Anyone taking Lamictal & Divalproex Sodium

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gowings83

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I'm taking 100mg of Lamictal (Lamotrigine) in the morning and night, also Divalproex Sodium 125mg pill in the morning. I'm wondering if anyone else is taking this, or something close. The reason I'm asking is I just started this in Feb. and it seems to be making me worse. Not seizure wise, but personally. Sex drive is almost gone, blurry vision, more tired than I was just on Lamictal and VERY moody. For years the way I combated the moodyness from the Lamictal was smoking pot with the doctors recomendation, but not the perscription. Then last August, when the seizures started now n then I was told to stop since we'd be switching meds to try to stop them again. I've only been switched to a 200mg dose, boy was I angry, then to Keppra, allergic, and dilantin, allergic. So I was back to the same dose of Lamotrigine. Eventually I had the Sodium stuff added. I'd like take the mood helping stuffs again, or maybe even have a few drinks to relax, but am wondering if it's safe. Now I don't drink or smoke til I'm stupid, just enough to relax. The added Sodium is what has me worried, I don't know how the stuff reacts to it, the Lamictal I was just fine with it.
 
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Well I just started the lamictal. In a few days, my dose gets pushed up to 75mgs twice a day. In a couple of weeks I will be on my full dose of 200mgs twice a day. Im on Keppra too... but I am weaning off of it slowly. Only going down 250mgs each week.... so it wont be til Mid July that Im completely off the Keppra. My emotions have been all over the place the past month or so... Now my dr thinks its the kepprage that is doing it to me. Before, I was on the Keppra and Carbatrol, and he said it was the Carbatrol that helped sedate the emotions from the Keppra. So I had no problems with my emotions while on the carbatrol. But since my dr quit me cold turkey on the Carbatrol (when I had a VEEG) I havnt been on it, and have tried Vimpat (bad suicidal thoughts, so I had to get off of that) then went for a few days with only Keppra, and had seizures... then Lamictal was added. So far so good... I think. Now I dont know if the emotions have been due to the Keppra like the dr thinks... or if its the Lamictal? But I guess either way I will find out for sure once I get off the Keppra.

So I can relate to you with the Lamictal, but I havnt been on any sodium medications.
 
Taking Divalproex Sodium and Lamictal together significantly increases the plasma concentrations of the Lamictal. In other words, the Divalproex Sodium is making you metabolize a lot more Lamictal than you're used to. The increased concentration of Lamictal would explain the drowsiness, the blurry vision, the libido issues. (I have all those with Lamictal alone.) You should ask your neurologist about backing off the Lamictal dose.

As for alcohol: Drinking alcohol can increase the side effects of both divalproex sodium and Lamictal, so you might want to play it safe and avoid alcohol altogether. Be careful out in the sun too -- Divalproex sodium can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight and cause you to sunburn easily.
 
Ok I'll avoid the drinking, was just hopeful to have a beer or 2. As for backing off the Lamictal, I had that done before and wound up in the hospital after 10 seizures within 80 minutes and stopping breathing. I also don't remember the 3 days surrounding that. The ER called the neuro doc and she said to put it back up and I've been at those levels ever since.
 
Oh no! Well maybe you'll get used to the Lamictal/Divalproex combo over time, and the side effects will lessen.

I do have the occasional beer or glass of wine while on lamictal. The threshold does vary from one individual to another. You could proceed with caution -- have a light beer or half a beer and see how you feel. But stay away from the high-alcohol stuff.
 
I used to drink and smoke while on just the lamictal too with no issue. Thanks for the advice though, maybe I'll have one while watching the rest of the red wings game that's on now :)
 
Nakamova said:
Oh no! Well maybe you'll get used to the Lamictal/Divalproex combo over time, and the side effects will lessen.

I do have the occasional beer or glass of wine while on lamictal. The threshold does vary from one individual to another. You could proceed with caution -- have a light beer or half a beer and see how you feel. But stay away from the high-alcohol stuff.
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dying for a drink. Think I will have a wine-cooler, something to mellow my blah, blah, blah self out. Girl, Im lettin my hair down. I only take divalproex, 1000mg a day. I want to have a drink this evening, nothing to harsh, just like I mentioned above. I take one pill in the am and the second one around 9-10pm. Should I move it up an hour (11pm)or back an hour (8pm). Need to unwind so baddddddd!!!
 
funny, I googled divalproex and alchohol and this post came up.....wow
 
I cant actually let my hair down today, Im wearing my "Bad Hair Day" wig. I can sure as heck pull it off tho!!!!
 
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