Posted by Peter S. on April 11, 2003, at 15:21:42
In reply to Re: JohnJ, TCA, posted by colin wallace on April 11, 2003, at 13:54:48
Hi Colin,.
You and I seem to be in similar boats. I'm currently taking Lamictal (50 mg) and Prozac (occasionally). I'm also taking 300mg of Neurontin which seems to curb the irritability related to the Lamictal and may act synergistically. I've been up and down on the Lam (highest dose was 600mg. Honestly sometimes I think a lower dose works better than a higher dose. I still haven't figured out the Prozac piece. It seems to cycle for me, but then sometimes I think it is helpful in small doses.
Last weekend I took a med vacation because the effect had faded out to a large degree. I took 4 days off and restarted the LAM and Neurontin and the effect kicked in much better. One thing about Lam is that I notice effects about an hour after taking- great increase in energy and good improvement in mood. The only problem is that the effect fades in the afternoon. After my med vacation the effect has not been fading as much.
Have you tried taking small vacations? I'm think that I might take 2 days off per week (maybe when I can afford to be in a lousy mood)
Love to hear how things go for you and trade experiences.
Peter
> Hey there John Boy,
>
> Sorry I haven't been able to plug in for a few weeks- got mightily pissed off with things and took myself off to a secluded spot in a quest for sunshine(was feeling really ill before I went).In fact, it wasn't quite secluded enough, and I ended up bumping into an old friend and throwing back beer like a fiend.My highly unsound reasoning was that, if I only drank what we call 'shandy'(half lemonade/half beer), then that would of course lead to half the alcohol intake.Trouble is,it's far too refreshing and much easier to drink, so I ended up drinking twice the amount-hence, exactly the same consumption.I'm not destined for a Pulitzer prize for mathematics.
> Wondered how you and Ron are doing lately (Ron's Enada trial?);hope I haven't missed any posts adressed to me.
> Still doing fairly well at 300mg Lamictal.Re-introduced the Prozac too, as trial and error has shown that I am far less prone to anger with the Prozac aboard(obvious low seratonin/anger correlation here).Prozac, when it works,can actually have a profound and beneficial effect on anger.As I mentioned before, it feels so much smoother in combination with Lamictal.No anxiety, agitation, just an uplift in mood, and far less anger within 2 weeks.
> Seems paradoxical, but I now know for certain that, regardless of all else, I'll never be able to function without an additional AD.
> My Lamictal is still prone to fading though, and I'll need to hit it soon with another mood stabilizer-have been refused lithium, until I get to see my psych.(three ****** months!!)
> I really need something to forestall another inevitable crash once the Lam. wears off, but once again, I'm alone and out on a friggin' limb!
> Oh, to live somewhere more civilized and efficient(like Calcutta).
> Will be away again for another few weeks, so take care all and seeya soon.
>
> Colin, *_-
>
>
poster:Peter S.
thread:215282
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030411/msgs/218565.html