Posted by Joe Bloe on March 11, 2007, at 23:39:23
In reply to Re: Lamictal as SSRI replacement?, posted by circusboy on March 11, 2007, at 15:35:37
> Is the choline working? There's a good chance I could end up back on Lamictal, and I want to do everything I can to counter/minimize those cognitive SE's. (As an aside, I'd also check out acetyl l-carnitine. I've recently added it to my supp regimen, and it's been helpful... but perhaps that's a topic for the alternative board).
Not sure about the choline. I think it's doing something. The first few days I felt something for sure. It gave me a little anxiety so I cut down to 300 mgs from 600 mgs. I would add it to the regimen. My concern with the choline was that Lamictal's AD property was derived from its anticholinergic tendency, but so far it appears that it's not. Unless of course the supplement is not altering this tendency enough. But I'm on such a low dose of Lamictal and I feel so much better than I have in probably 2 years that I do not think it's negatively impacting the results of the Lamictal so far. In fact, it could be the opposite, i.e. choline improves the action of Lamictal further once the dopey anti-cholinergic effect of Lamictal is decreased. Just a premature hypothesis.
> Prozac was my staple for many years as well, but quitting it was one of the best recent decisions I've made. While I've had somewhat less energy, been somewhat less socially motivated, and had a somewhat darker mood since quitting it a year+ ago, I've been much more *sane*. I don't make such erratic decisions; my personal relationships are much more stable; I'm not Woody Allen anxious all the time;
It's weird because since starting my descent down mount prozac, I have been more social than usual and have felt what I think is increased energy. I think I feel much friendlier, socially stable as you said. I've certainly been posting more on here.
> my head doesn't buzz constantly with noisy, unhelpful thoughts; I can concentrate better and feel generally smarter.
I am noticing this as well. I think I am definitely feeling sharper. Concentration seems to be better.
> Also, I only have take 5-15mg of Ritalin a day instead of 30-50mg, which virtually eliminates the terrible crash I'd have at the end of every day.
I also think the Lamictal itself eliminates the CNS stim crash. I take my dose right as the Adderall XR wears off and I have zero crash.
> Prozac is funny with the cognitive SE's. At first it seems an intelligence booster, after a few months it's much harder to concentrate on it. I think it has something to do with chronically elevating serotonin levels decreasing "dopaminergic tone" over time.That sounds like my experience indeed. As time has gone on, I have felt less and less intelligent on Prozac.
> For the short time I was on it, it certainly worked as an AD for me. It sort of laid bare my dysthymic tendencies, which I'd grown completely accustomed to. People around me noticed before I did.
If you do try it again, maybe you could stay at whatever dose you begin to feel positive changes from? If it continues to work so well at 25 mgs, I may not seek to increase it.
poster:Joe Bloe
thread:739722
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070308/msgs/740308.html