Posted by Barbara Cat on April 19, 2003, at 12:54:54
In reply to Rate Lamictal as stabilizer, posted by Ponder on April 19, 2003, at 12:25:23
Hi Ponder,
I recommend lithium with lamictal because of my own experience. I've run out of lithium (on purpose I think) on a few occassions and started feeling scattered and irritable within 2 days, even while on lamictal. There does seem to be a synnergy with the two and I find I have to use less of each. I was on lithium without lamictal for awhile and was not getting good antidepressant response. Adding lamictal gave me a very nice burst of energy (at first) and helped with the depression. But I've learned that for me it doesn't work without lithium which tends to smooth things out.Of course, it's hard to say what's responsible for my overall improvement since I've had many different mixes of meds. The current one which seems to be successful is lamital 75mg, lithium 600mg, nortriptyline 75mg. The next test will be to decrease lamictal to see if I really need it since the nortriptyline made such a huge difference and along with lithium might be all I really need. We'll see.
I'm also taking thyroid since lithium can cause hypothyroidism. This is a very important and serious factor to consider. If you do go on lithium, INSIST that your thyroid levels are checked every few months. - Barbara
p.s. I had bad tremors, especially when starting nortriptyline. They went away in 2 months, thank God. I'm keeping weight down using a rebounder mini-trampoline and dancing (whether I feel like it or not!).
> Question for you guys: seems most people have found Lamictal to be pretty good overall as an antidepressant. What do you think of it's stabilizing properties? My p-doc wants to add lithium. I have not had anything but trouble with lithium in the past, but he thinks it has synergy with Lamictal and wants to do another trial. I'm remembering the 45 bad drug pounds that I blessedly am no longer carrying, the awful tremor lithium gives me, etc. Arrgh. Anyway, isn't Lamictal a stabilizer? I'm already on Topa low dose (75 mg/day) for some synergy. Your thoughts?
poster:Barbara Cat
thread:208531
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030417/msgs/220650.html