Posted by Flipsactown on November 27, 2003, at 13:19:35
In reply to LAMICTAL 4 DEPRESSION? C BIG QUEST 4 short version, posted by femlite on November 26, 2003, at 14:53:23
Stick with your pdoc. Lamictal has been shown to be very effective not only on bipolar depression, but unipolar(no mania) as well. Also, lamictal is not sedating. I take 300mg of lamictal and in 6 weeks I noticed a dramatic lifting of my unipolar depression. However, I am also taking prozac and remeron in addition to lamictal. The reason your pdoc is starting you out on a low dose of lamictal, is to decrease the chance of your getting a rash which in rare cases can be fatal. It has been 8 weeks since lamictal was first added to prozac and remeron, and I am now depression free. Give your pdoc a chance. He/She is on the right track.
Flipsactown
> Im about ready to dump my 4th pdoc. Im going to try to be hopeful for one more visit.
> I thought we had established I am BP II.
> So I am totally clueless as to why hes trying to head me in a Lamictal and/or Lithium alone direction.
>
> Am I missing something?
>
> Im currently on WB xl 150 mg, plus now lamictal 25 mg.
>
> I am still cycling and worse than when I sought treatment 4-6 months ago. (my lack of cycling then though was by virtue of the fact that I waS ON pain meds) When I went off the pain meds my mood swings came back.
>
> One prior pdoc called me depressed and put me on WB. It went rather well (excepting SE's) for about 2 months and then the motivation boost wore off.
>
> This pdoc thinks the WB is causing me to cycle,
> (a possibilty Im willing to consider) but I was so depressed the week I started the Lamictal I was in bed for three days. (starting a new med is a cause Im willing to consider)
>
> I guess the way I see it, out of the four pdocs I been to, none have been great comunicators. (i.e. why Im taking or not taking something, AND LISTENING TO WHAT I THINK ABOUT IT).
>
> Im having signifigant agitation At the moment (which is my mania) so he told me to stop the WB altogether. When I mentioned that I was told by another doc that WB is not primarily activating, but motivational boosting (which Im not getting now anyway) he disagreed and said "Yes it is activting"
>
> Im terrified to stop the WB. I rember what I was like b4 when I would spend half my days in bed due to mental and emotional lethargy and sure dont want to go back.
> When I asked if the Lamicatal was the primary direction we'er heading in he said yes.
>
>
> BIG QUESTION.
> Is their a BP here that is functioning on Lamictal and/or Lithium alone?
>
> He said we might add Lithium later :-0
>
> I have a friend who is BP II, is on Lithium alone and still suffers from depression (her last pdoc left town and she hasnt been to another in years)
>
> While screaming at my kids over nothing is a nightmare to me, being down and sedated cant be the only alternative, can It?
poster:Flipsactown
thread:284139
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031126/msgs/284485.html