
Cindy, Sadie, Charlie, and Tanya

Thank God I found this site. I thought I was going crazy. Made a big mistake. Decided to half the amount of Lamictal I was taking. 200mgs to 100mgs until I could get my prescription refilled. Big mistake. I felt like running around in circles. I’ve been irritable, moody, on edge, depressed and all I want to do is sleep but find it difficult to do when my brain is thinking or acting illogical (brain flashes? as someone described above) It’s been horrible. I’ve learned my lesson.

Thanks for all the input. Just have to keep telling myself that it’s the Lamictal withdrawal and that I’m not losing it.

Last Friday my doctor had me cut my Lamictal dose in half, I’m slowly going off of it over a two week period, I’ve used it as a mood stabilizer for 12 years, I have to switch to a different one, because of the cost. I’ve been having horrid headaches, and I feel sick to my stomach with chills, eck :/

Thanks for your response Gianna. I will check it out.
As for having medical supervision while going off, I just meant that one should have a doctor of some sort. Being in a treatment facility does not sound appealing to me at all. At this point I am totally sick of having to concentrate on this and myself. I just want to move on with my life already. But the reality is, I am scared right now and I am committed to finishing this. I am exploring options and setting up a plan so this can go more smoothly. I also went to a homeopathic doctor the other day which seems very hopeful.
She mentioned klonadine as a temporary option too since I am having such a hard time. Has anyone taken this?
I am happy to hear that the withdrawal process is easier for some people and that people have stayed off and actually feel better than before. Gives me a boost in hope.

bleuemoon,
while lamictal withdrawal can certainly be hell and you should at least be prepared for that possibility not everyone has a difficult time of it. I’ve corresponded with at least two people who found it very easy.

I wish you the best.

wow. i didn’t realize coming off lamictal was that hard. it took me about year to get up to 250 mg of lamictal. my doctor and i are thinking that in the near future i might start tapering off of lamictal. man, but if side effects of coming off the medicine are so bad i better think abokt when i want to start tapering off the medicine!

well, to be fair…I’ve heard a lot of stories of parents that are threatened by the system if they refuse to give their children psych drugs. It’s horrific.

Denise,

You’re reading my mind – they should be outlawed – and the idea that they are forced – can’t go there in my mind very often – it’s too tough to even think about it – makes me too outraged……

All I can do is hope – that people will wake up, and that there will be some more exposure on how well alternatives work – before more people get on psych drugs…..

Also, that the US Attn General and state AG’s will go after these mfgrs for criminal charges – enough with the civil settlements – these drug makers clear 200 million a day – just on AD’s – never mind the others……

These withdrawal symptoms – hell, I had flu-like symptoms for almost four months after coming off Geodon – unbelievable – common denominator seems to be chronic fatigue – it’s as if the body and brain were beaten into submission – and the feelings that come back – after they’ve been supressed – the agitation, anger , frustration – only one word can describe it – ‘hell’ – as noted here…..

Lamictal was not too tough on me – it was the neuroleptics – particularly Geodon, but I’m not surprised that Lamictal is tough for many – I remember having double-vision as I started the damned drug – something tells me that we ought to trust our own bodies – if something causes double-vision going in – surely, there will be fallout when it is taken out of the body…..

And yet, the mantra with the medical community – is ignore the side-effects – This ought to be all anyone needs to hear – when someone tells you to ignore your own body – run like hell – because if you ignore your own body, hell is where you will end up……

I hope things change soon – especially for younger people – that they never get on these drugs – that’s all I can say.

Duane

Hang in there Gianna. It sucks but it will pass. Have as good a Christmas as you can and surely the New Year holds some pleasures in store, you certainly deserve them!

You wrote about which withdrawal hell was worse–isn’t it awful that we all can relate to that statement? for myself, I say it was Prozac hands down, followed by Seroquel hell. Both were horrific, and Prozac withdrawal symptoms lasted 9 months. Right down to the last tiny bit of that capsule i would break open. Seroquel was rough, but nothing like Prozac. I think the fatigue appears to be a recurring symptom, along with crabbiness for all of these meds.

Anyway, good luck, and I’m grateful you have a supportive person living with you while you endure this. I did not have that, and it might have helped. Maybe not.

Happy Holiday season.

Hi Gianna,
I posted for the first time last night about my experience tapering off Lamictal and I thank you for your response. Then I woke this morning to read your latest post about your experience and it sounds very similar to what I experienced trying to get off Zyprexa. It was torture and I feared that I’d never recover.

I couldn’t go through that again without having a compounding pharmacist create a solution that would allow me to taper off over many many months. Any chance that Lamitcal can be prepared in a compounded solution and tapered precisely and very slowly? In less than 25 mg tapers?

So far my Lamictal tapering is going well but I also have stopped working and I am totally focused on getting myself healthy and balanced and off the medication. I am lucky to be able to take time to do this for myself. If I had to face a structured schedule with lots of activities I would not be doing nearly as well. Hang in there and thanks again for your wonderful information and for sharing your experiences.

you husband is right. It is an endurance test. at least it was for me. It took me 5 years to get the worst antipsychotic drugs out of my system. i still take a few as needed, and still experience mood swings, but not half as bad as when i was taking the heavier meds. Hang in there, it will get better.