The Antidepressant Saga Continues

I've done Lamictal.  I had too many side effects from it (dryness, itchiness, headaches from sun).  I was so glad to get off that one.  Now I've been on Lexapro for 1.5 years; it makes one very tired for the first few weeks, but my body is used to it by now.  Still some dry mouth.  Some weird feelings I attribute to the meds, but my psychiatrist does not.  But at least my moods have been stable.

A friend who was on Lexapro said it made her too tired.  She switched to yet another one.  I was taken off Wellbutrin a while back because of the anxiety-inducing nature of it you described.

Hi Deborah,

There is one very big side effect for Lamictal--The Rash.  It should be in the literature??  I got it so I'm allergic to it.  My Pdoc had such high hopes for Lamictal.  It was prescribed for my Bipolar II symptoms.  Must be an all-around drug.

Good luck, take care of yourself.

Yes, a person does have to be extremely patient when it comes to getting "just the right" medication that outway the side effects to be worth taking them for the depression!  I know as I have been going through this for the last 20 years.  It is always scarey for me when I go through a med change, as I don't know if the side effects will be too cumbersome or I will sink back in depression in the meantime.

But I have found that most of the new antidepressants mostly have a positive effect for me that outweighs the side effects.  It's a tough world sometimes ~ this business they call DEPRESSION!!!

Hi Deborah,

I took Wellbutrin for about a year at one point. I didn't have a single good night's sleep during that time. I had bizarre dreams at first, and then I felt like I didn't dream at all. I was glad to get off of it.

Re sleepiness, when I started on Effexor, I was falling asleep constantly for about a month, but then it lifted.  I have been on this med now for about 12 years  (!!!!!!)  now in the "XR" version.

This last year my new shrink added clonazepam for severe chronic anxiety. I take it at night and have been sleeping better than I have for many years.  I wonder how much is the drug and how much is getting restful sleep that has cut my anxiety down. 

I am 51 now.  The first episode of depression and anxiety & fear I remember is when I was 5.  I did not get medication until I was 36.

Good luck with the new meds, Deborah.

Ellen

Hi Deborah,

Do you really have to add birth control pills to this combination? Many years ago a pdoc told me not to fiddle around with my hormones if possible, because it would aggrevate my depression. My ex husband and now my partner had vasectomies....something for which I was eternally grateful. I don't know your situation as far as wanting children goes but if I didn't have to add something to the cocktail I wouldn't. A vasectomy is all over in a lunchtime! Not too much recovery.Phew what a relief never having to be worried about the unexpected from taking antibiotics or having a vomiting bug, or combining with other medications! Good luck with your new med, anxiety is not much fun and was a primary symptom of my depression. I took four different meds until I found the right one. I have been so lucky that Zoloft works so well for me. Best wishes R

Hi Deborah,

I'm glad to know that someone else already mentioned what I am about to mention -- the rash. I had never been allergic to any medication before my doctor asked me to try Lamictal. I didn't have any problems the first 2 weeks when I was on an extremely low dosage; however as soon as I increased the dosage I got "the rash" which is painful and very nasty. Now I have to tell all doctors, hospitals, etc., that I have Steven Johnson Syndrome -- check it out on the internet and you will see that it is a very dangerous flesh-eating condition that can affect children to the elderly.

Another problem is that most medical professionals do not know what SJS is and need to research it after I tell them that I have it. So Lamictal DEFINITELY needs to list SJS as one of the possible side effects -- there has yet to be a medication that I have been put on that does not have side effects.

This is my very first post, but I felt it was so important to let you and others know that I needed to do it.

I know I'm coming to this discussion late, but I have a few things to add. First, my understanding is that birth control pills make Lamictal less effective, but not the other way around.  An important distinction.  Second, the Lamictal packaging definitely warns about the rashes, which are NOT an allergic reaction.  I find it hard to believe doctors aren't informed about it.  In fact, I suspect they are withholding the info from patients so as not to scare them, which is unconscionable.  All anticonvulsants (which is what Lamictal is) can cause rashes, including SJS.  Lamictal is the worst in this regard.

I've been taking Lamictal since December, gradually upping the dosage.  It's been added to my Cymbalta to help with my chronic dysthymia (though I'd call it treatment-resistant depression).  So far, no rashes and no side effects that I can pin to it.  You should be aware, though, that it can cause eye strain and hair loss.  My mood seemed to improve for a week or two, but now I'm not so sure.