Mood Stabilizers aka Anti-epileptics

[Phyllis]

I go to see my Pdoc next week and I'm thinking about aksing her to put me on a new mood stabilizer. The reason why is because my Lamictal is becoming to be too difficult to swallow. They are very chalky and start dissolving as soon as I put them in my mouth and get stuck in my throat which leaves this lovely mediciny chalky taste in my mouth. 

I'd like to have some ideas on what to change to if she should ask what I want to try. I know a few of you here are on Lamictal. I've already been on Trileptal but that proved to not work for me, and I was even put on the highest dose.  So, let me know what you mood stabilizers your on so I can research and have a better idea of what my options are.

Thanks! 
 

[Paz]

 The anti epileptics that I have taken are Depakote ER and now I take Neurontin...Neurontin is sort of a new one that they have been using for BP for awhile...it's an anti epileptic like the others, but it also helps with neuropathic pain, which could help you with your fibromyalgia...it does help me with my tendinitis & disc pain [a little]. But if you take Neurontin  with like a vicodin, there is a reaction that the makes the vicodin work less effectively for your pain, but the upside is that same reaction makes the Neurontin work stronger....get what I mean?

[Dreamline]

Here's what I have tried:

Lithium: still on it, love it, works at a high enough dose.  Side effects I get: tremor, uncoordinated, memory loss

Tegretol: didn't work for me, sedated the shit out of me, dissolved into nasty chalky, gritty mess when I tried to swallow it.  Also Phyllis, you said trileptal didn't work...well tegretol is almost the same thing.  Trileptal is oxycarbamazepine and tegretol is carbamazepine.  Supposedly they work almost the same but the trileptal doesn't have the same health risks like low red blood count.  Side effects I got: severe sedation, profound memory loss, inability to focus, increased appetite...etc.

Lamictal: about the chalkyness, there are several different forms...one is a chewable, or dissolves in a drink?  I would ask about that.

Exercise: great natural mood stabilizer, helps my meds work better!!!  If I exercise before I get too down, I feel better for a long time afterwards...its also a natural SLEEP remedy.  Side effects: weight loss, improved health, better sleep, better mood...etc.

GABA: really calms my freakin nerves!  no side effects, no chalk.

[Ashes]

im on depakote right now. 

[Phyllis]

Well, then Tegretol is out of the question. As for the other forms of Lamictal, I have thought about them, but not sure if they come in generic form. My insurance won't pay for brand name Lamictal.

[Dreamline]

I would call and ask a pharmacist about them...also ask if the ones you re taking now can be crushed and drank in something.  I don't see why not if they practically turn to chalk in your mouth.

[sine]

I'm on depakote.  They are big pills and are coated and cannot be cut, at least mine are.

[Dreamline]

Hey Phyllis, did you ever find out about crushing/dissolving them?

[Phyllis]

nope, haven't checked yet.