Posted by phillybob on April 14, 2001, at 14:51:20
In reply to Re: current Lamictal trials - JahL and Phillybob » JahL, posted by sweetmarie on April 14, 2001, at 6:30:05
> How are you two doing on the Lamictal front?
Hi, Anna! I'm up to 100 mg/day (just 2 days at this level) and not really noticing anything either.
I had, of late, been toying with Adderall as an adjunct but seemed to, after an initial good going, have negative effects from such (same thing happens for me with Ritalin). Anyway, now I've added some Prozac (20 mg/day) just yesterday because I have not been that well, and I always get an initial boost for up to a couple of weeks with Prozac after re-visiting it (as long as it's been quite a while since I last took it). Long-term trials with Prozac at varying levels (as high as 80 mg/day, I believe) have never been able to maintain positive effects, though.
Maybe WITH the Lamictal, the Prozac could have long-term efficacy? Who knows. Regardless, of all of the AD's I've taken (which is all of the newer ones that are legal in the US), including a couple of Tricyclics, Prozac has the least (practically none) negative side effects for me and I tolerate it very very well.
I will still be titrating up on Lamictal also. (Sometimes, it is hard for me to resist the urge to add Topamax into the mix ... but I really need to see what's up with Lamictal, once I get to a higher therapeutic level, before doing so).
A little over a year ago, I was going to trial Parnate (an MAOI) but during my clearing out period (getting other AD's out of my system), I had a positive bounce and ended up back on other ADs eventually when that subsided. I'd consider an MAOI again, too, but from what I've read on that, I've seen a lot of "pooping out" with that (though some people are getting many years out of it before that occurs). I guess I think a mood stabilizer will be a good long-term help for me.
> I`m up to my 3rd week on 250 mg and no change at all. Should I call it a day?Sorry, it is not working for you the best. It seems from what I've read on this board, no one has had success with it as monotherapy and, as an adjunct, it doesn't seem as if anyone really knows whether it is helpful or not. My guess so far is that because it is such a benign additional drug, the benefits may not really be anything at all. We shall see.
Anyway, I am glad your day in the hospital is finally near, and we are all hoping that you recieve the treatment which leads you to the euthymic land. :)
Best wishes, Bob.
P.S. No calling it a day on the Lamictal yet. It just very well might be the right adjunct for you for whatever the docs in the hospital have in mind to add to your med mix. You've only got a few days!
poster:phillybob
thread:55442
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010411/msgs/59845.html