Is this "normal"

[bshaw96]

And not normal by society standards, but by bipolar standards. I was diagnosed BP about 2 months ago, have worked my way up to 200mg of Lamictal daily. Was tolerating well, no side effects, actually in the best mood Id been in for a long time. Aside from headaches occasionally, no problems with the med. Well, a little over a week ago I started getting real irritable. Then I started crying at the drop of a hat. I am constantly crying and arguing with hubby for things he did 14 years ago, some even before we were married. Very irrational. I just placed a call to my doc, hasn't called back yet. Also, I missed a dose of my pill once about 3 weeks ago, and once last week. Can missing only 1 dose do this, or is this just a "normal" shift into depressive episode? This is so frustrating.

 

[Alive again]

Our brains are "irritable" brains. Many with bp do not handle change of any sort or stress as well as we used to , for some of us the change in our brains caused by one missed dose in combo with a irritable brain can lead to an episode. Early in my treatment with the med I now take one missed dose would do this to me. the longer I have been on this med, the less likely for one missed dose to do this. I recently had to decrease my dose by one whole pill a day and it took about 2 week before symptoms returned and I had to increase the dose again.

In some situtations another increase in dose if tolerated may help prevent this from happening. THE BEST THING TO DO IS TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR AND GET HIS/HER INPUT.Hope this helps, Prayers

PS Don't you just hate the irritablity and uncontrollable tears! One thing I am recently learning my self is how much of my emotion is normal and when is it exaggerated by bp-so much of my life has been effected by bp, that I was labeling any emotion as abnormal if I couldn't control it. I am learning that it can be a normal reaction and still not be controllable at times - for example tears

 

[bshaw96]

PS Don't you just hate the irritablity and uncontrollable tears! One thing I am recently learning my self is how much of my emotion is normal and when is it exaggerated by bp-so much of my life has been effected by bp, that I was labeling any emotion as abnormal if I couldn't control it. I am learning that it can be a normal reaction and still not be controllable at times - for example tears [/quote]


Yes, this is my biggest problem. Im often tempted to blame everything on bp now, things that really have very little to do with the bp. It's hard to separate a bp episode from me just needing to learn my emotions in a more effective manner.

 

[youthwalk]

I'm on Lithium and a couple mths ago I stopped taking them because I felt that they made me extremely irritable...and moody...the same crying thing you're describing. I found it odd because I've been tolerating Lithium 200mgs b/d quite well for over a year. I still don't know what happened. When it first began I tapered (with my pdoc's consent) the dose to every other day, then once a week...and I was doing wonderfully. I was sure this was it, the breakthrough. and the I relapsed. And that's where I am now. I'm readjusting to meds again so I still have the nonsense arguements with my bf. I still don't know what causes that.

 

[Alive again]

I'm on Lithium and a couple mths ago I stopped taking them because I felt that they made me extremely irritable...and moody...the same crying thing you're describing. I found it odd because I've been tolerating Lithium 200mgs b/d quite well for over a year. I still don't know what happened. When it first began I tapered (with my pdoc's consent) the dose to every other day, then once a week...and I was doing wonderfully. I was sure this was it, the breakthrough. and the I relapsed. And that's where I am now. I'm readjusting to meds again so I still have the nonsense arguements with my bf. I still don't know what causes that.

I had a similiar episode with trileptal, doing well, started having sedation, so tapered dose, did fine, had a stressor and majorly relapsed. Now back up to dose prior to weaning (several months later now) and finally starting to do as well again. Hummmm! I for one am going to go much slower with any weaning for any reason, even sedation and it wil have to be necessary before I consider weaning again, so not worth the lost months!

 

[wonderwaleye]

Dear Bshaw96


I have been taking 200mg of this med for over 3 years and never have had this problem.


Over that time I have missed many doses but only one in the morning or one in the evening. Never both.


I never felt anything as a result of it.


Sounds to me that the med mixture is not right yet. I sure went through that.


I now take 200mg of Zoloft and 200mg of lamictal daily.



This has done me well with no side effects and I don't even know I'm taking it. But I have also combined it with the DRUG " FOOD "and it shows!!!



While your in so much pain keep bugging your doctor until the right mixture is found. Never wait MORE than two weeks and if things are still not right get on the phone. I DID!!!



THRU IT ALL ALWAYS REMEMBER:




XEven though you can't see Him, GOD is there!O
( click on the X and move to the O ) ( then feel who is around you ) steven

 

[spdnet75]

And not normal by society standards, but by bipolar standards. I was diagnosed BP about 2 months ago, have worked my way up to 200mg of Lamictal daily. Was tolerating well, no side effects, actually in the best mood Id been in for a long time. Aside from headaches occasionally, no problems with the med. Well, a little over a week ago I started getting real irritable. Then I started crying at the drop of a hat. I am constantly crying and arguing with hubby for things he did 14 years ago, some even before we were married. Very irrational. I just placed a call to my doc, hasn't called back yet. Also, I missed a dose of my pill once about 3 weeks ago, and once last week. Can missing only 1 dose do this, or is this just a "normal" shift into depressive episode? This is so frustrating.

Missing a dose occasionally will almost never affect a person with Bi-Polar.
A swing like this should be discussed with your doctor as these are normally much more mild in nature.
-Spd

 

[rushingwind62]

And not normal by society standards, but by bipolar standards. I was diagnosed BP about 2 months ago, have worked my way up to 200mg of Lamictal daily. Was tolerating well, no side effects, actually in the best mood Id been in for a long time. Aside from headaches occasionally, no problems with the med. Well, a little over a week ago I started getting real irritable. Then I started crying at the drop of a hat. I am constantly crying and arguing with hubby for things he did 14 years ago, some even before we were married. Very irrational. I just placed a call to my doc, hasn't called back yet. Also, I missed a dose of my pill once about 3 weeks ago, and once last week. Can missing only 1 dose do this, or is this just a "normal" shift into depressive episode? This is so frustrating.

It usually takes missing several doses before it actually affects you, one day is not going to make a difference. I have missed mine on several occassions and it has never affected me.

sometimes meds will work for awhile but something happens and a particular med will stop working. It could be you need something else along with the lamictal. I am on four different meds for my BP and am now more stable than I have ever been.

Be patient and work with your psychatrist by telling him/her everything that is happening. It takes time for them to get the right combo of meds for every person with BP. And what works for one does not work for all. So all they have to go on is what you let them know.

Hang in there and God Bless You and EVERYONE!!!...Rush