I used to take Lamictal 150mg at night, no problems, but started ...

Also, when I first started taking this, I felt like I was losing a lot of hair. That stopped, but it is now very thin, not like it was before. Maybe it will go back to normal if I discontinue.

I took 300 mg of lamictal every day for a year or so. I could hardly drive to work then would feel groggy and sleepy all afternoon. I stopped taking it a couple of months ago but the mood swings and rage have returned with a vengence. I don't know what to do.

I have been on Lamictal for several years now and it eliminated hypomania periods. I rarely feel sad and then it only happens when there is some obvious reason in my life to feel appropriately sad. I am under a great deal of stress in taking care of my elderly mother who has struggled all her life with bipolar. Several periods when I have been particularly stressed over the last few years I have had to take daily naps- somewhat sleepy but more agitated- my heart beats "hard", I ache all over, I feel lethargic. If I am unable to fit in a nap I become extremely irritable, wiped out, unable to make supper, just watch TV and conk out early. This last time my naps started in May and slowly decreased over the summer when I was having to have 2 naps/day. I had thyroid tests and talked to family pphysician but they agreed with my psychiatrist that it probably was depression related. I am a teacher and starting up in the fall was hard for me- mentally foggy,slurred speech at times, unable to get myself organized. My Psych. started giving me ativan for daytime irritability and it seems to help me avoid a naps sometimes or it helps me relax enough to get my nap over with so I can function for the rest of the day. I have improved slowly by now (Xmas) and even am able to successfully skip naps for several days at a time sometimes. But at day-long family events (Thanksgiving, Xmas) I become wiped out and have to sleep during the day- I feel like such a dud.
Anyway, I have signed up for a 2 week European trip this summer and the money is due in a month. I'm afraid I won't be able to handle managing my rest and I'm afraid I will become even more ill because of it- maybe dip further into bipolar symptoms. I'll talk to my Doc about this in 2 weeks.
Does anyone else experience such odd naps? Should I be taking a small amount of some stimulant or is that foolish (as in tipping myself over into mania)?
By the way, one year I took Lithium instead- gained 30 pounds in a year and produced 30 paintings. It was so odd. I stopped feeling like doing art as soon as I was off Lithium...Now I'd like to go back to that stuff if only there was no weight gain.
Comments are very welcome.. Mim