Started taking Abilify and waiting to start Lamictal. What should I expect from this combo?

Question

I started taking Abilify (which I have been doing well on) instead of Geodon. The Geodon absolutely made me non-functioning. I have been doing really well on the Abilify and I am to start taking the Lamictal in a few days. Is there anything I should expect from this combo? I am really nervous after what I went through with the Geodon...oh yeah, its for bipolar! Thanks!

Answer 1

I haven't been on both at the same time but I was on Lamictal for about three years. I had the worst withdrawal from any prescription psychiatric medication in my life from that drug and I have had some bad ones. It also gave me flat mood and other side effects like sleep paralysis/vivid dreaming. I also would have spells where I could barely walk. This was after I'd been on it for years---not just adjusting to it.

So I really wouldn't recommend taking Lamictal to anyone unless they have severe seizures and it works for them or they have absolutely debilitating bipolar disorder and it's all that helps. It's a heavy-duty nasty drug and that combo is going to be quite a punch for your brain to handle.

If I were you, I'd seek a second opinion. I don't know your medical history or anything, but that's a LOT of medication to be handling. I've read about all the other drugs on the market currently that I haven't actually tried (I'm bipolar too) and Abilify doesn't look like anything lightweight.

So the best advice I can offer is to caution you about the seriousness of Lamictal. Some people of course adjust to it well. But many many have horrible problems with it. Think carefully before you agree to take both, and do your own research on the web about other people's experiences. There's a forum: http://www.crazyboards.org/forums/. It has a lot of first hand accounts. Maybe you can find someone else posting on there with the same combo you are looking to attempt. You can also read about reactions to the individual meds. It's a helpful site in my experience.

Answer 2

I gained so much weight on abilify.  I developed tremors after 18 months on it. And, I changed my vision prescription 3 times in 16 month before I found out the cause was abilify.  read the side effect carefully.  

age 53

off all meds since January

not recommended.

Answer 3

I was on all three and all of them have Serious side effects. Talk to your MD or seek a second opinion.

Cymbalta, Topomax and Zyprexa and even the old stand  by Depakote have way less serious side effects.