Rapid Cycling

[neknanrum]

I am of the opinion that I rapid cycle!  I am on 400mg of Lamictal a day.  He wants to put me on Lithium, but it scare the heck out of me.  There are a number of possible side effects, one being weight gain.  I just got my weight under control and don't want to balloon back up. --- I like the place I am right now mentally.  I feel good about myself..., but I know in the next day or two I will sink into the depths of hell. ---We also talked about moving my Lamictal up to 600mg per day? -- What do you think?  ---  Do the Lamictal first, or immediately go with the Lithium.  ---  Another thing I am considering is the current events in my life, loss of home, no work, no money, kids with health problems, still getting over the death of my wife 3 years ago, no friends, no social life, I have horrible self esteem, I don't want to do anything...  Seems that these are having a pretty large impact on my mental state.  Meds aren't going to make things all better on these fronts.  I am just wondering if once I get past the move out of my home.. if things might be a bit better.  I wonder if meds will somehow make my coping skills that much better.  If I make a move on my meds, once the events in my life settle down, how easily will it be to reduce my drugs?   ---  Will the next trying event in my life mean even higher doses of medicine? Therapy has not been: so - so.  I almost feel like the therapist answer is: You can be who you want to be and you just need to push through it.   --- I feel my circumstance is tough.

[adel_ezz]

only one question i can answer, yes lamictal can mix with lithium and can mix well will sodium valproex (depakote).

I am astonished that you are a rapid cycler since lamictal stops that well. Just make sure you are not on any antidepressant, because they cause rapid cycling after a while along with mixed states  

[cornyguy]

You could consider Tegretol/Trileptal as mood stabilizers.Has a lesser side effect profile and is better tolerated.You could ask for them.

[ILADVOCATE]

Well you might be experiencing rapid cycling now. The highest dose of Lamictal I took was 325 mg. At 600 mg. it might (again only a psychiatrist could make a conclusive judgment) push a person further into mania. Lithium does have a side effect profile like all medications but it is the only medication that was developed specifically for use as a mood stabilizer. There are other options as well regarding mood stabilizers besides lithium and Lamictal of course. Go to the welcome page for websites that are clinically accurate and consumer friendly such as:
http://www.psycom.net/depression.central.bipolar.html
http://www.psycheducation.org/depression/meds/moodstabilizers.htm

[neknanrum]

Just a follow-up.  The good feeling I had is gone after 3 hours.  Boy does this stink.  Why has my mood jumped so quickly back to the dumps?