Posted by sweetmarie on March 28, 2001, at 3:54:12
In reply to Re: treatment resistant depression-Lamictal » sweetmarie, posted by JahL on March 27, 2001, at 16:36:19
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> > > I spoke to the `medication helpline` (a helpline that specifically deals with psychiatric medications, based in the Affective Disorders Unit at the Maudsley Hospital in London) regarding Lamotragine. The woman I spoke to told me that there wasn`t too much info about the drug as it`s so new (as we know). However, she was able to look into a file they have about it. She quoted a case study of a woman who had been on Lamotragine for 7 weeks, felt completely well and went back to work
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> The 'magic'?!
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> > >(a concept that I can`t even think about - I haven`t worked for 3 years now). Also, she found a research project, which quoted `4 +` weeks for any effect. This was helpful as far as it went, but like I said, info about Lamotragine is pretty thin on the ground as yet.
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> > > I have a question that I meant t ask her, and was wondering if you knew the answer. Do I count ALL the weeks that I have been on an increased dose, or the weeks that I have been on the top dose, or rather the optimum dose for me (250 mg)? Do you know? I`ve always been a bit hazy on this whole time-scale business.
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> Hi Anna.
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> I'm pretty sure it's 4wks (not set in stone of course) *from* when you reach a therapeutic dose (ie one that will provoke a response in you) So if 250mg is going to work then it might take 4 wks @ this dose before you begin improving.
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> I guess the secret is to continue gradually increasing the dose (thus testing a good dose range) until you get a result. Then you can gradually titrate downwards until yr response begins to remit. Just above this point is yr optimal dose.
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> J.Jah,
Thanks. As you know, I haven`t increased the dosage slowly at all (25 mg - 250 mg in about 4 weeks). I think, however that this is because of the fact that I`am simultaneously coming off my other meds, and tend to become very ill indeed when I do this - iller than I am at the moment, which is pretty ******* ill (nearly catatonic, as I`m sure I`ve mentioned before). This is my theory anyway, and it was made as a result of past experience by my consultant (of my reaction to med changes).
I`m actually hoping that the Lactimal will `do the job` on it`s own - hence the question. In other words, I`m hoping that the Venlafaxine and Mirtazapine will not be necessary. This is my hope anyway, but if it doesn`t happen, so be it (at the end of the day, I don`t actually give a monkeys haow many drugs I take, so long as they are successful. And don`t make me look like the Michelin man, which is what Nardil has done).
Cheers,
Anna.
poster:sweetmarie
thread:55847
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010327/msgs/57747.html