Lamictal and antidepressant

Everyone's body is different and reacts to every medicine differently. After experiencing depression for some years i was finally put on an antidepressant (cymbalta). My dosage was continually increased because I wasn't feeling any better. Eventually I changed psychologists and she diagnosed me as being bipolar II and said that anti-depressants have an adverse effect on people who are bipolar. so for about a year and a half i was on 200 mg of lamictal. It worked wonders and i felt no negative side effects other than if i forgot to take my second dose during the day. Eventually i took myself off of it (slowly, in the same fashion that i had started it) and was off of it for about a year. Getting off of it was hard, but eventually i felt ok. Then a year later i felt i needed it again. So after a 3 months of being on it again my doctor took me off of it because i experienced extreme head pressure-to the point that i felt like my head was going to explode. i had a checkup at my regular doctor and nothing was wrong. once i had the lamictal out of my system i felt fine again. well now a year and a half after that, i started the lamictal again in hopes that it would work like it did the first time for me. Unfortunately that has not happened yet. As i write this, my head has so much pressure. I ve experienced headaches on and off for the past 4 days. This is not a common side effect so im not sure whats going wrong.. Has anyone else experienced this or know why that is happening? Anyways like i said the first time i was on lamictal for a yr and a half and i felt fantastic. I would tell people i "loved it"---which sounds silly but when you go from absolutely miserable to feeling alive again and having motivation, that phrase doesnt sound so silly. so take everything you hear with a grain of salt. experience it for yourself because everyone's body is different and who knows, maybe you will feel better on it. I however am stopping this drug tomorrow because of the rare head pressure i experience while on it!

THIS IS MY 8TH DAY ON LAMICTAL 25MG AND I WOKE UP SO DIZZY THAT I ALMOST FELL OVER. I HAVE BEEN THIS WAY ALL DAY IT LIKE COMES AND GOES FAST. IM DIZZY NOW..
I HAVE NOTICED MUSCLE ACHES BUT I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS THE ATENONOL 25MG I TAKE FOR PALPITATIONS BECAUSE IT LOWERS YOUR POTASSIUM. IM THINKING THE LAMICTAL DOES THE SAME LOWERS YOUR POTASSIUM WHICH CAUSES THE MUSCLE PAIN AND ETC.. SO I BEGAN EATING BANANAS AND SEE HOW THAT GOES. MY DOC SAID THAT IF YOU TAKE A ANTIDEPRESSANT AND YOU ARE BI POLAR YOU CAN HAVE SERIOUS REACTIONS TO THE MEDS. SHE TOLD ME TO "NOT" TAKE A ANTIDEPRESSANT.
I WAS ON THIS MEDICINE BEFORE AND WAS UNSURE ABOUT A SIDE EFFECT OF ULCERS IN MY MOUTH AND STOPPED IT. I REALLY WANTED TO CONTINUE BECAUSE IT MADE ME FEEL GREAT(only got to 50mg then)
I HAVE ACTUALLY FELT PRETTY GOOD MORE GOOD DAYS THAN BAD EXCEPT YESTERDAY AND TODAY I HAVE BEEN REALLY TIRED ALONG WITH THE OTHER.
MY QUESTION IS WILL THESE SIDE EFFECTS GO AWAY???? AND I DON'T WANT TO REALLY EAT MUCH.
I REALLY LIKE THAT I AM NOT MOODY ANYMORE LIKE I WAS AND I GOT MY SEX DRIVE BACK AND I DON'T WANT TO GO OFF IF I DON'T HAVE TOO.. HOW LONG DO THE SIDE EFFECTS LAST??
AND IS IT WORTH STICKING IT OUT?

I have been taking Lamictal for about 2 months now. Started at 25mg and now at 150mg. I also take 10mg Lexapro and 1 mg of Ativan daily. I was diagnosed with bipolar-2 about 3 months ago. I'm not sure if this is the right combo for me. Most of my problem is with severe irritability followed by moderate anxiety and mild depression. I have never had a Manic episode just Hypomania which the doctor said is my anger and Irritability. I have been on every SSRI (anti-depressant) for the last 12 years, which does help the depression, but it increases the anger and irritability. Another Dr told me I am not bipolar-2, I just have GAD (generalized anxiety disorder). Not sure what to do anymore, the Lamictal is giving me bad headaches and dizziness and nausea. So now I take Meclizine for the those symptoms. Is there just one pill to help all these symptoms? Has anyone had any luck with Buspar??

Where do I start? For as far back as I can remember, I have been taking antidepressants. I have tried them all. Celexa, Wellbutrin, Effexor, Cymbalta, etc.. About 3 years ago, I crashed. You all know what that feels like. I went to see the "pill doctor" which is what I call the psychiatrists. He prescribed more antidepressants, Lithium 600mg per day along with Lamictal 200 mg per day for moods and Ambien CR-12.5mg to sleep. Side effects included, weight loss and gain, hair loss, memory loss, confusion, thyroid issues, no sex drive and sleeping too much with wako dreams. BUT is was better than what I was feeling at time. Last month I could not take it any more so I had a second opinion by another Pill Dr. Oh my God! This Pill Dr REALLY opened my eyes. He diagnosed me with a resistant to antidepressant type of depression. No bipolar but mood disorders. He warned me off of Cymbalta 60mg to 30mg to 0mg (antidepressant), and took me off the Lithium and increased my dose of Lamictal from 200mgs per day to 300mgs per day. What a difference it made. I have never felt better. I am sleeping less, have more energy and a much more positive outlook on life. I am scared that this won't last but I hope it will. Lamictal has been a godsend for me. My lesson is get a second opinion on your condition. A fresh set of eyes can see things that others don't.

I also have to remember that every case is unique. Every person has their own set of problems to deal with. Kids are emotionally demanding and draining. You are not different from others who suffer.

The ANGER experienced is NOT aside effect of Lam. and could be attributed to chronic pain as well as no longer being on an antidepressant., nor is the pulsing head _ that, I found out, is a sinus condition. SO, I really have not experienced any side effects from Lam at all, and am only just beginning treatment. IF YOU HAVE A RASH: stop taking Lam. NOW!!

this site is great! i thought i was crazy, now i don't. my 4th month of lamictal and just hit the 100mg mark. at first i was taking it with a 30 mg of an antidepressant but i was irritable as helll!!! once i hit the 100mg mark, i got off the antidepressants and feel way better now just with lamictal alone.

initial side effects wre dizziness and insomnia but that went away. i've never had pimples and now i do. and last night i woke myself yelling having nightmares and haven't slept...

if you miss a dose you go nuts!

ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS WORTH IT...I FEEL WAY MORE CONTROLLED THAN BEFORE I STARTED TAKING THIS...