Lamictal & benzo concerns

[[cs...]]

After trialing Lexapro for nearly 2 weeks days and getting nothing but night sweats and zero relief, my doc saw no further reason to continue to wait it out or up the dose. Trepidatiously, I just started Lamictal 100mg at the advice of my doc to help stabilize chronic anxiety that only began in the last month (no prior history of any mental disorders). You can read my story here:

http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/index.php?topic=119085.0

 

I also just started using 0.5mg Klonopin temporarily to control the anxiety until we can hopefully stabilize on Lamictal and the taper off the Klonopin.  My only prior benzo usage was over the course of 6 weeks in which I took an avg of 10mg Valium for 22 days and Xanax 0.5mg for 19 days non-consecutively. 

 

My concerns were raised in light of this thread which mentions possible issues with benzos and Lamictal:

http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/index.php?topic=49720.0

 

Here the excerpt:

 

"It's important to know that benzos and Lamictal have synergistic effects. 

 

GABA is an "inhibitory" transmitter which slows down the signaling in the brain.

 

Glutamate is the opposite of GABA.  It is an excitatory neurotransmitter which speeds up the signaling.

 

So GABA and glutamate work together and opposite (like a seesaw). GABA slows things down, glutamate speeds things up. 

 

It's like GABA is the brake pedal and glutamate is the accelerator.

 

Lamictal inhibits glutamate function.  Benzos boost the GABA function. Lamictal makes you back off the accelerator and benzos push down the brake pedal.

 

So when you stop taking benzos you are taking your foot off the brake.  And when you stop taking Lamictal you are pushing down the accelerator.

 

So as you can see you need to be careful and go very slowly if you are stopping both at the same time."

 

1) So, does this mean either can be stopped/tapered safely, just not at the same time?

 

2) Does anyone know if it is better to come off one before the other?

 

3) There are many anecdotal reports of acute Lamictal withdrawal, yet there are many who present with zero withdrawal. What has been the consensus?

 

I would like to have as much information as possible to go over before my next appt.

 

 

[[...]]

I am on 230mg. of lamictal.  I was prescribed lamictal in 2011 well before ativan came into the picture.

 

I HATE lamictal.  During the course of last year I was able to reduce my lamictal from 300mg. to 230mg.  I have to get it compounded and am extremely sensitive to withdrawals/meds.

 

In June I started getting withdrawals (tolerance) from the ativan--I wonder looking back, if my decreasing lamictal during last year contributed to that???---, so my doctor and I are tackling ativan right now and pausing the lamictal withdrawal.  It could take me a year to get off ativan which is a serious bummer in and of itself.  Putting off getting off lamictal is very discouraging to me.

 

I am familiar with the glutamate/gaba pickle you wrote of, so it's good you are doing your homework.

 

I think some people have tried to taper benzos and lamictal at the same time, but always say it is "tricky".  I think tapering anything alone is tricky!

 

Basically--it's dynamite -- being on a benzo and lamictal, in my opinion.  If ativan tolerance withdrawal hadn't reared it's ugly head I would have continued with lamictal first.

 

It sounds like you are just now being prescribed lamictal??

 

I have no fool-proof advice for you, but I appreciate very much the situation you are in.....one thing at a time is what I have heard over and over and over in this process.

 

Keep doing research.  Beyond Meds seems to be a popular website for lamictal withdrawal and benzo withdrawal.  I think that lady may have some better input in terms of which to go off of first.

 

I thought the benzos were pushing down the accelerator and lamictal was taking the foot of the brake??  Whatever really, right?  A mess, plain and simple

 

Bottom line is lamictal and benzos are definitely gonna mess with your glutamate/gaba system. 

 

Whatever you do, I would go slow....some people don't have to, mind you.  And you can ask your doctor about compounding your meds if you ever need to do that in the future. 

 

 

[[cs...]]

I am on 230mg. of lamictal.  I was prescribed lamictal in 2011 well before ativan came into the picture.

 

I HATE lamictal.  During the course of last year I was able to reduce my lamictal from 300mg. to 230mg.  I have to get it compounded and am extremely sensitive to withdrawals/meds.

 

In June I started getting withdrawals (tolerance) from the ativan--I wonder looking back, if my decreasing lamictal during last year contributed to that???---, so my doctor and I are tackling ativan right now and pausing the lamictal withdrawal.  It could take me a year to get off ativan which is a serious bummer in and of itself.  Putting off getting off lamictal is very discouraging to me.

 

I am familiar with the glutamate/gaba pickle you wrote of, so it's good you are doing your homework.

 

I think some people have tried to taper benzos and lamictal at the same time, but always say it is "tricky".  I think tapering anything alone is tricky!

 

Basically--it's dynamite -- being on a benzo and lamictal, in my opinion.  If ativan tolerance withdrawal hadn't reared it's ugly head I would have continued with lamictal first.

 

It sounds like you are just now being prescribed lamictal??

 

I have no fool-proof advice for you, but I appreciate very much the situation you are in.....one thing at a time is what I have heard over and over and over in this process.

 

Keep doing research.  Beyond Meds seems to be a popular website for lamictal withdrawal and benzo withdrawal.  I think that lady may have some better input in terms of which to go off of first.

 

I thought the benzos were pushing down the accelerator and lamictal was taking the foot of the brake??  Whatever really, right?  A mess, plain and simple

 

Bottom line is lamictal and benzos are definitely gonna mess with your glutamate/gaba system. 

 

Whatever you do, I would go slow....some people don't have to, mind you.  And you can ask your doctor about compounding your meds if you ever need to do that in the future.

 

Only started Lamictal 12 days ago; Klonopin, 2 weeks @ 0.5mg/day avg. Prior to that I had taken Valium and Xanax non-consecutively over a period of 7 weeks. I actually feel worse now, my body is telling me this isn't the way to go, so I want off these meds, I just am concerned how to taper after reading this blog. With such a short time frame, I am hoping I can come off these meds without much more suffering. I actually feel I am going through interdose withdrawal of the Klonopin now with such a low dose. Also, what to do I still have untreated anxiety after? 

[[go...]]

I was actually thinking about starting Lamictal as I stop the valium (after a 2+ year taper).  My main reason would be to protect against seizures, block glutamate, and hopefully alleviate other symptoms (anxiety, burning, insomnia, etc) and just slow things down!

[[cs...]]

Pharmacist said to taper the benzo first before Lamictal.

[[...]]

I personally hate lamictal.  It has never been the right drug for me and I needed lithium to shut lamictal down.  If you have just started it and are feeling worse, I don't think going down on it should be a problem.

 

I don't know--- we are all so different.  I just know how much I hate lamictal for myself, and that it can be hell to get off of.  Why I had to reduce so slowly last year.  I think that "hell" really depends on how long you have been on it.

 

Like any of these nonsense meds, some people swear by lamictal.....

 

 

[[sc...]]

I take lamictal and was feeling a little better at 100 mg now I'm up to 150 for 10 days and have noticed an increase in tiredness, dizziness and chest tightness upon standing,,didn't happen until the dose increase,,I was on it a couple years ago and went off it but now remember that it caused severe anemia in me so now I'm like why the f@@@ am I taking it again,,plus it caused a peptic ulcer,,bad stuff

[[cs...]]

I take lamictal and was feeling a little better at 100 mg now I'm up to 150 for 10 days and have noticed an increase in tiredness, dizziness and chest tightness upon standing,,didn't happen until the dose increase,,I was on it a couple years ago and went off it but now remember that it caused severe anemia in me so now I'm like why the f@@@ am I taking it again,,plus it caused a peptic ulcer,,bad stuff

 

What are you using it to treat? How long were you on it before and why did you stop? When you re-started it, how long have you been on it, what was your starting dose and how long did it take you to get to 100mg? 

[[sc...]]

I started on 25 mg for 2 weeks than 50 mg for 2 weeks, 100 mg for 4 weeks and just recently 150,,I was starting to feel better but now I'm not,,I take it for bi polar 2 depression,,I stopped it because it caused severe anemia and ulcers, mouth sores and blurry vision.  I only started it again after I had withdrawal from an anti psychotic that was pretty bad

[[cb...]]

"So when you stop taking benzos you are taking your foot off the brake.  And when you stop taking Lamictal you are pushing down the accelerator."

 

ARGH!

so that is what is happening to my wife. Thanks to dumba** doctors she is in her 13th month CT from both Lamictal (two weeks worth) and Ativan. (5 months worth) I'll post more details later with questions.

 

this web site is the best thing since sliced bread.

 

[[Sw...]]

Wow I took lamictal from 2005 until I started to taper with the psych doc's okay.  I feel I was erronusly diagno sed as bipolar, something my father was diagnosed with, but I am not my father!  I now believe it was basically too many antidepressants to deal with a lack of estrogen production in my body.  Anyway, in 2012 I started with more health issues which I finally concluded these doctors ane not looking out for my best interest, I have to. 

 

I found MadinAmerica which inspired me to question the drugs.  I tapered off lamictial over 14 months but still had the klonipin (for sleep?!?) to taper.  During my withdrawal that psych doc stopped his practice and said insurance says he has to refer me to doctors that only do "med checks".  I decided no way do I want more drugs.

 

I tapered klonopin quicker without medical help which I now realize was not good but I am off it for  more than 3 months and NOT going back.  Please take the taper slow and if you are lucky to have someone to help all the better.  I am better now, seeing life in a way I haven't for 30 years but have along way to go.

[[be...]]

I was on both benzo and lamictal together. I stayed on my regular dose of K, while my pdoc took me off lamictal. I was on 400 mg of it. I dropped 100 mg every week and the first two weeks were fine. The 2nd and the 3rd week were just awful. The only s/x I had was dark deep depression. I wouldn't leave my bed for two weeks. I kept thinking of killing myself. I cried non stop. After I was finished with my taper, things went back to normal. UGH on that drug. You couldn't give me $100,000 to take it again......Maybe a $1 million?