Screw Some Lamictal!
September 15, 2007I have made the decision to stop taking the Lamictal. I simply can’t stand it anymore! More accurately, I can’t stand myself and doubt others are going to be able to stand me much longer either. Here’s how bad it has gotten…
The other day, my husband and I made a quick dash into Food Lion to grab maybe 5 items and bee-lined it to the 12-items-or-less-lane because the boy was wearing “big boy pants” and we wanted out of there before he got curious about what Food Lion’s restrooms looked like. He doesn’t pee in public because his bladder is full, he says he has to pee to see what the bathrooms look like. So we get to the register and the gentleman in front of us has maybe five items, but when the cashier scanned his Nabisco cookies, he sheepishly said, “Those are supposed to be 2 for 1.” Oh Lord! Here we go!
The cashier picked up the sales ad and showed the gentleman that it was Keebler cookies that were on sale, not Nabisco. The customer replies, “But the sign was under the Nabisco cookies.” The cashier said, “Sir, I’m sorry for the confusion, but those aren’t the cookies on sale.” The customer shoots back with, “Well, I understand they aren’t the cookies in the paper, but the sign back there said 2 for 1 and that’s what I should get them for.” Ok… now I’m seeing a clear picture of what we are dealing with. He’s the “got to teach them a lesson” sort of person. How dare some young stock person misplace a sale sign and mislead this poor, unsuspecting customer! The stock boy should be drawn and quartered!
Now the old Ouiser, would have smiled patiently to the cashier and simply waited her turn. We all have to share this planet and try to get along, even with the morons. But the Evil-Lamictal-Twin-Ouiser noticed the lanyard around his neck was from xyz hospital (with whom I’ve had a prior night-marish experience) and I was being a royal smart-ass before common sense could save me! I said to the moron, smiling and with faux-southern charm, “Sir, how much are the cookies? I’ll just pay you the difference.” He looked at me, then to my husband, then to me again, and said most quietly and calmly, “Its the principle of thing.” Oh no he didn’t!
I start scrambling through my purse and this time addressed the cashier and said, “Seriously, ma’am, how much are the cookies? We’re in a bit of a hurry, which is why we are in the express lane [pointing and looking up to the sign for dramatic effect], and I’ll be happy [pausing to look at the moron and smile] to make sure this gentleman gets his two bags of cookies for the price of one.” A second cashier appeared and the three of them worked out an agreement that cashier number one would void the items and cashier number two would check the price and finish his purchase at the customer service desk.
For those who aren’t familiar, Food Lion is a stickler for putting a lot of information on their sale markers. It may say in big, bold letters: 2 for 1, but it is always followed up with specifics about the item like the brand, the size, regular price per package, etc. What’s more, the cashiers have those papers at the register and, without fail, if it isn’t in the paper, it isn’t on sale! It just infuriated me that this gentleman wanted to hold everyone else up so he could “cash in” on someone else’s mistake! That is how I felt, at least until I got home. I was thinking about the sheepish manner in which the gentleman spoke and it hit me like a lightening bolt… he could have just been “slow!” Oh I just wanted to DIE! How many times have people lost their patience with me on one of my “slow” days? How horrible and embarrassed did it make me feel? And now I may have just done the same to someone else!
Even more sad and upsetting… that’s one of many, MANY times I’ve blurted things out and later deeply regretted saying. I simply don’t do that! That is damn sure not me! I’ve hurt family, friends, and now possibly yet another total stranger! I cannot stand medications that mess with my ability to think like me or feel like me and I don’t care what the trade off is, I can’t do it anymore! I’m tired of feeling hateful and tired of being unable to censor myself so screw some Lamictal!
I didn’t take any for the last two days and I’ve not fallen over dead or climbed any towers with a rifle, so I’m thinking I’ll be ok. The mere thought of calling up the neurology guy and asking how to wean off turned my stomach. I am so sick of doctors! The shoulder pain is gradually getting worse, but I’ll figure something else out for that. The tingling and such are getting more intense as well and now that I’m not taking the Lamictal, I’m thinking it has progressed, somewhat. Either that or my nerves or just confused right now and it may all settle back down once I’ve adjusted.
Let’s hope the more patient and peaceful Ouiser is back.
::::::: WARNING :::::
PEOPLE WITH SEIZURES OR BI-POLAR DISORDER SHOULD NOT STOP TAKING LAMICTAL ABRUPTLY! PLEASE SEE YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE STOPPING THIS MEDICATION!
hey dearie I wouldnt be too concerened over that man at the counter. Even if it had been a “slow day” for him he should have just realized, perhaps embarassedly, that he had made the error when the salesclerk showed him the flyer. If I had been on a slow day I woulda ben mortified and either said. Oh Im sorry I guess I will take them anyways or wont take them afterall (depending on how much I liked the cookies) and then later that day or the next Id go back read the sign clearly and get the right cookies (well if I hadnt decided to get the ones that were the accident)… the LAST thing I woulda done if I was on a “slow” day would to want to fight for “principle” about it. How would making a larger racket when giving a way out make you less embarrassed about your mistake? I think that guy is just old fashioned and excatly what you first thought. Someone taking advatage of anothers mistake. So I could be wrong too but I think you had it right first and that your guuilt in this mans case is unwarrented. Anywho you probably ended up getting him his discount anyways. About the medicine I’ve never been on it but I say if the negatives start outweighing the positives any medicine should be dropped. Otherwise whats the point? So good luck to you. (Weddings today and ugh its been possibly worse than I though! tell you about it when I get home)
zoeystorm… Thanks for trying to make me feel better, but I still feel horrible for the way I’ve behaved lately. Not just in this case, but in all the times I’ve blurted things out. Censorship is under-rated! he, he I’m going to recite “The Fool’s Prayer” to myself a few times and carry on. Hmmm… I’ll even post it! Might do someone else some good too!
Well I understand why you want to stop taking it but please consider doing so as a gradual tapered withdrawal?
I did some reading and its recommended you taper withdrawal over 2 weeks or more. Best to sut it by 50% a week …
Some really good advice here – do read it – espceially how to stop taking:
http://www.crazymeds.org/lamictal.html
I also read elsewhere there is a risk of seizure with sudden cold turkey withdrawal!
When I came off Prozac I cut my dose down gradually to the smallest amount (ie whatever one tablet is) over a week or two. Then took one every other day for a week. Then stopped I think.
Same with effexor/venlaflaxine. Gradual withdrawal.
I know you want to stop – but best to do so as safely as possible. No point letting it have any more unwanted effects on you that absolutely necessary!
And – good luck!
Give yourself a break! We’ve all had those days. I recently went to Wal-Mart to return something, and the Customer Service guy insisted on seeing an “official” picture ID. Student ID with Social Security number? “Nope.” Sam’s card with my photo on it? “Nope.” Social Security card? “Nope.” So I’m digging through my purse trying to find my license, showing him twenty pieces of unacceptable forms of identification, and a million people are waiting behind me. I got sarcastic, asking, “Pint of blood?” “First born child?” He wasn’t laughing. Finally, I found the ID, and sort of slammed it down, and asked, “NOW can I have my fourteen dollars?” Tom couldn’t believe how I’d acted, and I couldn’t either. And I don’t have Lamictal to blame.
The less drugs the better though, so good for you!
I’ve been on Lamictal, but it was a few years ago. I took it as a treatment for stuff other than fibro. Keep in mind that even a couple days of not taking it, it will still be in your system, so you might not see or notice a difference. I am not sure I have experienced the tourettes like speech from fibro, but I sure have it from the ADD – unless my ADD was misdiagnosed and was fibro all along. I doubt it, though. I was at work my the other day when they finally got me my own desk and I hated it. I went into the lunch room to have some breakfast and read my mail, and the group director came in and asked me “What, you don’t like it in there?” and before I could check myself I blurted “Um. No.” Boy did that start a bit of drama. I attribute that to my ADD. And just plain stupidity and tiredness on my part.
Cut yourself some slack. I think you were fine. I might have done the same thing. =)
I swear I sent you a comment yesterday. Oh well – here’s another version …
Don’t stop Lactimal cold turkey. There’s a rsik of seizures even if you’ve never had a seizure in your life before!
You must taper off slowly over a couple of weeks at least. Best advice is to reduce in the same way as you increased the dose. Rule of thumb reduce by 50% a week.
When I came off Prozac I cut down the dose over a week or so to a single tablet for a week, then one every other day for a week. You get the idea.
Please taper gradually – I understand your desire to be rid of it but I don’t want you to get sick for no good reason!
Read some fabulous advice here including advice on stopping:
http://www.crazymeds.org/lamictal.html
Well it is nice to know I’m not alone in even this! he, he. Thanks guys!
Rachel… I found your comments in my spam folder. Not sure why they got flagged. I hardly ever check that thing so please forgive the delay. I already responded in email, but let me know if you didn’t get it.
i agree with you screw some lactimal i just started taking it and ive gotten angry and caused more arguments with my husband in 4 days then in the 4 years we have been married screw lactimal and all the horrible thoughts it puts in my head