Posted by SCFields on January 10, 2001, at 7:29:19
In reply to Lamictol questions and thoughts , posted by DAVID GRAF on November 3, 1999, at 13:09:22
I think his point was that lamictol worked but he couldn't afford it? This has been the best med for me -- I am bipolar II, though like you the mania tends to be quite severe. I had similar experiences with all of hte meds you mentioned.
I remember one of them inparticular giving me tremor. This is not good, as I am a research scientist. The joke around work was my experimental procedures would read "two shakes of this and one shake of that ..." !I currently take 200mg per day -- and yes you are quite right it IS very expensive. I have great insurance (pays 80%) and I STILL pay $50/month out of pocket. Lamotrigine (spelling?) is another name for this drug. Perhaps that's the generic? I think it's been around awhile to treat convulsions and epilepsy at higher doses... it may be off patent so there might be generics?
I wish you well. I think you are on the right track to try to get this med, for the reasons DAVID GRAF states. I have had literally no side effects, but the rash thing is real and you have to ease onto it, which means you are not at therapeutic dose for a few months. I suffered a lot during that period.
One other note, if you are really manic depressive (or bipolar), for God's sake stay away from Prozac and drugs of the same MOA. They will induce mania and it's the only time I'v ever felt suicidal (I was misdiagnosed at first).
Good luck.
poster:SCFields
thread:14495
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20001231/msgs/51335.html