Posted by CK1 on April 5, 2005, at 21:34:14
In reply to Re: Alternatives to Lamictal??? » CK1, posted by emme on April 5, 2005, at 20:33:08
I'm sure slow titration will be much better and will be easier to deal with, but it also may takes months for me to notice a benefit going 6.25mg a week.
Is it really worth it to hang on to a drug for months while not knowing if it will work or not and having anxiety throughout the titration period? Or is it better to try something else like a TCA Pamelor (nortriptyline). After having a great response to Paxil for 3 years, it stopped working in January and I've become a daily "babbler" ever since (I don't check pyschobabble when I'm feeling good). I've tried two SSRI's since then and they caused more anxiety/agitation (esp. Effexor). I'm going to ask my doctor about a NON ACTIVATING TCA (nortriptyline) which many people on this board have had success with for anxiety. Many people say it's better than SSRI's even. Paxil (a sedating ssri) always worked great for me and I have since discovered that I cannot handle the activation of most ssri's and lamictal. I sleep 7-8 hours a night and wouldn't mind being a little tired compared to being a nervous turtle. (I feel like a turtle with it's shell closed and I want to open the shell and pop my head out! haha)
So, for now, the drugs on my list to try are: Nortriptyline, "maybe" Depakote and then add an AD, lithium, or another TCA (desiprimine), etc. Is 3 months longer than normal to get stabilized?? I've heard it takes a year for some people! wow! These past 3 months have been the longest 3 months of my life.
poster:CK1
thread:480263
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050404/msgs/480459.html