Posted by phillybob on April 2, 2001, at 12:43:33
In reply to Re: treatment resistant depression , posted by SLS on April 2, 2001, at 9:50:36
> I am curious if your doctor prescribed it [the Adderall] and who's idea it was.
>
> By the way, I need to take 300mg of Lamictal to receive any benefit from it.
>
> Thanks.
>
>
> - ScottHi, Scott. The Adderall was my idea after some thinkin' about my past brief experiences with Ritalin and recently talkin' with the younger bro about his experiences. I definitely have always had ADD problems but never got past a Ritalin trial, for some reason. I remember reading John L's concise analysis and discussion of "line of fire" approaches to depression treatment, including benign and fast-acting stimulants ( http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000209/msgs/20873.html ). Anyway, the pdoc and I discussed Adderall and Dexadrine and felt, based upon my bro's success, Adderall would be worth a trial right now.
Nonetheless, based upon my brief (almost 2 months) but "total" "cure" for my symptoms (atypical-type AD-treatment-resistent depression ... an oxymoron?) with Topamax, I think this class of "neuromodulatory" drugs would have good long-term efficacy for me. [From the Topamax Experiences thread ( http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20001231/msgs/50878.html ), I discontinued Topamax due to a bad side effect of receding gums; however, I would certainly re-visit it at a lower dose in the future as an adjunct for a partial or in lieu of a failed Lamictal response.]
My pdoc is very receptive to what I have to say due to my fondness for research and his own broad experience with most all meds. Bottomline, if it makes sense, he's game. He was, however, a bit more squeamish about the Lamictal trial due to his concerns about the rash (Steven-Johnson's). Ultimately, he's been quite fine as a professional in keeping my impatience in cheque (i.e. taking the titration slowly).
(I actually had, years ago, fairly exhausted the bulk of my psychotherapy needs with another counselor who happened to be my pdoc's daughter! Of course, there is still on-going ancillary psychotherapy-type discussions with my pdoc as I fine tune my understanding of my life and reactions to life.)
What kind of benefit do you think you receive from Lamictal? (Also, I forgot, what other meds are you taking and at what dosages?)
poster:phillybob
thread:55847
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010327/msgs/58459.html