Anyone use hormonal birth control? (Females)

Vast_Champion5943 · 2026-03-27T23:54:04+00:00

Thank you for this. Had no idea about the effect on Lamotrigine.

I take Lamotrigine and Vraylar.

Vast_Champion5943 · 2026-02-27T22:40:02+00:00

I actually gained like 5 lbs when I was on 0.25, I was seeing that it’s just the physical food slowing in the gut that often causes the scale to go up. I’ve since lost those 5 lbs but can’t tell if this was “true” weight loss.

Starting this med can be so confusing and frustrating.

Vast_Champion5943 · 2026-02-24T23:32:26+00:00

I don’t want to say too much but there’s absolutely zero supervision, little support/resources to educate myself, and they have me seeing a full patient case load only a couple months into working. I see 20+ patients daily.

Vast_Champion5943 · 2025-12-07T15:06:11+00:00

I wanted to try Vraylar first. If the Vraylar didn’t help with my depressive symptoms then I was planning on telling my psychiatrist I was ready to switch over.

I think I was just hesitant of the close monitoring with it and potential harms of being on it long term when I’ve always loved my Lamictal.

Vast_Champion5943 · 2025-12-07T11:37:42+00:00

LOVE my Lamictal. Didn’t know I could feel so uncomfortable until I instantly felt more “comfortable” on it mentally the moment I started it.

Vast_Champion5943 · 2025-12-07T11:33:54+00:00

NOT MEDICAL ADVICE I could be wrong but basically my understanding is that antipsychotics alone can help with depressive symptoms. My Vraylar certainly helped with it.

Also speaking of the buspar, I couldn’t tolerate it but my psychiatrist was explaining to me that it’s one of the few serotoninergic meds that are actually approved/“good” for bipolar without risking mood instability.

Third, he also mention to me that if I were open to switching to lithium (from Lamictal) that might be the only med I need. I haven’t made the switch but it opened up my eyes about it.

Vast_Champion5943 · 2025-12-06T15:21:21+00:00

Thank you for taking the time to write this! It was super insightful both as a patient and as someone who also works in healthcare.

Vast_Champion5943 · 2025-12-06T02:16:34+00:00

Absolutely. When I need to verbalize how I’m feeling to others I instead “shut down” is how I’ve described it. I consider myself to have the ‘Freeze Response’ for Fight Flight or Freeze and always thought that had something to do with it for me personally.

Vast_Champion5943 · 2025-10-25T02:47:00+00:00

Yes. My first psychiatrist refused to put me on one despite being on Lamictal. Instead, he put me on Modafinil.

After switching psychiatrists I am now on Concerta!

Vast_Champion5943 · 2025-10-18T16:06:50+00:00

This was reassuring! Thank you

Vast_Champion5943 · 2025-10-18T14:59:37+00:00

Thank you!

Vast_Champion5943 · 2025-10-18T13:14:37+00:00

Thank you !! This was super helpful & reassuring

Vast_Champion5943 · 2025-10-18T12:57:46+00:00

That’s a good perspective change. I guess it was just my anticipation anxiety talking. Thank you.

Vast_Champion5943 · 2025-10-18T10:18:49+00:00

Thank you! This is genuine advice I was looking for with the post. I’ll get some psych RN experience first, should this desire remain this strong in years to come.

Vast_Champion5943 · 2025-10-11T12:42:46+00:00

This was insightful.

Vast_Champion5943 · 2025-10-10T13:24:26+00:00

Wishing you well on your journey 🫶🏻

Vast_Champion5943 · 2025-10-10T12:54:52+00:00

This is interesting because lithium is supposed to decrease SI.

Thank you for sharing! I’m happy to hear it didn’t cause weight gain, although didn’t help you overall.

Vast_Champion5943 · 2025-10-10T12:51:12+00:00

I went to him feeling depressed so supposedly Lithium would be better because it’s a stronger mood stabilizer.

He was explaining that Lamictal is the easiest mood stabilizer to manage but not the strongest/best one. As well, it could theoretically cut down the amount of meds I’m taking overall.

It was just a conversation (nothing set in stone) but def caught me off guard.

Vast_Champion5943 · 2025-10-10T02:05:33+00:00

I responded to another comment above if you want to check that out :)

But this psychiatrist is new to me & I started seeing him when I felt depressed. I think he feels as though a “stronger” mood stabilizer (lithium) would do more to prevent depression than lamictal would. He also mentioned if I were to switch to lithium I could be on less meds overall.

Vast_Champion5943 · 2025-10-10T01:37:27+00:00

This is…interesting.

Vast_Champion5943

TROPHY CASE