[miss-poetflower]

Hello everyone!!!

So I stumbled across this site on my desperate search for help after 2 years of DP/DR. Ever since I was 16 years old I had on and off depression and anxiety, but one day in February 2020 I woke up and realized everything felt unreal. Since then I have not had a break. I went through a whole slew of antidepressants and ansiolytics, sertraline, fluoxetine, cymbalta, mirtazapine, Clonazepam, buspar... You name it. It was a nightmare.
Until one day I collapsed into muscle twitching, hyperventilation, ended up in the hospital. My psychiatrist never wanted to go beyond the antidepressants. Then I saw a neuropsychiatrist who started me today on Lamictal, a mood stabilizer and anticonvulsant, so let's see how it goes. And also I have been taking Gabapentin 300mg 3× a day , which helps with the muscle twitching, heart palpitations, and super cold feeling I get sometimes.
Does anyone have experience with mood stabilizers like Lamictal , Gabapentin, and DP, DR ? I'm really trying to recover here and would really appreciate any feedback.
Lots of love to all, ❤
Kitty

 

[nonamenomad]

Hello everyone!!!

So I stumbled across this site on my desperate search for help after 2 years of DP/DR. Ever since I was 16 years old I had on and off depression and anxiety, but one day in February 2020 I woke up and realized everything felt unreal. Since then I have not had a break. I went through a whole slew of antidepressants and ansiolytics, sertraline, fluoxetine, cymbalta, mirtazapine, Clonazepam, buspar... You name it. It was a nightmare.
Until one day I collapsed into muscle twitching, hyperventilation, ended up in the hospital. My psychiatrist never wanted to go beyond the antidepressants. Then I saw a neuropsychiatrist who started me today on Lamictal, a mood stabilizer and anticonvulsant, so let's see how it goes.
Does anyone have experience with mood stabilizers like Lamictal and DP, DR ? I'm really trying to recover here and would really appreciate any feedback.
Lots of love to all, ❤
Kitty

Hi friend. I was on lamictal for probably 2 years and that was one of the only few medicines I didn’t mind being on or I felt helped. Sadly though, my DP/DR was still bad and present. It was manageable at first, but just recently actually, I’ve gotten off completely and it no longer helped at all. I wouldn’t be opposed to trying it again and upping my dosage though. Medicines work different for everyone though, so what someone hates you might find helps. Medicines can be scary and irritating though, or at least I find them to be. I wish there was a cure all when they aren’t lol. And the side effects sometimes are so regretful after being pumped full. Good luck!

 

[Cray2344]

You can read my journal here: Back on Lamictal - My DP/DR experience
But dont get your hopes high because i read that it didnt help for allot of people.
I have C-PTSD so my dissociation which i had was normal but after a therapy session with a not so experienced 'therapist' I got depersonalization.

I can honestly say that without the combo of meds that i am no i dont know what i would done. Its got to do with anxiety as well cause propranalol helped take edge out but im not taking it just took it for exams.

But before i wasnt even able to walk down stairs without feeling dizzy. I mean it was really. bad, and some people talk about existential thought, i didnt even had them because i was so zoned out. Only after feeling a little bit of relief i started having existential thoughs on lamictal.
I just tried 425 mg lamictal and every time i increase the dose i feel less dp, but the issue is that one i am outside or talking to people the DP increases. I might split the dose in half, take in morning and night, but i still think that the DP with get worse when im talking to people or something. But now on 425 mg its like wow. I though 400 mg was good, but then i took 425 mg now and its just like, you forget what its like to not have DP because evertime i thinking ok im almost recovered, but everytime i take more and im thinking i wasnt even close to being recovered.

 

[Anders]

Its funny I think a lot can relate to the experience that the wonders of lamictal only seem to be limited and occur on dosage increase and does not sustain for more than some time - maybe a week or 2. - and then the symptoms reoccur - and once again you can tap up to calm the symptoms. My experience lately is to use it as a reliefer. Keep dose as low as possible everyday and on demanding social days etc - take 100mg extra and the effect comes quickly.