Genetics Meds Testing And Lamictal

[Deleted member 38242]

My psychiatrist did a genetics test for medication, and wow have I been prescribed the wrong drugs in the past. It shows if your body can metabolize, and tolerate psychiatric medication. It shows what will actually be anti-theraputic, and/or cause serious side effects. It includes opiates, and a genetic folic acid conversion test because low folic acid causes psychological problems.
I was impressed it said what I thought about all of the drugs I've been prescribed. I cant take them without having negative effects, and them hurting me. No doctor would listen, but now I have proof. I seriously have been in a 20 year battle to get help, and not hurt by mental health practitioners who have misdiagnosed me, or just given me the standard "cocktail" of psychiatric medicines.
I was surprised it showed I can't take 90% of the common pain medication with out it reacting funny in my body, and mind as well. I had a surgery, and breakdown because of ptsd, and the pain meds making me loopy, and getting flashbacks, and blackout on and off for the three days it took for the anaesthesia to wear off. But, I was on herbs that interacted bad with the anaesthesia, so I just doubbed how it would mess me up, and got traumatised all over again.
I have a gene issue that means I don't convert folic acid well, or hardly at all, so I need daily supplements. My psychiatrists said that could be a huge reason I'm prone to depression, and moodiness, with irritability. Also lack of folic acid can cause premature aging, and dementia later in life.
I can only take one antidepressant, and no prozac (I will suffer negative side effects). But, the test showed I have a higher number of serotonin receptors, so he doesn't think I need an SSRI.
I can't take many hypnotics (xanax type) infact it only said one wouldn't hurt.
I can't take any moodstabalizers really except lamictal, but I'm not bipolar. Although at a lower dose it works for depression, anxiety, and repetitive thoughts like ocd. He prescribed lamictal as it was one of the few choices I had at a low dose. 25mg, and he wants to build it up to 75mg over the next few weeks. He said I could have my once, or twice a week beer on it still, but it may make me tiered, or drunk quicker. But, I'm getting sick of drinking anyway, so I may just stop.
Anyone tried lamictal for ptsd. Any moodstabalizers I've been on in the past make me pissed off beyond crazy. Almost enraged, but it shows I shouldn't have taken them anyway. In fact most drugs I can't take. I haven't tried it yet. I'm not sure if I want to. I'm kind of scared......

 

[Kintsugi]

Lamictal was the only drug I've actually been on. It helped a lot, but I seemed to need a dosage increase every 1-3 months to maintain the effect. It definitely helped, though, for sure. It took the edge off of my anxiety and controlled my suicidal impulses very well. Unfortunately, I don't think it was a good fit for me, because I'm not good at being consistent with my meds. I forget to take them for days, and Lamictal requires consistency.

 

[Deleted member 38242]

Thanks for that. I think I will have to take it to go back to school. Sleep, or lack of it, and anxiety, and flashbacks cause severe depression when I try to function like a normal person. I am hesitant, but if I want to go back to work then I need something. My ptsd causes me to have a negative reaction to stress, and to not sleep. It looks like other drugs don't metabolize well, and build up in my system, or I am at risk for negative side effects, and I lose all aspects of reality which causes psychotic depression, anger, and basic insanity with hallucinations. Its been a hell of a ride trying to be like everyone else after situations that are insane, and brutal enough to cause ptsd. I think I may try it.

 

[Sophie's Daddy]

Thanks for that. I think I will have to take it to go back to school. Sleep, or lack of it, and an...

I've taken Lamictal for many years, first as an anticonvulsant, then later, as a mood stabilizer after being diagnosed BPD and then, after losing my left arm as neuropathic relief.

Talk about getting your money's worth out of something!

Seriously, though, I have taken generic Lamictal, a.k.a. lamotrigine from two separate aftermarket drugmakers.

Even though both pills had the same chemical make up and active ingredients, they metabolized differently in my body and I got a different result from the two.

One functioned well (the only one I'd ever taken), but the different refill at a different pharmacy came from a different supplier. It didn't work as well.

As far as I can tell, the anti-convulsant and mood stabilizing properties were fine, though there's no accurate way to measure that. The nerve pain, however was definitely not relieved by that version.

So wherever possible, I try to buy all of my prescriptions from the grocery store chain nationwide, like Kroger, because they tend to fill my prescriptions the same way no matter where I travel.

Something to keep in mind. (-:

 

[Sophie's Daddy]

I've taken Lamictal for many years, first as an anticonvulsant, then later, as a mood stabilizer...

Also, can you tell me the name of that test or how I can ask my neurologist for it? It sounds like something everyone should have done!

Thanks

 

[Deleted member 38242]

It's called genesight, and medicare pays for it 100%. It test for for depression, anxiety, ptsd, bipolar, schizophrenia, and acute chronic pain meds. Also test for ADD, ADHD, and narcolepsy medication with folic acid deficiency genes because as I found out that can cause depression, and irritability with slight mood swings. Its based on pharmacogenetics which is the study of gene interactions with medication.
I woukd highly suggest it as I lost 10 years of my life to bad medication prescriptions, and misdiagnosis of ptsd. I don't know why but psychiatrist kept saying I was bipolar after 15 min of seeing them, and that I made up all of my traumas so I didn't have to take medication. But, that was the 90's, and the mental institution I went into was taken over by the state for doping people up, and taking their insurance for everything they have. Then I went to a private psychiatrist who diagnosed me based on being on drugs that this test said I should never take due to genetic interactions causing side effects.
I tried with everything I had, but the medication made me hallucinate as this test shows could do.
I kind of want to try the lamictal, but I'm so affraid as moodstabalizers in the past put me into psychotic depression with rage. I dont kniw maybe a low dose. I want something for sleep, anxiety, and flashbacks. Maybe I'll try it as soon as this cold goes away. 1-3 beers every other night makes me feel like an alcoholic which is my medication now. Weed stopped working right in my old age, and makes me a huge ditz.
Thanks again I'll try it, and check who makes it. I've heard that about lamictal and brands.

 

[Deleted member 38242]

My ptsd has affected nerve pain in my body, and flashbacks sometimes feel like electricity running through my body. Maybe why he wanted to try this? Good to know.

 

[joeylittle]

I kind of want to try the lamictal, but I'm so affraid as moodstabalizers in the past put me into psychotic depression with rage. I dont kniw maybe a low dose.

I'd be very surprised if Lamictal had this effect - especially given how long it takes to triage it upwards, and how low the recommended dose is for mood disorders.

You have to stop drinking, period. That will potentially be a problem with the Lamictal, and if you are serious about giving it a try (which it sounds like you are), you need to be serious about taking it straight, as recommended. You'll want to track your responses to it, so you can notice when you've hit the right dose.

 

[Bliss]

I tried different meds for 20 years, lamitical worked so well for the symptoms you described, felt like when stress came it just came and I could process it, instead of it taking on a life of its own. Not on anything now, it really made it so I could learn coping skills. If I need to go back on something that will be it. Hope it goes well for you

 

[Jenfa]

My psychiatrist did a genetics test for medication, and wow have I been prescribed the wrong drugs...

Oh yeah. I'm on a whopping 400mg. I am bipolar, but much like you I have a genetic thing and I become so tolerant to meds that doses that actually work are toxic as hell so I seriously have no idea if that part of the diagnosis is right. Just be very careful when they start bumping your dose up over time with the genetic thing. I'm pretty sure if there are not too many med combo studies that there probably aren't studies on every med with every physical condition. Do what your body and mind are telling you (or what others tell you that is happening because you may not realize it's to the degree that it is). I hope you find comfort without too much trial and error.

 

[Deleted member 38242]

I was a Ginny Pig for a decade. Lost a lot of time fighting psychiatrist, and my family. My friends said nothing was wrong with me, but I was tortured, and am on disability for it. my parents were mentally ill, and blamed me. I was told I was lying about what happened to me it didn't happen. I thought part of my trauma was a hallucination until this past year. It was so bizarre, and no one would see my side enough to help me I guess they couldn't believe it which with being on medication in the red zone (I should never take)/I went into a temporary psychosis every time I took the medication. My shrink who diagnosed people for the sate and federal government said Im not bipolar, and I saw her weekly to every other week for 8 years and I think she would know. I was just gaslight, and tortured mentally for a lot of years. I don't know. I wanted to go to school, and go back to work, but after last year, and getting the shit kicked out of me for again being on several drugs in the red zone I don't think I can. I kind of give up. I don't know if lamictal will help, but I have a gene mutation that makes it so Im deficient in folic acid all the time, and anemic, and that causes mental instability, so I have to get special activated folate. I've read it in some people that it is the cause of depression, sleeplessness, exhaustion, irritability which all can seem like a slight mental health isssue when its the body. Anything that messes with my GABA in the past for to long makes me crazy. Thank you so much for your post. I don't know. I may just give up, and never finish school. I think sometimes being psychologically tortured can render you helpless, and its not a chemical imbalance its just life. Sometims you can't help how sick, cruel, and not understanding people can be. I don't know being driven crazy is diffrent than an organic brain balance.

 

[Panda Bear]

Lamictal and me didn't get along at all!!

Had all the major side effects

But I've seen it work well for a lot of other people.

The genesight testing is pretty cool, I had it done after a very rocky start to trying out medication. It helped to confirm what we were finding on our own and helped to really know that I wasn't a good match with the drugs I had failed. Including the lamictal.