The new daily medication load is:
750 mg of Lithium
40 mg of Prozac
50 mg of Seroquel
25 mg of Lamictal, going up to 50 mg in two weeks
Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lamictal has some minor side effects — mild headaches, a tendency to produce mild mania — and one rare but potentially fatal side effect: Stevens-Johnson syndrome, in which the first layer of your skin detaches from your body. Kinda like a massive, 100% coverage 3rd degree burn, with similar consequences, i.e., permanent scarring or death, whichever comes first.
It’s really rare, but that’s why you build up to it to ensure it won’t happen.
On the other hand, it’s allegedly a wonder drug, and the first thing they’ve got that does a good job with my bipolar II pattern of being more down than up. Lithium actually isn’t as useful for that, but it’s a decent mood leveler.
The eventual plan: reduced Lithium and whatever the working dose of Lamictal turns out to be for me; no more Prozac or Seroquel.
Unless, of course, I die first.
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We have HBO on Demand now, which means I finally got to watch Def Poetry Jam for this week.
Go Dawn! You were lovely and sensational. Go Morris! Laughed my ass off, and I knew the piece. Go Bassey, KRS-One, Kelly Tsai!
I think this one was pretty good.
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I am feeling better, if a bit drained right now. I start the new drug in the AM. We’ll see.
I’m such a skeptic. I’m so sure I’m doomed.
Dark Matter 