Posted by blueberry on December 15, 2005, at 4:49:00
In reply to Re: Lamictal: A disappointing drug for depression., posted by SLS on December 14, 2005, at 20:26:09
It's just my own theory, but I think the initial good effects that then fade are related to dopamine. I've read in several places that when dopamine depleting drugs are used, lamictal prevents the dopamine depletion. A former pcod of mine told me that lamictal has considerable action on dopamine (after I told him lamictal increased my libido). So maybe the initial good response is due to enhanced dopamine function, which then fades as tolerance rapidly sets in. As is noticed with most dopamine enhancing drugs, tolerance sets in very fast and the intial good effects are lost.
This theorized dopamine effect I believe would be independent of the other actions that lamictal has.
> With Lamictal, I've noticed:
>
> 1. One will have a robust, but brief response early in treatment at dosages of 25-50mg.
>
> 2. This response fades but is recaptured upon subsequent dosage increases, whereupon it is soon lost again.
>
> 3. Some people retain a mild response at higher dosages that remains inadequate.
>
> 4. Reducing the dosage produces a rebound depression that is not to be confused with a relapse.
>
>
> - Scott
poster:blueberry
thread:588820
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20051211/msgs/589254.html