Posted by Janelle on October 8, 2001, at 23:10:18
Hi all,
Well, I got a hold of my pdoc, told her how after about three weeks off an SSRI a-d, I have been spiraling downhill (my symptoms are all over the map), and she agreed with my assessment that I need to AUGMENT the Lamictal by going back on Paxil.
I'm going to start taking 20mg (while maintaining my other meds) tomorrow and I can't wait. I have an appointment to see the pdoc at the end of the week and we can assess from there.
It has been my "gut" feeling all along, although I did not want it to become a *self-fulfilling prophecy,* that Lamictal would not fully address my depression, anxiety and social phobia (the extent to which I've NEVER had before) and ruminating, obssesive-compulsive type thoughts and instead of suggesting that I was *obsessing* about my meds and continuing to just increase the Lamictal, my pdoc agreed with me that I probably do need whatever an SSRI does for serotonin that Lamictal doesn't quite do.
If Chloe reads this - I have the SAME basic experience as you do - the BP2 diagnosis is fuzzy, and I've thought that a small amount of an effective AD can be helpful.
Since Paxil was very effective for me before, I am hoping it will be again, and that any hypomania it MIGHT start to induce (we don't even know if Paxil was the culprit that one time) should be counter-acted by the Lamictal.
Chloe, it is very encouraging to hear that your taking just 1 mg of Celexa (how on earth do you get it down to 1mg?!!) is putting the SPARK back in you (I know the starting Celexa dose is usually 20mgs, since I was on Celexa - up to 40mgs for awhile!)
I truly believe that at least 20mgs of Paxil will alleviate a lot of my horrible symptoms that have resurfaced and will give me my lost spark back. Just like you, without Paxil, I drag (big time) and have no VERVE (perfect word!) for life.
Lamictal *is* having somewhat of an A-D and in my case a good *anti-mania* effect, but the A-D effect is definitely NOT like an SSRI. Comments, feedback welcomed!
poster:Janelle
thread:80715
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011007/msgs/80715.html