Weaning off lamictal... EEG in 8 days!

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Autumn Breeze

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I finally got a scheduled EEG, but they've got it for Wednesday, and they said NOT to wean.

My doctor and I discussed it and said that I would. I'm about to call them back to reschedule (they had an opening on Friday as well) and to talk about the medication issue.

What I need to know is, how long do you think I should be off of it? I take 50 mgs twice a day, and nothing else.
 
The half-life of Lamictal is about 25 hours. This means if you stopped right now, in 25 hours you'd have approx. 25mgs left in your system, and in another 25 hours you'd have 12.5 mg in your system. Everyone's metabolism is different, but it sounds like you'd have a sub-therapeutic dose in your system by Wednesday.
 
Looks like I'll be starting to wean tonight, and the EEG will be on Friday. No sleep, NO COFFEE (omg that might kill me).
 
Nakamova said:
The half-life of Lamictal is about 25 hours. This means if you stopped right now, in 25 hours you'd have approx. 25mgs left in your system, and in another 25 hours you'd have 12.5 mg in your system. Everyone's metabolism is different, but it sounds like you'd have a sub-therapeutic dose in your system by Wednesday.
Click to expand...

Excellent, the only hour I had was in relation to the break down in breastmilk, not blood plasma. And I'm glad Wednesday would have been ok, but I'm glad to have managed to snag Friday before it got snatched up.
 
aw, I can't change the thread title. It would read : Weaning off lamictal... EEG in 8 days!

and I even have a 10am, so I won't be horribly stupid exhausted. Just stupid exhausted.

AND, it's going to be WAY cheaper than if we'd gone to Emory University first. around $300 vs $500 just for a consult.

I'm so excites, anxious and scared. It's going to be an interesting week.
 
Per your request, thread title changed... :)
 
It has begun. Yesterday I took 3/4 of my usual dose. Today will be 1/2 of my usual dose, and tomorrow will be 1/4. I wanted to step down and take it slowly. I am trying to remember to do everything else 'right'. Staying hydrated, not letting myself get too hungry (though I'm starving right now....food is in the oven) or too tired...or too stressed.
 
Yes, you want to be safe, but still stressed enough to "seize on cue" on Friday. Or at least produce some thrilling brainwaves.
 
So tired. I'm blaming the change in Lamitcal. But I seem to be going slowly enough to stave off the headaches.

I am trying to plan out my evening to make sure I get as little sleep as possible, but also allowing my husband to get some rest since we'll have to take the kids to school that morning.

Oh, and a Dunkin Donuts just opened in town, so, since I'm not supposed to have "more than 1 cup of coffee" that morning, I've already told my husband that we're stopping at DD on the way home. I haven't had a 'fresh' donut in ages. Plus i'll really be dying for a coffee by then.

I think I take my last mini. dose this morning, and it's all down hill from here.

I'm nervous, my daughter has a party on Saturday (So cute, a 7 yr old is having a dinner party at the mexican restaurant in town, it's going to be nothing but nachos and pink lemonade!!) but of couse, she wants us all to go. AND THEN, the day before the EEG my daughter is having her eyes examined, she may need glasses. Originally, my DH (dear husband) was going to drop the girl and me off at the eye place and pick us up after my son's practice is over. But, now I'm worried enough that I've asked my son to skip practice that day. :/ So, I'm doing ok on finding a source of stress to hold on to.

Fingers crossed, thanks for the luck! :)
 
intrested see how you get along i desperate come off them they causing skin problems but as soon as i cut down the head aches start
 
I've been away for a few days. Good luck on the eeg. It looks like your staying safe. I hope your brain waves corporate!
 
cazzy said:
intrested see how you get along i desperate come off them they causing skin problems but as soon as i cut down the head aches start
Click to expand...

I've been very itchy lately too :/ I was actually hoping for dry skin just from the drier air/cold air. But, I'm worried it's the Lamictal. It would be a new side effect, and I don't know if it's one that can be (or should be) tolerated.

I am usually really good at stepping down, I too am very sensitive to withdrawl. I usually go in quarters instead of halves. Today I'm only taking 1/4 of my dose, and tomorrow I will have none. But, I only had to step down from 100mgs.

Thanks pita :) I hope so too. It really is weird (and scary) to hope for something to happen.
 
Hopefully any withdrawal side effects won't be too intense. They should be transitory, so hang in there...
 
chargingbird said:
I've been very itchy lately too :/ I was actually hoping for dry skin just from the drier air/cold air. But, I'm worried it's the Lamictal. It would be a new side effect, and I don't know if it's one that can be (or should be) tolerated.

I am usually really good at stepping down, I too am very sensitive to withdrawl. I usually go in quarters instead of halves. Today I'm only taking 1/4 of my dose, and tomorrow I will have none. But, I only had to step down from 100mgs.

Thanks pita :) I hope so too. It really is weird (and scary) to hope for something to happen.
Click to expand...

i may do same...i just dread the awful head aches...i getting sort of acne but skin just dont want to heal up it very slow
 
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