Posted by Sandra62 on March 11, 2007, at 19:59:31
In reply to What is lamicital like, im may switch from Zyprexa, posted by rjlockhart on March 11, 2007, at 16:08:40
I have been taking 100 mg of Lamictal for quite some time now. I also just started 10 mg of Zyprexa after going off of it with disastrous results. Anyways I don't really think there is a fair comparison between the two. Zyprexa, as you must know, is an atypical antipyschotic for treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar mania where as Lamictal is an anticonvulsant for treatment of epilepsy or a mood stabilizer for bipolar with a distinct antidepressant effect. When I was first diagnosed with Bipolar my doctor said that I was presenting with more hypomania than mania and determined that I was Bipolar II and suffered from depression more than anything else so he prescribed the Lamictal. It was a slow process to start up, 12.5 mg for a week, and then 25 mg for a week, etc. up to 100 mg. I was taking nothing else but the benzo Rivotril (Clonazepam/Klonopin) and I had this incredible burst of energy that drove me to write songs day and night (i.e. it kicked my depression all right!) that soon spiralled into full-blown hypomania with rage and anxiety etc. I called my PDOC and he couldn't see me right away and suggested I either take lots more Rivotril as the Lamictal monotherapy was obviously not working, or to check myself into the hospital. I decided to get a new PDOC right then and there. She was able to see me right away and got me on 10 mg of Zyprexa which did the trick to slow me down. I stayed on the 100 mg of Lamictal, but soon lost my creative urge and haven't had it since. I miss it. So Zyprexa is obviously the culprit that is keeping me from that side of things, but it is a wonderful med for hypomania/mania. It keeps me calm, helps me sleep at night, and is an all-round mood stabilizer.
What is your diagnosis? What are your reasons for ditching the Zyprexa?
poster:Sandra62
thread:740184
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070308/msgs/740240.html