Lamictal and seraquel during pregnancy

I tried googling but all google talks about is encephalopathy in the baby. I am talking about the mother. My neurologist diagnosed me with "generalized seizure disorder and severe encephalopathy". Based on my MRI and EEG. I am 28 years old. I have a very asymmetrical brain and I could tell right away by the images that my brain condition is very messed up.
In his opinion, based on my past experiences, he thinks I have had some form of seizure disorder like epilepsy and it was triggered worse by pregnancy and child birth.
However, he says my case is a bit complicated for him so I am waiting to see a neurologist at a bigger hospital so I can hopefully get more specifics about what is going on. I have had different types of seizures (temporal lobe and absence mostly but others as well including a tonic-clonic when I was 2 or 3, and a febrile seizure as a newborn). I haven't had a tonic-clonic until I randomly had an entire month where I was getting tonic-clonics in my sleep and other seizures during the day, all of them pretty severe. Then I had 3 tonic-clonics pretty much back to back with little recovery time.
I am now on lamictal and keppra and feeling upset that the entire month almost is missing from my memory. I gave birth 8 months ago.
How likely do you think it is that giving birth triggered this?

During my first pregnancy I had non stop rumination, anxiety and depression. It took a lot of trial and error and I honestly can't remember what I tried and why it didn't work.
Eventually, I was prescribed Effexor and that worked but when I was ready to wean off the discontinuation syndrome was terrible.
Now I'm 14 months PP from baby #2 (I've tried Wellbutrin, Prozac and Latuda to no avail) I am on @dder@ which is helping with my guilt loop (can't start, feel terrible about it, I'm the worst, want to xx, repeat). I'm also on lamictal but don't know what it's helping. I take a sliver of seroquel at night otherwise I wouldn't sleep.
What am I missing? I feel like my psychiatrist is stumped
I still feel like I have deep dark sadness that I can't swim out of. I think a lot, but it's not really quick/ wild ruminating like before.
My therapist says I am presenting with PTSD after an issue with my son randomly getting kicked out of daycare after we had to report an incident of a teacher being physical.
Every day of drop off I cry so much. It's been 2 months and every drop off it's like a panic attack (but not at all) it's sudden, painful sobbing that takes probably an hour to come down from. I cant keep living like this.

How does one apologize after a months long episode turned into false accusations, pure hatred and abuse towards loved ones because of pregnancy?
I am in treatment taking Lamictal and Zoloft but pregnancy did it's thing and now the father of my kid is heavily scarred and traumatized (we're not together because I broke up with him "for good this time" during the episode.)
How do you apologize? How do I begin to comprehend my manic/mixed behaviours?
This is so much...

Hi everyone, I have depression and hipomania(very light form) and am planing my 2nd pregnancy. The 1st one i didn't have any health issues, no meds. Now i take 100mg sertraline and 125 lamictal(lamotrigine) I read many researches and spoke with doctors. One said that it is better to remove lamictal and have only 1 medicine, because the effects of the combination is not known. The problem of all researches is that they analyzed only the first years of the little baby. Does anyone here have experience what happenes later, when they grow? What is your experience in general? I am worried i am making my life and the life of a future human being dificult.:/ I am also readong that depression influence bad the neurological development of the baby. Does that mean if i have some days in which i feel low, this is so bad? I am very scared that is all so unsure. Thank you for your feedback!

TW - discussion of pregnancy loss and blood
I can't get my post to work in the Miscarriage sub, so I'm posting here because I'm really wanting some input. I'm pretty sure I'm currently dealing with a chemical pregnancy (second loss), and I'm so sad. Aside from the fact that my life has been a total mess for the past month for a variety of reasons, this was the cherry on top.
For context, husband and I weren't exactly "trying" again for our second baby, but we were also not being too careful because we were planning on actually "trying" over the next month or two. I also have luteal phase defect, so I always start spotting around 7-8 DPO, and my period usually starts around 11 DPO. With my two prior pregnancies (one was an MMC due to trisomy 2), the spotting stopped around 11 DPO from what I remember. Well, my spotting this month started right on schedule very briefly, but then it stopped at ~8 DPO this time, and I had some light twinging and cramping. Knowing how this happened before, I took a generic (red dye) pregnancy test last night (8 DPO) and got a faint but clear positive, like you didn't have to squint or angle the test in the light a certain way to see it - it was pink and it was there. It was a private label test that said "compare to Clearblue" with a sensitivity of 10 mIU/mL, and I took it after holding pee for a couple hours, though I realized I was WAY dehydrated after seeing the color of my urine in the cup, so it was pretty concentrated. Of course, husband and I were excited, but having been through a loss before, we were cautious with our feelings. I took an FRER this morning after holding all night and not over-hydrating, and it was very clearly negative. I was gutted. I had told myself not to get too excited in the first place, and this is why. I took another FRER after holding for 3-4 hours today just to be sure and again, clearly negative. I won't be taking any more now since I'm pretty sure I have my answer. Ugh. It really sucks. I know I only caught it early because I tested early, but I needed to know ASAP because per my psychiatrist, I need to take high-dose folic acid during pregnancy since I take Lamictal every day. Hooray bipolar II. Had I not tested, I definitely would've chalked the stopping of the spotting up to pure stress from my life as of late, but I'm fairly certain I caught the VERY brief end of a chemical. This is my first experience with this kind of loss, and I've just been crying off and on all day. My husband is so supportive and helpful, and it means a lot. Nonetheless, this is rough. The emotional whiplash of a clear positive at night to a negative in the morning stings.
My question is, when I can possibly expect to start bleeding? I'm not expecting it to be too heavy this this loss is incredibly early. To be clear, I'm NOT asking for medical advice. Today is 10 DPO, and still no spotting or discharge, so I'm just waiting for the shoe to drop at this point. I told my husband I just want to get it over with and start the bleed so I can be done. I felt this way with my first pregnancy (MMC). I waited in this terrible limbo for over a month until I had to have a D&C. I know that's very different than my current situation, but it's the waiting that kills me. I called off work in advance tomorrow and will be spending it trying to relax and grieve.
Very few times in my life have I actually WANTED to bleed, and this is one of them.

I’m on lamictal twice a day after switching from zonisamide (sp?) because it wasn’t pregnancy safe and me and my husband are planning on trying to get pregnant this year. I had been seizure free for months and didn’t have the nasty side effects I had on zonisamide (puking and nausea for months, couldn’t eat and lost 35 lbs in a month and a half and I didn’t really have the weight to lose.) I was feeling great until I went to pick up my prescriptions at cvs. I’m remember getting dizzy and my arms starting to twitch and next thing I know I’m on the floor with a pharmacist holding a damp towel to my forehead and holding my hand. I’ve been lucky and after all these seizures I’ve never hit my head but I must have gone head first off the chair and ended with a softball size bloody lump on my head. All week I’ve looked like someone punched me in the face as I started to develop dark dark black eyes as the swelling went down I had headaches and nosebleeds for days. I’m just so frustrated and sick of seizures sneaking up on me, on top of all of this I’m very hyper mobile and during seizures I frequently will dislocate my shoulder to the point where now it will just randomly pop out doing mundane tasks like petting my dog, I can pop it back in but it’s lead to a ton of neck and shoulder pain and my orthopedist says it has led to bone loss in the socket that I now need an arthrogram to asses the damage further. I just feel like my seizures run every aspect of my life and I’m sick of being constantly worried about the next one. Sorry for the rant I have a lot of emotions over this as it has started to effect me strongly in regards to my overall health.

Hello. Thought I would share my story in case it can help someone else. I had my second baby 8/2023. During the 3rd trimester I felt strong disassociation from the pregnancy. I dismissed it. I also had gestational diabetes for the length of my pregnancy. (GD patients are more likely to experience postpartum depression).
I felt depressed and told my OBGYN. In October 2023 I was put on hormonal birth control (Aviane) to try to control it (inappropriate and I didn’t research it!!). When my “sugar pill” week came I had suicidal ideations almost immediately. (I now hypothesize this is because the pill was working against my body trying to heal itself hormonally).
The suicidal ideations were STRONG. I read a forum where postpartum women were sometimes turning to major extremes like Lupron (beginning chemical menopause) to eliminate issues related to severe hormone imbalance. Thankfully, my insurance company turned me down. I did opt for a Depo Provera shot though in the same office visit (worked for me in the past). When I got the shot, my mood stabilized within 30 minutes. I felt so calm and wanted to take a nap, but the symptoms came back just 3 days later. Over the next two months Depo worked hard against my body trying to rebalance. My mood was more out of control than ever before.
When I asked, I was turned down for hormone blood tests by my OBGYN. My primary ordered them for me and I learned to read the hormone results on my own. Specifically, estradiol (estrogen) and progesterone. I did some more reading and learned 2 things
(1) I’m estrogen dominant (not ideal causing many mood and other issues). MANY women are estrogen dominant.
(2) Both my estrogen and progesterone were in the toilet. Too-low hormones can cause brain and well-being/MOOD and DEPRESSION issues.
Depo provera is medroxy-progesterone. I felt so good when I got the shot I then wondered if I needed to start replacing the hormones birth control took away. I researched and asked the OBGYN to start me on Prometrium (bio identical hormones). The OBGYN agreed to 100mg nightly. That night I slept like a baby. I even fed the baby and went back to sleep no problem! But, I started having daily vaginal bleeding. I then turned to a HRT forum and someone mentioned trying one rectally and orally and this stopped the bleeding. I asked the OBGYN to increase my dosage and they declined. I continued to self medicate 200mg/ nightly. My moods were totally stabilized at night but crazy SI during the day.
I then started having other symptoms from low estrogen. Memory issues were the primary concern. I couldn’t remember where I met certain friends or how I usually cooked a meal. It was trippy! Since OBGYN refused to help me further, I researched, wrote my primary doctor and asked she start me on estrogen injections 1ml/day. She did and my mood swings calmed down until I noted that the SI kicked up again around when I was supposed to have my “cycle”. I then took the progesterone at 5pm instead of bedtime and the symptoms went away. I later learned that Prometrium/progesterone oral only lasts in the body 8-10 hours, so I switched to 1 oral (100mg/nightly) to 1 rectal (100mg/daily - rectal because it made me WAY tired) and this did the trick!
Today I’m still not sleeping well. I see a doctor next week to change from Prometrium oral to injections so I can control the dosing better. Through all this I learned postpartum depression is the body’s inability to regulate hormonal changes fast enough, mainly estrogen and progesterone. Both hormones are important for mood.
Allpregnanolone is from progesterone (which is why it is believed by some that oral progesterone has a sedative effect, because through liver filtering it is converted to allpregnanolone). Allpregnanolone is essentially what is given to patients approved for Zulresso for postpartum depression (the 60-hour IV therapy). I read that Zulresso is $30k and HARD to get approved. There are some clinics that see moms for postpartum progesterone hormone replacement therapy. They’re a little hard to find but their price tag is $500/visit with the doctor (Functional Medicine doctor) instead of $30k.
I’m in the USA in Southern California. It took time to find a good doctor (I burned a little cash doing it). You want one that understands how to use progesterone therapy (NO creams), willing to prescribe to an insurance-covered pharmacy and not one trying to push their compound products.
I hope this can help someone else. Hang in there.
I’ll update again after I switch to progesterone injections. The goal here is no more mood swings and I’m headed in the right direction.
Note: In all of this madness I was referred to psychiatry and they tried me on a few different things. MANY psychiatric medications affect hormones or are affected by them. Nothing they tried me on worked or lasted long. Lamictal was great at first until I found out I became overmedicated when my estrogen plummeted. No fun at all. Today I’m on Zoloft. Zoloft also reduces estrogen, but I’m not willing to get off without the help of a doctor.

I have a few questions so instead of making separate posts I thought I'd condense. If some of these are too personal I apologize.
How many women here have had successful pregnancies while on lamictal, keppra and felbatol? My neuro told me that Keppra and lamictal are safe for pregnancy but there is little info on felbatol.
How old were you when you conceived? And how long had you had epilepsy?
Who was involved in the pregnancy? Medical personel, etc?
Did you do anything to encourage your pregnancy? i.e. ovulation tracker, etc
What did you do during pregnancy to make sure it was smooth sailing?
For reference I'm 39, never conceived, had it since I was 10. I tried taking a supplement to encourage ovulation. Never again unless prescribed.
I met my partner obviously later in life but we thought we'd try. I know the risks are greater having a baby older, as well as the able to conceive naturally
​

I’m currently 22 weeks pregnant. I have been taking 1mg of clonazepam nightly through out my entire pregnancy. I also take Wellbutrin and lamictal. I was surprised my psychiatrist & OB were okay with this. But they’ve said the benefits out weigh the slight risk. Has anyone else stayed on their anxiety and depression meds like this during pregnancy?

I am on quite a few mental health medications and was wondering if anyone stayed on these during their pregnancy? Lamictal, Wellbutrin, Pristiq, and Jornay PM.

I posted this in another sub and only had one person who responded, but they gave some very helpful advice. I just wanted to see what other people have experienced as well.
My boyfriend and I were having a conversation recently about having kids. He doesn’t have bipolar disorder but does have some childhood trauma, and he wants kids in the future. I got my BD2 diagnosis almost 3 years ago when I was 27, and even though I haven’t completely made up my mind about whether or not I want kids at some point, I have some reservations as of now. There is a strong family history of mental illness and autism on both my mom’s and dad’s sides as well as my boyfriend’s mom’s side. I’m scared to pass that onto a child, and I’m absolutely terrified that I won’t be able to care for a child at all since I find it so difficult to take care of myself a lot of the time. I’ve worked with kids with autism and developmental delays for over 10 years, and I see how it can (not always) negatively affect parents with and without their own mental illnesses. I am relatively stable now with the right med combo (300mg lamictal, 25mg seroquel, and 75mcg levothyroxine for hypothyroidism) but I definitely have a lot to work on. I also know that not all meds can be taken during pregnancy.
So, those of you with BD2 and children, what is your experience like? Do you regret it? Is it something that has changed your life for the better? Any advice you could give? Also, if you were the one who was pregnant, what was that like considering your mental illness?

Hi! Im going to try to put as much detail as possible because i know how important PMH is; im looking for advice/opinion.
Im 22f (east asian) with no history of STDs or pregnancy. Ive had 2 UTIs within my life that responded well to macrobid. My last UTI was 9/2023. I currently have one long term partner who has been STD tested and i regularly get tested anyways due to my own belief of "better safe than sorry", though i have no concern of infidelity. We do not use condoms and when i am not on my period, we have sex 4-7 times a week. I take a pregnancy test once every four weeks just to be sure I am not pregnant. Despite this, i still take a women's multivitamin with folic acid. I last tested myself 11/20 (negative result). I have mild hypertriglycerdemia (genetic, 180 mg/dL per last blood work) with all other values normal on my lipid panel, thyroid test, and metabolic panel. I am 5'2" 115lbs with no other diagnosed physical comorbidities. My mother was adopted and has a history of gestational diabetes, prediabetes, and hypertriglycerdemia. I have no information or knowledge of my biological fathers health history except for an undiagnosed mood disorder. No other history of health complications.
I am diagnosed with PMDD, major depressive disorder, general anxiety disorder, and adhd (inattentive type). I have an ongoing issue with tachycardia, most likely medication induced, but no hypertension. I am currently taking Vyvanse 50mg (qd prn), buspar 10mg (qam), lamictal 100mg (qam), effexor xr 225mg (qam), cetirizine 10mg (qam), trazodone 25mg (qhs prn), and YAZ (bc) (qd at 9pm). I do not take placebo doses of my birth control. I am very medication compliant.
Onto the more relevant medication change. Ive been on and off generic YAZ for the last 3.5 years, my last "on" period of time was between 6/1/23-8/1/23, once daily, skipping placebo pills. After an annual visit with a new OBGYN, I started using NuvaRing 8/1/23 and would replace it once every 3 weeks. However, after my first time using NuvaRing, i experienced an 8 day menstruation period with heavy-moderate bleeding. However, i was not concerned because I knew it was most likely due to my birth control change. In September, it increased to 10 days with moderate bleeding but i knew it would take a few months for my body to regulate my cycle. In october it increased to 14 days with moderate to light bleeding. During these three cycles, i would take out my ring on the first 3-5 days of my cycle and used a combination of tampons and a menstrual cup, cleaned with each use. I would reinsert my nuvaring after i noticed a decrease in bleeding, never more than five days after initial start of menstruation. I would reinsert it despite ongoing bleeding because of history of awful mood changes and passive suicidal ideation if i go too long without restarting my birth control. I would use a tampon with the nuvaring and also believed my increased length of cycle was due to the physical barrier of the ring. After i noticed progressively worse mood changes from the time of starting the nuvaring, i switched back to generic yaz as i only experienced mild mood changes when taking yaz. I made this switch 11/14/23. In november, my menstruation started 11/2/23 and is still ongoing (as of today, 11/25/23,) with light bleeding, mostly brown in color but about five days ago, 11/20/23, i noticed new red blood. Ive experienced a recent increase in nausea and fatigue within the last week. My breasts have also been more sensitive.
Im honestly just very worried that something is wrong. I have an appointment in two weeks but the continuous bleeding is scaring me because its not showing any signs of ending or decreasing in amount. Any advice would be helpful, thank you in advance!

I've had epilepsy for 9 years - focal unaware, but I've now been seizure free for 6 years. I tried all the meds and what worked best was Lacosamide, but my seizures didn't stop until the day I got on birth control. My seizures routinely came with the drop in esteogen every month. I'm scared to throw away 6 years but my partner and I are considering having a child and I'd obviously need to get off the contraception for that. My Dr and I decided that was the first step, and if I do have a seizure then we can add lamictal. But theres no guarantee it would help. I've been on it before and it was just ok. If I don't have a seizure then she'd like to bring me down on the vimpat since I'm at 600mg/day, I've just always been on that much.
I've read a lot warning about dual therapies while pregnant and I posed the question - is it better to have these seizures during pregnancy instead of exposing the baby to two drugs? She said there's not enough research on how my type of seizures affect the fetus and ultimately its my choice. We talked about starting with just the vimpat and ultimately could add the lamictal.
I will never take keppra again and aptiom didn't do anything for me. Seems like a whole nother drug journey might be in store and I'm dreading it.
Anyone have experience with contraception influencing their seizures/getting off of it, or having seizures while pregnant?

What is ARDS and How Does It Affect Infants and Pregnant Women?
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a severe form of lung injury that can lead to life-threatening breathing difficulties. It is a medical emergency and requires immediate treatment. ARDS can affect both infants and pregnant women, with symptoms including shortness of breath, rapid breathing, fatigue, and decreased oxygen levels in the blood. ARDS is caused by a number of factors such as infection, trauma, or other illnesses that damage the lungs. Treatment for ARDS includes mechanical ventilation to help with breathing and medications to reduce inflammation in the lungs. It is important for pregnant women and infants to be aware of the signs and symptoms of ARDS so they can seek prompt medical attention if needed.
Signs and Symptoms of ARDS in Infants and Expectant Mothers
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threatening condition that affects infants and expectant mothers. It is caused by a severe infection in the lungs which can lead to difficulty in breathing and oxygen deprivation. Some of the common symptoms of ARDS include rapid breathing, shortness of breath, grunting sounds while breathing, and low oxygen levels. In some cases, the infant may have bluish skin due to lack of oxygen.
Preeclampsia is another condition that can be related to ARDS and is characterized by high blood pressure during pregnancy. Symptoms of preeclampsia include swelling in the hands and face, headaches, vision changes, nausea or vomiting, sudden weight gain or loss, and abdominal pain.
If you suspect that your infant or expectant mother has ARDS or preeclampsia it is important to seek medical attention immediately as it can be fatal if not treated promptly. Treatment for ARDS typically involves providing supplemental oxygen while treatment.
The Common Symptoms & Diagnostic Tests for ARDS
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threatening condition that affects the lungs. It occurs when fluid builds up in the air sacs of the lungs, making it difficult for oxygen to get into the bloodstream. The common symptoms of ARDS include difficulty breathing, rapid breathing, and low blood oxygen levels. Diagnostic tests such as chest x-rays, pulmonary function tests, and blood tests are used to diagnose ARDS. In this article, we will discuss the common symptoms and diagnostic tests for ARDS.
Diagnosis of ARDS in Infants & Pregnant Mothers
Early diagnosis of ARDS is essential to ensure timely treatment and improve the chances of recovery. In infants, the diagnosis of ARDS involves assessing symptoms such as rapid breathing, labored breathing, and poor oxygen levels in the blood. For pregnant mothers, preeclampsia is one of the main risk factors for developing ARDS and should be monitored closely during pregnancy. Diagnosis of preeclampsia includes checking for high blood pressure, proteinuria, and edema. Treatment for both conditions includes providing supplemental oxygen, mechanical ventilation if needed, antibiotics to treat any underlying infections, and medications to reduce inflammation.
Treatment Options for ARDS Patients
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threatening condition that affects the lungs and can be caused by a variety of conditions, including pneumonia, sepsis, and trauma. Treatment options for ARDS patients vary depending on the cause and severity of the condition. For infants, treatment often involves providing oxygen to help them breathe easier, as well as medications to reduce inflammation in the lungs and prevent further damage. Preeclampsia is another condition that can lead to ARDS during pregnancy; treatment options for this include medications to control blood pressure and reduce fluid buildup in the mother's body. In some cases, delivery may be recommended if the risk of complications is too high.
Preeclampsia is a condition that affects the blood pressure, fluid build-up, and protein in a pregnant woman. It can cause preeclampsia symptoms such as high blood pressure and swelling in the hands, feet, or face. Preeclampsia can lead to serious health complications, including premature birth and eclampsia. Treatment options for this condition may include medications to control blood pressure (Lamictal), prevent organ injury (aspirin), reduce fluid buildup by controlling nausea and vomiting (reglan), or use of magnesium sulfate to balance out abnormal proteins in the blood.
Caring For an ARDS Patient
Caring for a preterm infant with respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) can be a challenge for both the infant and the mother. It is important to provide proper care and treatment to ensure that the infant recovers quickly and without any complications. In addition, it is also important to take care of the mother who may be suffering from preeclampsia. This article will discuss some of the key steps involved in caring for an ARDS patient, including proper nutrition, monitoring oxygen levels, administering medications, and providing emotional support. Additionally, it will discuss how to provide care for a mother with preeclampsia so that she can receive adequate rest and nutrition while caring for her infant.
ARDS in Children- What You Should Know
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threatening condition that affects the lungs of children. It is characterized by a sudden decrease in oxygen flow to the lungs, which can lead to severe breathing difficulties and even death. ARDS can be caused by a variety of factors, such as infection, trauma, or inhalation of toxic substances. Early recognition and treatment are essential for successful management of ARDS in children.
What are the symptoms of ARDS?
● Chest discomfort, usually worse on inspiration or in the presence of increased work of breathing.
● Cough that is sometimes dry and can be brought up with a finger (cannot bring up mucus)
● Rapid breathing and/or shallow breathing
● Wheezing or crackles on lung sounds, especially at beginning and end of expiration.
How to Improve Outcome & Reduce Complications with ARDS?
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threatening condition that affects the lungs and can lead to severe complications. To improve the outcome and reduce complications associated with ARDS, it is important to focus on nutrition, physical activity, and other therapeutic interventions. Nutrition plays an important role in helping ARDS patients recover. Proper nutrition helps to reduce inflammation and improve the patient's overall health. Physical activity is also essential for ARDS patients as it helps them build strength and endurance while in the ICU. Other therapeutic interventions such as breathing exercises can also help in improving outcomes and reducing complications associated with ARDS. With proper care, ARDS patients can make a full recovery from their condition.

Edit after discussing with my husband:
I never got the idea that he wanted my medication changed, just that he was wondering if it would change. He told me that what had him thinking was my PCP decreasing my blood pressure medication to what it was pre pregnancy. He assumed my psych medication would do the same.
Neither of us want more kids, either. He has to have a surgery soon that will impact his fertility, which is why we decided to try for our second not long after our first (they’re 19 months apart). We have a good sex life, too. If I’m being honest, my libido is usually a little higher than his - his is I guess what I’d call normal?
We talked last night and we both got clarity. On my side, I understood what he was asking and where it was coming from. On his side, he understood that medication isn’t static and changes depending on my needs (we went into greater detail than that).
He’s been supportive of me throughout our relationship, marriage, pregnancies, and postpartum. He’s been more understanding than a lot of spouses would be, tbh. I took your advice and will be bringing him to my appointment, too.
Thank you for all of the feedback!
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Background: BP2 diagnosed about 8 years ago and GAD diagnosed 10 years ago. Been under the care of a great psychiatrist who I trust for a decade. Two years ago I discontinued lithium in preparation for pregnancy. No problems before, during, or after pregnancy. Got pregnant again 10 months after that baby and totally different story. I went into a depressive episode almost immediately and stayed there for a few months until I started a hypomanic episode. My psychiatrist put me back on low dose lithium. I weaned off lithium in prep for labor, but I couldn’t handle the mood swings so I was put back on it. Postpartum was horrible so my lithium was increased, but that did nothing, so my Lamictal was increased. I was finally stable, yay 😀 I have been stable for a few weeks now.
My husband was amazing every step of the way. He stepped up at every opportunity. However, today he asked when my psychiatrist would be lowering my doses again. I asked why, and he said he thought it would just be to get me through that episode postpartum and then I’d go back to my old dose. I was kind of confused and he got defensive, thinking I was wanting to argue? Idk. It was weird 🤷‍♀️
He’s “normal” in the sense that he doesn’t have mental illness and I’m his first exposure to serious MI. He knows my diagnosis and has seen my episodes. I still think he maybe doesn’t quite understand the seriousness. He seemed to think that my episode was just baby blues, which are awful, but it was 100% an episode.
How would you explain this to your spouse or SO? Idk how to help him understand that me being stable doesn’t mean I can go back to what it was before immediately.

So, I maxed out my Lamictal a month ago. I went from 25mg to 200mg in 5 months; honestly, I would have thought that I have regained my tolerance to it since I was off of it for two years trying to conceive and then my pregnancy.
I still don't feel great. I don't think the Lamictal is doing much, but I'm limited on what I can take because I'm breastfeeding.
As I mentioned in a previous post, my psych tried to combo the Lamictal with Seroquel (which I had also been on in the past), but when I fell asleep in the middle of feeding my baby one night and woke up with him between me and my very large (not weight wise, but he's a large man) boyfriend, it freaked me out. Yesterday, she kept trying to convince me to go back on it because my son can hold his head up now, and "he'll be fine if you fall asleep." There's three problems with that: one, my boyfriend can still roll over our child; two, I could drop the baby or he could roll onto the floor if I fall asleep with him in my arms; three, trigger warning about things that could potentially happen, my mattress is too soft so if my child rolls over he could suffocate. I also need to mention that I said something about SIDS and she seemed like she had no idea what I was talking about despite her having kids herself.
As I was adamant on not going back on the Seroquel for those reasons, she mentioned adding an anti-depressant on top of the Lamictal. I told her I'd be open to it and asked what she had in mind. Her immediate response was Zoloft; in my chart, it specifically says that I'm allergic to it. I was originally put on it when I was 15, before I was diagnosed with bipolar, and it made me severely hallucinate. She told me that, that wasn't considered an actual allergy, and that my doctor should have recognized then that I was bipolar because only bipolar people hallucinate when they're taking an SSRI by itself.
I told her I hallucinate (though not as severely) on a mood stabilizer when I'm having manic episodes. She seemed surprised by that, even though it was mentioned during my evaluation with her and again, should have already been in my chart as one of my symptoms.
She asked me if I'd be willing to take Zoloft again, which was a hard no. She then decided that Prozac is my second option, but she said it would likely upset my stomach, so I should only take half a tablet to start off with.
I already have GI issues. I've been diagnosed with IBS for four years now. I haven't had any issues with it since I had the baby six months ago. I took the Prozac this morning and my stomach is currently severely torn up and I'm trying to remain hopeful that it'll get better the next few days, but this is literal hell that only immodium is helping so much. What makes it worse is I'm currently at work and I have to keep closing the shop every time I need to go to the bathroom because I work alone.
I've never been on an anti-depressant and a mood stabilizer at the same time. It was always two mood stabilizers and whatever Gabapentin is considered (which I was taking for my severe anxiety; nothing has touched that so far; can't go back on it because I'm breastfeeding). I'm concerned that my bad depressive episodes are going to come back with the Prozac because for some reason, I'm more manic nowadays than I was before I had the baby. Mania I can manage for the most part, though it does get unruly sometimes; the very few (mild) depressive episodes I've had are rough, especially since I have the baby now.
I'm just frustrated and I miss being stable at this point because everything is screwed up. Don't get me wrong, I love every moment of being a mother, and I gave up my stability to have my son, but it's been a rough ride lately. I plan to breastfeed until he's a year old and I guess I can start something different after that.
While I'd like a second child eventually, I can't even think about getting pregnant for another year at the minimum because I had an emergency c-section; I know that'll require me to go off meds again, but honestly, I don't know if I'll regain my stability by that point. Probably not. It took me 6 years to become stable in the first place. Pregnancy hormones also made me stable and God, do I miss that as well.
I just have to keep hoping for the best.

Three years ago I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression. About a year later I was diagnosed bipolar 2. My moods always line up with my cycle. Period- okay mood, low energy Week after- high energy, great mood, productive Next week- good mood, normal energy Week before period- anxious, depressed, zero energy The only time my mood was mostly stable was during pregnancy. I am currently taking 100mg of Pristiq and 75mg of Lamictal. After talking today about PMDD symptoms I will be taking 25mg Zoloft half the month as well.
Is anyone on a similar medicine routine? Does it help you? Has anyone been misdiagnosed bipolar bc of your PMDD? Was birth control that stops periods the only thing that has helped?

So I found out I was pregnant a few weeks ago (Currently 10w3d) and I talked to my GP about the medications I've been taking for my mental health. (Wellbutrin XL and Lamictal) and I was advised to come off the Lamictal but that the Wellbutrin was safe so long as my OB gave the green light.
Since coming off the Lamictal, I feel like my cognitive functions have suffered. I'm feeling very forgetful at work and have been noticing errors in my preformance that I know are incredibly unlike me as well as errors in my attention on tasks. Hell, even typing this post has required an interesting amount of effort.
I'm starting to worry about losing my job becasue of this. I haven't told my boss that I'm expecting because I fear that I'll be passed on opportunities that get disguised as "They're doing me a favor" nor do I want to be seen as "Incapable" because of the pregnancy. My plan was to announce my pregnancy in about a week or so but I have an anxious feeling that's going to create a target on my back. Where I'm being asked to work less for "my convenience" or I worry that my pregnancy will be the source of any "blame" for errors on my end. Like if I miss an email, appt, etc, I don't want to get a "Pregnancy Brain" blame and be counted as "unreliable" for the remainder of my pregnancy.
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So, For any other moms or Moms-to-Be out there who may have struggled with mental health and pregnancy, do you have any advice for how to stay "sharp" while not being medicated during pregnancy? I get that it's a silly question but I can't really afford to get terminated nor am I really in a position to go job hunting.

Before I went off my meds before trying to conceive, I had a little over a year and a half of stability; prior to that, I had been fighting this illness for 6 years. What led to the stability was a combination of Gabapentin, Lamictal, and Seroquel. One of my previous psychs added Trileptal to the cocktail and it spiraled me down at 40 some day depressive episode before I tapered off of it myself (only because that psych quit and her replacement never called me back). After it was out of my system, I had found stability and it was fantastic.
When I went off the meds, my episodes started out mild and then progressively got worse. It took us 14 months to conceive; I was managing my insomnia and anxiety with weed, and that was probably increasing my mania induced paranoid delusions; I thought everyone didn't like me, and everything was out to get me. During that time, I also developed an anxiety tic that made me fling my head back and say, "Woo"; spent a lot of days with neck pain due to it.
After I found out I was pregnant, I stopped having bipolar symptoms by 7-8 weeks. I felt the most stable that I've ever been without being medicated. I had clarity in my mind due to not being on so many meds, my memory wasn't shit, I didn't disassociate with myself anymore, and I didn't slur my words when I talked. It was pure bliss.
3 weeks postpartum, my new, new psych decided to start me back on Lamictal because that was one of the few things that was safe for breastfeeding. She added Seroquel to the mix when the Lamictal wasn't helping, but after falling asleep feeding my son one night, and waking up to him laying between me and my very big boyfriend, I immediately stopped it. She's slowly tapered me up on the Lamictal and I'm currently at a dosage of 150mg, but I still feel like total ass some days, and I'm rapidly cycling like I was before my stability; it's like I'm three days up, three days down, three days up, three days down, rinse and repeat with no point of feeling "even".
Mania makes me unable to sleep, talk so fast that people aren't understanding me, so hypersexual that I either have to help myself, beg the boyfriend to help me, or take some pictures of myself and post them to a spicy account I had prior to pregnancy (back then it was only for money, now it's attention; boyfriend knows that it helps me cope). Depressive episodes hit me like a ton of bricks to the point that I get severely touched out, and have to hand the baby off to someone before I flip out; it also makes me sleep too much, question if I'm failing my child, and I literally spend moments breaking down and crying; the disassociation with myself also comes from the depressive episodes and nothing feels real and I question if I'm going to wake up and everything is all a dream.
I've also got a massive complaint with the meds, but I have to take them with no choice. As I said, I felt like I had mental clarity while pregnant. Now my memory is in the trash, I keep saying something and meaning the entire opposite of what I said, I slur my words like I'm intoxicated when I'm actually stone cold sober, I can't explain things properly, and it sounds like people are speaking total gibberish to me sometimes.
At least I only get the anxiety tic once or twice a day now though, which is great, right? /s
My boyfriend said it seemed like I was a lot better before I went back on the meds, and my symptoms didn't return until I started them again. His complaint was my memory, but I know all the other things that it's caused because I had the same issues the last time I was on this specific drug.
The thing about medication though is I insist on taking it. I'm 3rd generation bipolar. My mother who I am no contact with also suffers from the same illness as me; her mother also has it. There's been studies put out that the more manic episodes you have, the more it deteriorates the gray matter in your brain over time. My grandmother didn't take her meds; she's been in a nursing home since she was 59 (since 2015), diagnosed with dementia. My mother has also been mainly off her meds, is in her late 40s, and based off the things I've heard through the grapevine, it doesn't seem like she's all there. Because she was a nasty person when she was off her meds, that's also why I went no contact with her and insist on taking mine.
I'm just so frustrated with it all at this point, but until I stop breastfeeding, I can't take any other meds really, and honestly, I'm not sure if the previous cocktail would help me anymore, and I'd rather not go back to being a med guinea pig like I was at 15. I just want my stability back; I want to feel like I'm on my feet again. Lately, I feel like I'm going to end up with a grippy sock vacation at any point. I feel like I need to do better for my baby, and the more I suffer with this, the more I feel like a failure to him.
I keep telling myself that I have to take it one day at a time though, and I know I'm basically stuck with this for life. I can only hope for eventual stability.

So, I have had epilepsy since I was 10, I'm now 26. I've taken lamictal the entire time (name brand extended release since I was 19). I just had a baby 2 months ago and my neuro and I just came up with our plan to lower my medication back down (just have to wait until CVS fills it as name brand... Because they always change it to generic, even though my doctor sends it as name brand).
My question is this: have any epileptic mothers (or fathers) had seizures been triggered due to their babies crying?
I've been feeling extra glitchy lately -- twitching, off balance, extra blinks, unfocused -- the whole 9 yards. And when my daughter cries (especially when she's going full bloody murder and it's been bad the past few days) it makes it all come on quick. I'm not sure if it's due to the stress it is causing me, or the noise, or a combo. But I can't find anything online about it. It also might be because I'm on too high of a dose because of raising my lamictal during pregnancy, but I don't think so.
Of course I JUST saw my neuro last week and didn't ask him because I didn't think about it. I was feeling overall fine, but I just started back work which probably doesn't help either.. I'm going to message him and ask, but I wanted to see if there was anyone else who had experienced something similar or if I'm insane.

Hi-- It's me again, I posted yesterday about toe walking and am following up because I received two distinct comments suggesting cerebral palsy as a possible explanation for my symptoms. I just want guidance on if it is worth bringing to a neurologist, because healthcare is expensive and I'm not sure if my university offers neurology as part of their clinic. I compiled a list, by no means exhaustive, of my symptoms and would love to have some feedback.
Background:
First things first, I was born premature and was in the N-ICU for some time (I think a few days to a week, I will verify). I was due mid-February (2003) but was born mid-January, 25 days early. My mom dealt with pre-eclampsia and was a high-risk pregnancy. Apparently, I came out purple, though I do not like to think about it too much. The following symptoms have been lifelong for me, though they tend to be worsened by other factors such as not getting enough sleep. My younger sisters (twins, born 2005) were an even higher risk pregnancy that left my mom bedridden for the third trimester. The doctors were concerned one of them would have cerebral palsy, and they were born very prematurely, spending the first few years of their life in OT and PT. Neither sister went on to have any lasting conditions, thankfully, and are happy, healthy, athletic, teenagers today. My sisters were born only two years after me, but they were born in the States and I was born in the Netherlands, meaning there was an entirely different team of doctors and an entirely different hospital, and maybe even protocol/perspective.
Obligatory Information:
20F, 145lbs, 5'7, Lamictal and Concerta (haven't taken in a while because of summer), ADHD, OCD, bp II, cough-induced asthma. Was in the ICU for a few days back in 2015 due to double bacterial pneumonia.
Coordination and Balance:
I've always felt like my limbs are just a little bit too long for my body and that my brain's mapping of them stopped a couple of inches early. I am frequently banging into things, hitting door frames, edges of tables, tripping over my feet, etc. It makes some things, like doing my hair, very hard as I do not have the dexterity. I also find that I will often break or rip things when I am just trying to gently handle them. For example, toast. I'll try to butter it and end up with my knife slipping through the bread. I drop things all of the time, multiple times a day including my phone, pens, pencils. Sometimes it's because I am holding them and my hand hits my thigh when I am walking, other times they just literally fall out of my hands.
I struggled with sports as well, despite how much I tried. I ran track for all four years of high school, which meant 1.5 hours of practice each weekday. We did weight and strength training, both bodyweight and with machines, as well as cardio. Despite how much I trained, I found that I wasn't building the same muscle mass as my peers and that I wasn't improving. I kept with it though, because the exercise was good for my mind and soul. There were times in gym class where I struggled with very basic tasks, like kicking a soccer ball under a foldable table. I couldn't even do that right. It hit the edge of the table and bounced back at me, and when I tried to kick it again, my foot missed! It was always attributed to me not trying hard enough, and I guess sometimes I would pretend that I didn't care, when really I did, because it is easier to attribute my brutal unathleticism to apathy rather than inability, especially because it came so easy to my peers.
I have also taken two dance classes in college, and both of them were frustrating for not only me, but the instructor and whoever I was dancing with. I understood the dances and the steps conceptually, but I just couldn't get it right when the time came to actually execute the moves. I would trip over my feet, step on my partner's toes, mix up my lefts and rights, etc. I showed up every single class, but couldn't manage to get an A- one of the only people in the grade distribution to have not.
I sprained my ankle during one of the dance classes, and a week later sprained it the other way which landed me in a boot for three weeks. When the doctor looked at it, he also mentioned that I have ligament laxity.
Toe Walking:
I have walked on my toes since I was a child. Though the issue has seemed to correct itself when I am wearing shoes, the moment that I am barefoot I am on my toes. I think it has impacted me in more ways than once thought, as I cannot even do a basic squat with my feet flat on the ground.
Cognitive:
Growing up, I was very sensitive and learned to worry as soon as I learned how to think. I was, and am, very spacey and was diagnosed with ADHD-C around age 16, though my teachers suggested it could be a possibility years and years and years before. I don't want to get into why it wasn't addressed, but a lot of health concerns were not addressed when I was a child-- I was kind of the "rub some dirt on it you'll be fine" kid. I struggle with extreme mood swings and panic attacks as well as OCD. I also have a huge startle reflex which is kind of embarrassing, but I always attributed it to being "wound up" and anxious all of the time. But there have been times when, say, a door slams, for example, and I am the only one in the room with a reaction, a reaction where I nearly jump out of my seat. Cognitively, I never felt behind in my understanding of concepts but I find them difficult to verbalize, which is why writing is my saving grace. I really struggled in school, but that was more because I was picked on for being somewhat eccentric.
Conclusion:
I know that these things are impossible to diagnose over the internet, but some clarity and guidance would be much appreciated. I think that I am just frustrated and tired and looking for answers so I can live my best, healthiest, life. I for sure want to correct my toe walking so it doesn't become a problem later on, and beyond that, I would like to find the cause if there is any. Thank you so much for your time in reading this, and I hope that you have a splendid day!

Hi-- It's me again, I posted yesterday about toe walking and am following up because I received two distinct comments suggesting cerebral palsy as a possible explanation for my symptoms. I just want guidance on if it is worth bringing to a neurologist, because healthcare is expensive and I'm not sure if my university offers neurology as part of their clinic. I compiled a list, by no means exhaustive, of my symptoms and would love to have some feedback.
Background:
First things first, I was born premature and was in the N-ICU for some time (I think a few days to a week, I will verify). I was due mid-February (2003) but was born mid-January, 25 days early. My mom dealt with pre-eclampsia and was a high-risk pregnancy. Apparently, I came out purple, though I do not like to think about it too much. The following symptoms have been lifelong for me, though they tend to be worsened by other factors such as not getting enough sleep. My younger sisters (twins, born 2005) were an even higher risk pregnancy that left my mom bedridden for the third trimester. The doctors were concerned one of them would have cerebral palsy, and they were born very prematurely, spending the first few years of their life in OT and PT. Neither sister went on to have any lasting conditions, thankfully, and are happy, healthy, athletic, teenagers today. My sisters were born only two years after me, but they were born in the States and I was born in the Netherlands, meaning there was an entirely different team of doctors and an entirely different hospital, and maybe even protocol/perspective.
Obligatory Information:
20F, 145lbs, 5'7, Lamictal and Concerta (haven't taken in a while because of summer), ADHD, OCD, bp II, cough-induced asthma. Was in the ICU for a few days back in 2015 due to double bacterial pneumonia.
Coordination and Balance:
I've always felt like my limbs are just a little bit too long for my body and that my brain's mapping of them stopped a couple of inches early. I am frequently banging into things, hitting door frames, edges of tables, tripping over my feet, etc. It makes some things, like doing my hair, very hard as I do not have the dexterity. I also find that I will often break or rip things when I am just trying to gently handle them. For example, toast. I'll try to butter it and end up with my knife slipping through the bread. I drop things all of the time, multiple times a day including my phone, pens, pencils. Sometimes it's because I am holding them and my hand hits my thigh when I am walking, other times they just literally fall out of my hands.
I struggled with sports as well, despite how much I tried. I ran track for all four years of high school, which meant 1.5 hours of practice each weekday. We did weight and strength training, both bodyweight and with machines, as well as cardio. Despite how much I trained, I found that I wasn't building the same muscle mass as my peers and that I wasn't improving. I kept with it though, because the exercise was good for my mind and soul. There were times in gym class where I struggled with very basic tasks, like kicking a soccer ball under a foldable table. I couldn't even do that right. It hit the edge of the table and bounced back at me, and when I tried to kick it again, my foot missed! It was always attributed to me not trying hard enough, and I guess sometimes I would pretend that I didn't care, when really I did, because it is easier to attribute my brutal unathleticism to apathy rather than inability, especially because it came so easy to my peers.
I have also taken two dance classes in college, and both of them were frustrating for not only me, but the instructor and whoever I was dancing with. I understood the dances and the steps conceptually, but I just couldn't get it right when the time came to actually execute the moves. I would trip over my feet, step on my partner's toes, mix up my lefts and rights, etc. I showed up every single class, but couldn't manage to get an A- one of the only people in the grade distribution to have not.
I sprained my ankle during one of the dance classes, and a week later sprained it the other way which landed me in a boot for three weeks. When the doctor looked at it, he also mentioned that I have ligament laxity.
Toe Walking:
I have walked on my toes since I was a child. Though the issue has seemed to correct itself when I am wearing shoes, the moment that I am barefoot I am on my toes. I think it has impacted me in more ways than once thought, as I cannot even do a basic squat with my feet flat on the ground.
Cognitive:
Growing up, I was very sensitive and learned to worry as soon as I learned how to think. I was, and am, very spacey and was diagnosed with ADHD-C around age 16, though my teachers suggested it could be a possibility years and years and years before. I don't want to get into why it wasn't addressed, but a lot of health concerns were not addressed when I was a child-- I was kind of the "rub some dirt on it you'll be fine" kid. I struggle with extreme mood swings and panic attacks as well as OCD. I also have a huge startle reflex which is kind of embarrassing, but I always attributed it to being "wound up" and anxious all of the time. But there have been times when, say, a door slams, for example, and I am the only one in the room with a reaction, a reaction where I nearly jump out of my seat. Cognitively, I never felt behind in my understanding of concepts but I find them difficult to verbalize, which is why writing is my saving grace. I really struggled in school, but that was more because I was picked on for being somewhat eccentric.
Conclusion:
I know that these things are impossible to diagnose over the internet, but some clarity and guidance would be much appreciated. I think that I am just frustrated and tired and looking for answers so I can live my best, healthiest, life. I for sure want to correct my toe walking so it doesn't become a problem later on, and beyond that, I would like to find the cause if there is any. Thank you so much for your time in reading this, and I hope that you have a splendid day!