Mental Health Lamictal (lamotrigine) and suicide ideation

I've taken Abilify on and off and found it gives me too much akathisia. Any positive effect doesn't seem to last for long. I was also taking Adderall for ADHD at the same time.

I started taking Lamictal again a month ago, once I finally realized that bipolar II is probably a correct diagnosis. I'm titrating slowly this time and haven't noticed the same numbness yet.

Abilify seems to be one of the worst for causing akathisia as it is not typically sedating. Hence why i mentioned zyprexa and seroquel but if they are too sedating for you you could try risperidone if you really need a anti-psychotic. Risperidone is typically not very sedating and can cause akathisia I find that they help with the impulsive thinking for sure. I am glad that the lamictal isn't fucking up your head this time. I upped my dose very slowly because of the risk of that skin rash and this is what you are supposed to do.

I know it can be very hard to find a reason to get up out of bed in todays world. There are many days when the only thing i look forward to is getting high as well. But i do have long term goals and one of them is working towards a decent life for myself. Existential crises are common in the world we live in right now as even though we are more connected then ever through computers face to face interaction is lower then it was in the past for many people. Just sitting up in your room all day by yourself getting high is not good for your mental state that is for sure. Getting out even if it's only for a quick jog or a walk can do you a world of good. Finding something you like to do helps alot. I have to get out and do something or i start going nuts pretty quick. I live in a very rural area so unless you have a car you walk everywhere. So i do alot of driving around on the 4 wheeler i have. I also work out a good bit, read, go for walks and lot's of other shit to keep me occupied. I have to do something when i'm manic cause i can't fucking sit still! :!

Try and find something that interests you besides getting stoned and watching TV. No one is saying you can't get stoned (though i would strongly recommend laying off the psychedelics and everything but Cannabis until you have been stabilized for awile.
 
I don't need an antipsychotic (anymore) although I used to... Abilify was prescribed in order to try to reduce depression.

It's impossible for me to want to do things somedays. My apartment is so incredibly messy now but just two weeks ago I spent all day cleaning it without using stimulants. I didn't go into the office at all in the past week and today I just want to stay in bed.

Being schizoid makes it difficult for me to find interest in anything. It also probably drives the desire to do drugs. I don't even enjoy them very much anymore, yet I still use them.
 
Being schizoid makes it difficult for me to find interest in anything. It also probably drives the desire to do drugs. I don't even enjoy them very much anymore, yet I still use them.
That's exactly the same feeling I get with drugs except for coke god I love good coke every time I feel the pure bliss and euphoria but with other drugs I just feel normal not weird (because schizoids are really weird and boring people haha)
 
Anyone with any information on easing Withdrawals from lamotrigine? I am currently coming off it and am reducing slowly, unfortunately the withdrawal symptoms are very uncomfortable. Any suggestions ?
 
Anyone with any information on easing Withdrawals from lamotrigine? I am currently coming off it and am reducing slowly, unfortunately the withdrawal symptoms are very uncomfortable. Any suggestions ?

What dose are you on and how long have you been on it? What are the withdrawal symptoms like?

I'm not sure if I've ever felt withdrawals or not. When I skip a dose, I seem to get a weird feeling in my head kind of like a sharp headache but not very painful.

Back in April when I created this thread, I had been on 100 mg a day for a few weeks. I don't remember exactly how I stepped down, but I think I went down to 50 mg right away, then 25 mg a week or so later, then 12.5 mg. I did it on my own, and this is probably faster than is safe.

Actually, now that I think of it I've just reduced my dose from 100 mg to 75 mg and I feel a slight headache and stiff neck. But I haven't been feeling great all weekend since before I started taking the reduced dose, so it might be unrelated.
 
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I started taking Lamictal again a month or two ago. I stepped up doses more slowly this time, in 12.5 mg increments every week or two. Once I got to 75 mg, I added Prozac for a week then switched to Zoloft, waited a few weeks, and then went up to 100 mg, which I've been taking since the start of September or so.

I don't know exactly when it started, but I feel like I haven't been enjoying things lately. Anhedonia and boredom. Similar to how I felt last April. Things aren't so bad when I'm busy, which is why I'm not sure when it started. At the time of the last dose increase, I was feeling my normal sort of depression, but was very busy with work for about two weeks and then busy with moving and unpacking and decorated for the next two weeks. I finished up with all the work for my new home last week, and things have slowed down at work, so I have a lot more free time now than I did at the start of the month when I increased the dose.

But... I don't recall enjoying things very much 2-3 months ago, before I started taking Lamictal and while on the smaller doses (which almost certainly had no effect). So I'm not sure if things have actually changed or not. Maybe the anhedonia is the same but it bothers me more now? Maybe I just expect to feel better than I do since I'm on Zoloft and on a higher dose of Lamictal. I'm not sure.

I also wonder if Lamictal (or Zoloft) have contributed to my recent productivity. I was surprised how quickly I unpacked everything after I moved. I've also been doing a better job of keeping my place clean. Maybe it's helping in that regard. So I'm reluctant to taper off the Lamictal... maybe I should increase it, or the Zoloft, or try another antidepressant... I am supposed to take mirtazapine for sleep right now but I'm too apathetic the next day to get out of bed within a reasonable hour.

On Prozac and Zoloft, I've had trouble sleeping. I actually switched to Zoloft because Prozac was overly stimulating; Zoloft much less so, but I've still had sleeping difficulties. I've never had this reaction to an S[NS]RI before (having taken Lexapro, Effexor, and Zoloft), but have never taken those while on Lamictal. So I'm wondering if the combination is causing insomnia?

I should get in the habit of recording daily my mood, activity, enjoyment, and medications taken.
 
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