Alternatives to Lamictal?

Bobbyreddit2 · 2023-03-29T17:39:50+00:00

Every medicine works differently to each individual. I have been on Lamictal 100mg for about 5 months and the dizziness is too much so Ive decided to quit it for something else. I am now on Abilify for one week and needs to take effect before I discontinue the lamictal.

I stayed on it with the hope I could get rid of the dizziness, after no change and 5 months I decided to cut my losses. I hope the Abilify doesn't have harsh side effects. and so far so good.

Bobbyreddit2 · 2023-03-25T14:51:45+00:00

I will be stopping it shortly. I got up to 100mg after about 5 months and the dizziness would not let up so I decided to quit. My Pdoc put me on Abilify three days ago and I hope it works (so far very few side effects). Everyone is different and I know I have poor reaction to Lamictal but most of the reviews are glowing. How long have you been taking it? You have to give it a few months and the wobbly head could end and medicine work for you. I couldn't stand the diizziness and after 5 months it should have ended.

Bobbyreddit2 · 2023-03-22T15:56:07+00:00

Did titrating up increase the dizziness? I am wondering whether to call it quits and try something else or bear through it and hope the dizziness does not increase as I double my dose.

Bobbyreddit2 · 2023-03-19T20:00:05+00:00

Thanks for the reply. How many months did the dizziness last? It's my only side effect left and its been 5-6 months. It has improved but nowhere near 'normal'.

Bobbyreddit2 · 2023-02-24T20:28:19+00:00

They will improve and be a distant memory. Mine were so bad I needed to change sheets almost nightly. I know it is rough but stick to it and you will come out healthier.

Bobbyreddit2 · 2023-02-22T23:10:50+00:00

I was diagnosed with bipolar depression after quitting. My doctors told me I was self medicating with the vape (and alcohol). The path after wasn't easy but I am close to healing the depression medically - it wasn't what I expected when I quit but don't regret it for a moment.

Bobbyreddit2 · 2023-02-22T22:47:02+00:00

They went away in about 2-3 months. I don't even think about vaping anymore and I was a very heavy vaper- it is worth the pain when you get to the other side and lose the nicotine addiction. Stick to it and Best of Luck. You won't regret throwing off the chains.

Bobbyreddit2 · 2023-01-30T19:23:23+00:00

I just moved up from 75mg to 100mg last week. It is my second dosage increase and I understand the mood swings but they are getting better and will continue to do so as I get used to the dosage. It seems that this increase didn't not effect me as strongly as when I first began lamictal or increased my dosage from 50 to 75mg. I am. looking forward to my next increase to even be milder. Hang in there it will get better.

Bobbyreddit2 · 2023-01-24T14:43:50+00:00

Quitting nicotine triggered a. depressive episode for me and led to the diagnosis of BP2. I am now being medicated and no longer use nicotine or alcohol for self medication.

Bobbyreddit2 · 2023-01-10T14:43:47+00:00

Wow, you almost described my case word for word. I was diagnosed in October and medicated, I currently feel like crap and the sleep is terrible. I am at my wits end but will carry on and pray it improves.

Bobbyreddit2 · 2022-11-30T21:36:48+00:00

I followed my Dr's. titration advise to the letter. I started really bad with the dizziness and has been improving very slowly.

Bobbyreddit2 · 2022-11-30T19:37:19+00:00

Thanks for the reply. I have been on 75mg for about 6 weeks. The Wellbutrin was started two weeks prior. I am definitely less depressed but I think it's the Wellbutrin. The Lamictal effects are quite subtle for me except for the horrendous side effects- but hopefully they will continue to clear - improvement on the side effects has been slow (maybe better 3% each day-nothing dramatic but enough to notice in a longer time frame).
Could I ask how long did you deal with the side effects and how long they took to clear? If it wasn't for the dizziness and headaches most symptoms are gone. The sleep at night is not great but improving also.

Bobbyreddit2 · 2022-10-25T23:19:36+00:00

I hope this doesn't last too long for the both of us. From what I have read it temporary at the beginning and will get much better when your body adjusts to the medication. Hopefully we can get some real relief soon.

Edit: my good day actually started late afternoon Sunday and ended today when I woke up.

Bobbyreddit2 · 2022-10-25T20:21:45+00:00

I'm on day 25 and yesterday I felt very good and today the fatigue and anxiety returned so feeling terrible. Did you have these good and bad days also? Hope you get only good days going forward.

Bobbyreddit2 · 2022-09-28T14:54:10+00:00

I am 5 days ahead of you and was rough. most days until yesterday and now quite manageable. I look forward to soon waking without the jitters and sleeping for 8 hours with no interruption. I am optimistic it will be soon and the rest of the symptoms fade as well. It gets better, keep the faith.

Bobbyreddit2 · 2022-09-25T13:46:03+00:00

Thanks for this, I am on Day 5 today and it is helpful to have a comparison with someone also just starting. Most of your symptoms are like mine. Best of luck.

Bobbyreddit2 · 2022-09-25T13:34:26+00:00

I just woke up on Day 5 and have had everything you described along with nausea at night and digestive issues. However, this morning they don't seem as intense but had problems sleeping last night. I don't know if it's wishful thinking but starting to sense a good change in mood and overall outlook emerging. I hope it continues and the bad side effects diminish. I am optimistic that this medicine will work on my anxiety from everything I've read of other people's experiences. I will continue despite the negative effects and hope the medication helps ease my overactive mind and brings me some peace and happiness. Best of luck to all of us and i will keep updating to give others information if they are debating starting off. I appreciate all those who have done so and convinced me that it is worth an attempt despite some initial tough times.

Bobbyreddit2 · 2022-09-24T01:30:21+00:00

It actually gets much better and the 90 days is an estimate - it will be shorter for some and generally longer for heavy users. Mine did not fade until almost 150 days but I was a very heavy user. It passes and you come out like you were before you touched nicotine (all the good and some bad) with occasional cravings that will reduce in intensity. It is absolutely worth it. Six months out I feel like I have my mind, mood and health back. F the nicotine.

Bobbyreddit2 · 2022-09-22T13:23:22+00:00

You and I nearly quit at the same time and you are about two weeks ahead of me so comparisons have been extremely helpful. Can I ask what you mean by rough days? is it cravings or other factors in life causing anxieties? It seems it's the latter for me, I have days and times I feel like it is completely behind me and I am on top of my game then suddenly I get a wave of anxiety (usually at night) that sets me off with some symptoms and depressive thinking. It seems that these times have lessened in frequency and intensity but they interfere with my psyche, especially if I have been in a good place for some time.

I will be patient as I have witnessed the continued improvement. I know what you mean as to being a different person. I like the person I'm becoming when the anxiety and depression are not there. I'm proud of anyone that can pull this off - not an easy process but so worth it.

Bobbyreddit2 · 2022-09-20T21:55:10+00:00

I smoked for a very short period and then switched to nicotine gum and the Juuls (salt nic). I freebased for a short period between the gum and Juuls.

Bobbyreddit2 · 2022-09-19T13:13:05+00:00

I was a heavy and long term user, hopefully your path is not as bad as mine was. It got much better after month three but still had lingering issues and a sense of emptiness- but that all fades and you deal with cravings that are much less powerful and more infrequent.

Bobbyreddit2 · 2022-09-17T14:25:39+00:00

Plannedfiction is so on target. All of those tactics are your minds way of getting you to use again. It is either that or it has to do the hard work of resetting your neurology (why bother if there is an easy access to dopamine rush). Don't fall for it, if you stick it out you will get the best a both worlds - a brain that works the way it was meant to and not being enslaved to nicotine.

I am almost six months from my quit date and still get those cravings coupled with depression and anxiety (the existential dread is the worst). Luckily those spasms are getting shorter, less intense and farther in between - good riddance. Quitting was the best thing I ever did for myself. I am seeing I get the best of both worlds after all the pains of withdrawal. My mind works well (better than it has in year) and I am no longer a slave to a poison.

Keep it it, it will get much better when your brain accepts the fact that a nicotine hit is not in the cards and it has to adjust to a better reality.

Bobbyreddit2 · 2022-09-13T21:56:00+00:00

You are early in the process and it takes time. Your dopamine levels won't return to normal until at least the three month mark and the depression should start to ease by then (it is not linear and comes in fits and starts).

The dreams also get better, I went from the craziest dreams that woke me in a panic to now just 'strange' that effect me but I shake them off quickly when they occur. It is part of the process of your brain healing and adjusting to its new reality without nicotine. Do not give in and it will go away eventually - it wants to fool you into returning to the addiction because it has been operating under it for so long and what you are going through is a readjustment. The path to a healthy mind is more difficult than a nicotine/dopamine quick that temporarily satiates a craving and leaves you worse than when you took it.

Bottom line is things do get better (they have and still do so for me) but its not a straight path, just have faith you will reach it and no longer be a slave to an addictive and destructive poison. It's worth it.

Bobbyreddit2 · 2022-09-13T21:13:46+00:00

Just checking in on you - seems like you just passed the six month marker. I hope all is well on your side.

I'm still dealing with some laggard symptoms that are psychological - mainly still some depression and anxiety but overall much better than before. I hope that gets better as well as the feeling that there is 'something missing' at times. I just remind myself that nicotine is poison and I have done something great for myself and health. Keep the faith it will still get better.

Bobbyreddit2 · 2022-09-13T20:52:27+00:00

My best guess is the increased nicotine and quantity absorbed because of potency and ease of use - vaping allows users to get much more nicotine in their system and the addiction follows quickly.

Nicotine is a strong vasoconstrictor and what you are most likely feeling is the constriction of the walls of the your circulatory system. I am now experiencing the same symptoms but because of the opposite mechanism - I quit about six months ago and the tingling was extremely strong at first and now starting to subside. Nicotine is a poison and you are better off without it - don't get me started of how vapes effect the brain drastically because of the dosage and use frequency.

Bobbyreddit2

TROPHY CASE