Cycling (possible triggers)

Avatar for jessie_sherman
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Cycling (possible triggers)
10
Thu, 01-04-2007 - 4:34pm

I am starting to get really annoyed with my pdoc. Last Wednesday was my first visit, where he dx'd me as being rapid cycling bipolar. He prescribed Lamictal for me. I thought YAY! I will be able to feel better soon. Guess what? There are no pharmacies in our area (Orlando, FL) that carry the specific starter pack I need. We have known that since last Thursday. My husband has called the pdoc's office every day to find out what the dr wants me to do, or if he is going to prescribe something else. They keep saying they will call us, but they never do so we have to call. It has been a week. What am I supposed to do? I feel like crying, I had a glimmer of hope of feeling more "normal" then it is snatched away from me. Should I find a different dr? I went to see him because I am getting worse, really getting mean, and I do not want to mess up my 3 yr old son's emotions/mentality. What would you do? Get a new dr? Call the dr freaking out? That is what I really want to do, but I am fighting it back.

Jess

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-07-2002
Thu, 01-04-2007 - 5:33pm

Could you go outside of the Orlando area to get this medicine? I am an American living in Canada, and since I have to go to an American pdoc until I get Ontario health coverage I also get my medicine 80 miles away in Buffalo. Many pharmacies also have mail order, have you tried that? Walgreen's has mail order, and you can sign up at their website. Finally, could any pharmacies special-order these pills? I know waiting for orders to come in the mail either to your home or to a store is not the best, but it beats not getting the medicine.

Best of luck to you, and {{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}

Express!
Beth "Petrouchka"

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-01-2004
Thu, 01-04-2007 - 7:10pm

Lamictal is a pretty common med and it's strange that they wouldn't carry it standard, but even if they don't they should be able to get it for you from there supplier, especially the big chains.

Avatar for jessie_sherman
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Thu, 01-04-2007 - 8:34pm

Thank you to you both. The starter pack is the problem, no one has it, and no one wants to order it. We checked with about 30 pharmacies (in the outlaying area outside Orlando too) and only 5 have Lamictal on their shelves at all! We have called the drs office every day, sometimes a couple of times a day. I haven't done anything to get put in the inpatient ward, but that is the reason I went to the dr in the first place - to be proactive before I flip out. Ugh! I am just a little frustrated. I will give them more time to get it, maybe by tomorrow someone will miraculously get Lamictal. I think I need a Niravam to calm down.

Jess

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-01-2004
Thu, 01-04-2007 - 9:24pm

Jess,


If you can keep your calm and not freak out, maybe going to the doc's office would help--definitely stress that you've been calling daily for a week with no response and getting worse, which is why you went to the doc in the first place and that you hope their lack of response is NOT typical.

Avatar for jessie_sherman
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Fri, 01-05-2007 - 6:18pm

I finally got the Lamictal. The original pharmacy we took it to had told us, and my drs office, that they could not get the starter pack. Guess what? They did! They had it for two days and did not call me to let me know they were able to get it. My drs drug rep had called the pharmacy today to find out why they could not get the medication. They told him "we do have it." So, my drs office called me to let me know. Weird, huh? At least I got it.

So I am going to take my first dose tonight. I am nervous, but hopefully it will work and I will finally be able to feel balanced!

Jess

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-27-2006
Fri, 01-05-2007 - 6:27pm

Lamictal worked real good with me and I hope it does with you. It takes so long to get to a theraputic dose but it was worth it for me.


Good luck !


Tina




     ~ Tina ~

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-28-2004
Thu, 01-18-2007 - 9:50am
When I took Lamictal I could and my family also did, see results immediatly. My pdoc stated it was a miracle drug for Bp and it was for me. Unfortuantely I was that 5% of the population that devopled the life threating rash. (Yeah I also thought LIFE THREATING RASH - how could there be such a thing, but the rash is very itchy and can develope into large sores in a short time if you keep scracthing them.) So reluctantly I had to change meds. Otherwise the medicine had only positive results for me. One thing, follow the pdoc instuctions to the letter on increasing the dosage. I believe I did react to Lamictal because I decided that I would speed up the jump from 200mg to 250mg in one week instead of going to 225mg and after a month up it to 250mg.
Avatar for jessie_sherman
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Thu, 01-18-2007 - 2:05pm

Thanks for telling me about your experience. I had a rash a week ago, but it was an allergic reaction to a new lotion I had bought (I only had a rash where I had applied the lotion). I am allergic to a lot of things, and I have been checking for a rash. I go up to 50 mg tomorrow night.

I am glad you were not serious injured by the rash!

Jess

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-22-2006
Thu, 01-18-2007 - 4:13pm
Hi there! I too am on Lamictal and it's worked great for me at 200 mgs. My pdoc gave me several starter packs to start and then slowly increase. Usually I get my refills at Walgreens (I am an hour east of you in Melbourne) and use the coupons I get in the mail from the pharmaceutical company that makes them - $10 off! It's at their website which I can't think of right now but worth investigating.
Good luck! Pug hugs, Kelli





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Avatar for jessie_sherman
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Thu, 01-18-2007 - 9:46pm

Hi Kelli!

Yeah, I am already getting the coupons! I get them for my Wellbutrin too. I like it when I can save a few $$.

Jessie