Posted by amy_oz on November 7, 2003, at 1:08:47
In reply to Re: Lamictal vs. Depakote » SLS, posted by Dinah on November 6, 2003, at 20:41:39
Hi,
Lamictal and Depakote are a safe combination if you know that Depakote increases the half life of lamictal by 2. This is not the same as doubling the dose.The half life is the time taken for half of the drug to be cleared by the body (or changed into something different).
So if you start with 200mg of Lamictal and the half life is 5 hours (for example I don't actually know the half life) then you have 100mg in the system after 5 hours.
After 10 hours you have 50 mg in your body. Everytime you go for another 5 hours you cut the previous dose by half. (this is an approximation only)
If you take Depakote and lamictal the half life is extended to 10 hours. So if you cut your dose of lamictal to 100 mg, after 10 hours you have still only 50 mg in your body.This is exactly the same amount as after 10 hours after taking 200mg at a 5 hour half life.
But at 20 hours at 200mg you have 12.5 mg left.
At 20 hours with depakote + lamictal you have 25 mg left.The difference is when you double the half life, the level of medication stays in your system for much longer.
You have to be more careful but you don't half to halve the dose.
Please check with your doctor before taking any action.AJ
poster:amy_oz
thread:277175
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031105/msgs/277367.html