Posted by Emme on January 11, 2002, at 15:04:41
In reply to Re: Celexa liquid (and Lamictal rechallenge) » Emme, posted by Chloe on January 9, 2002, at 17:45:40
> Hi Emme,
> I often think initial doses of meds are too high for the average person. I think it is so important to see how a person reacts to a small amouont of a med, before snowing a person with it. Smaller titrations lets the patient have a gentle introduction to a chemical. And a person is less likely to prematurely ditch a decent med if they don't get hit too hard by it's effects all at once. IMHO.
>
> > > Maybe I'd get more noticeable benefit from Celexa at a slightly higher dose - if I inch the dose up in slow teensy bits maybe I wouldn't feel too awful.
>
> I go up by drops! I feel good between 1.65 and 1.75 mgs. This is less than twenty drops. It seems like nothing, but a little too much or too little has profound ramifications. (When you are ready), Since you have a syringe, you can be very exact about how much you measure out for each dose. You are the chemist!
>
> > >At the moment I'm working on a rechallenge of Lamictal and want to see how that pans out before changing Celexa (one thing at a time). I have had one rash recurrence, for just one day - it had faded to very faint within a few hours. A dermatologist felt it was safe to continue the titration - and it's a damn slow titration. We will probably continue with it with careful superivision as long as any rashes continue to be brief and are not raised or otherwise menacing. And a little Neurontin's still on board for me.
>
> ONe thing at a time is best! I am glad you are being closely watched by your doc and a derm. I wish I could have had a derm appointment 3 months ago when I was having the awful burning scalp on the lithium. If I could have been told THEN that it's a neuropathic path, I could have meerly added a TCA for the pain and kept the Li on board. BUt being a new patient at a dermatologists office made it so I could not get an appointment for 10 weeeks. I called every derm in the area. EVeryone had a huge waiting list. I was even willing to not use insurance and just pay cash! no dice. So I finally did get my appointment and it looks like I will resume the lithium...
>
> > > Good luck finding mood stabilization options -
>
> Thanks, Emme
> Good luck with the Lamictal. Take it slow!
> ChloeHi Chloe,
So you're gonna go back to Li again. Yeah! I know you had success with that before - I hope it works out with the TCA added and that your scalp won't suffer too much.
I agree with you about starting people on low doses. Yeah, some people can jump right in at a higher dose, but I've known of people to give up on drugs due to side effects that might have been minimized if their doctors had started them off more slowly.
Your scalp problem also illustrates how important it is to have other doctors on board when treating a patient with a mood disorder. It is a whole body/soul illness and the medicines also affect the whole body. A good pdoc won't hesitate to get other opinions on board. I was lucky in the dermatology dept. My internist saw me right away, then made a phone call and sent me down the street a half an hour later to a dermatologist just to be safe - the words "lamictal" and "rash" get them moving pretty fast even if they are busy.Good news is, I think the lamictal may be starting to help. I'm a couple of steps back from the edge and also have some more energy. I made it to the gym 3 times this week for mild workouts, which feels like a miracle!
Keep us posted on your retrial with Li and the TCA.
Emme
P.S. You must be psychic. Yes, I'm a chemist (geochemist actually). After using syringes in the lab for so many things, it's funny to use one to squirt stuff into my mouth. :) Thanks for your support. My thanks also to Mitch for his earlier comments.
poster:Emme
thread:88843
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020110/msgs/89748.html