Lamotrigine & Whatever I'm Feeling
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January 30, 2009 - 11:11 am
Hey,
Over the last some weeks, I've been taking lamotrigine, the mood stabiliser and the dosage is slowly increasing to reach therapeutic effect. Alongside I take Venlafaxine/Effexor.
I'm finding though that whilst I'm not depressed as such, I'm sleeping all day, demotivated, not very keen on leaving my room (in fact, I don't) and rather emotional. Most hours of the day I lie down on my bed, hoping to sleep. I don't know how to explain how I feel, as I have never felt this way before - am I numb? Am I lost? Am I becoming stable? Is this what it is not to have mood swings, highs and lows...
I just wanted to ask if anyone had similar experiences. If this what it means to be normal, I'm not sure I like it very much. Frankly, I'd rather have mood swings - does it take time to adapt to normal moods, when all you know are highs and lows?
Over the last some weeks, I've been taking lamotrigine, the mood stabiliser and the dosage is slowly increasing to reach therapeutic effect. Alongside I take Venlafaxine/Effexor.
I'm finding though that whilst I'm not depressed as such, I'm sleeping all day, demotivated, not very keen on leaving my room (in fact, I don't) and rather emotional. Most hours of the day I lie down on my bed, hoping to sleep. I don't know how to explain how I feel, as I have never felt this way before - am I numb? Am I lost? Am I becoming stable? Is this what it is not to have mood swings, highs and lows...
I just wanted to ask if anyone had similar experiences. If this what it means to be normal, I'm not sure I like it very much. Frankly, I'd rather have mood swings - does it take time to adapt to normal moods, when all you know are highs and lows?
Current medications as of 01-30-2009
| 01-29-2009 - Present: | Lamotrigine, 100 mg. 50mg Twice a Day |
| 01-30-2009 - Present: | Venlafaxine, 150 mg. Once a Day |
Hey,
Over the last some weeks, I've been taking lamotrigine, the mood stabiliser and the dosage is slowly increasing to reach therapeutic effect. Alongside I take Venlafaxine/Effexor.
I'm finding though that whilst I'm not depressed as such, I'm sleeping all day, demotivated, not very keen on leaving my room (in fact, I don't) and rather emotional. Most hours of the day I lie down on my bed, hoping to sleep. I don't know how to explain how I feel, as I have never felt this way before - am I numb? Am I lost? Am I becoming stable? Is this what it is not to have mood swings, highs and lows...
I just wanted to ask if anyone had similar experiences. If this what it means to be normal, I'm not sure I like it very much. Frankly, I'd rather have mood swings - does it take time to adapt to normal moods, when all you know are highs and lows?
Over the last some weeks, I've been taking lamotrigine, the mood stabiliser and the dosage is slowly increasing to reach therapeutic effect. Alongside I take Venlafaxine/Effexor.
I'm finding though that whilst I'm not depressed as such, I'm sleeping all day, demotivated, not very keen on leaving my room (in fact, I don't) and rather emotional. Most hours of the day I lie down on my bed, hoping to sleep. I don't know how to explain how I feel, as I have never felt this way before - am I numb? Am I lost? Am I becoming stable? Is this what it is not to have mood swings, highs and lows...
I just wanted to ask if anyone had similar experiences. If this what it means to be normal, I'm not sure I like it very much. Frankly, I'd rather have mood swings - does it take time to adapt to normal moods, when all you know are highs and lows?
Current medications as of 01-30-2009
| 01-29-2009 - Present: | Lamotrigine, 100 mg. 50mg Twice a Day |
| 01-30-2009 - Present: | Venlafaxine, 150 mg. Once a Day |
February 3, 2009 - 9:43 pm
Total Posts: 15
Joined: 11-18-2008
Joined: 11-18-2008
I've been on the combination of Lamictal (lamotrigine) and Effexor before. I was on Lamictal for almost 4 years, finally maxing out on 400mg/day. I never got the fatigue side effect that it sounds like you're describing, not from either of them. With the lamictal, in the beginning, I had terrible short-term memory loss and very poor balance. After awhile the memory got better, but the entire time I was on it I was nauseous for a few hours after I took it in the morning. As for the Effexor, no real side effects that I can remember. Just be careful never to miss a dose of the Effexor because you might get what they call "brain zaps" where you get these weird "shocks" in your head as you're withdrawing from the Effexor. It's common with some of the stronger antidepressants.
I've been on the combination of Lamictal (lamotrigine) and Effexor before. I was on Lamictal for almost 4 years, finally maxing out on 400mg/day. I never got the fatigue side effect that it sounds like you're describing, not from either of them. With the lamictal, in the beginning, I had terrible short-term memory loss and very poor balance. After awhile the memory got better, but the entire time I was on it I was nauseous for a few hours after I took it in the morning. As for the Effexor, no real side effects that I can remember. Just be careful never to miss a dose of the Effexor because you might get what they call "brain zaps" where you get these weird "shocks" in your head as you're withdrawing from the Effexor. It's common with some of the stronger antidepressants.
February 6, 2009 - 1:12 pm
Total Posts: 10
Joined: 11-20-2007
Joined: 11-20-2007
The only real advice I can offer is to report your side effects to your Doctor. I know that not wanting to leave the room and sleeping all day but not being able to sleep, those are probably not the effects your Doctor is hoping for, so that's why I suggest you call the Doctor ASAP. I still have poor balance as a result of the Lamotrigine, and it's annoying but I can deal with it. However if I miss a dose of Effexor XR (225 mg/day), I start experiencing the same side effects reported in withdrawing from opiates...hmmm....
The only real advice I can offer is to report your side effects to your Doctor. I know that not wanting to leave the room and sleeping all day but not being able to sleep, those are probably not the effects your Doctor is hoping for, so that's why I suggest you call the Doctor ASAP. I still have poor balance as a result of the Lamotrigine, and it's annoying but I can deal with it. However if I miss a dose of Effexor XR (225 mg/day), I start experiencing the same side effects reported in withdrawing from opiates...hmmm....
Joined: 01-07-2009