Posted by nechron99 on May 23, 2008, at 12:54:33
In reply to lamictal and dopamine, posted by dondon on September 14, 2006, at 18:31:27
Curious - Just found this board... Have been 'diagnosed' as being moderately Bipolar II, though without extreme mood swing - mostly slow cycling with low motivation and interest, hypomania triggered by external 'positive' events, definately 'atypical depression'.
Been on the Lamictal, ramped up to 200mg daily, caused cognative disturbances as well as the triggering of 'dark dreams' (depressive subjects), also noticed these 'dark dreams' with tried on Seroquel too... Lower dosage of Lamictal seems to eliminate the dark dreams and cognative issues ('lethargic thinking')
This to me indicates that there definately IS a dopaminergic action to Lamictal. Seroquel is a dopamine antagonist, and one of the 'symptoms' of low dopamine IS dark dreams. Interestingly, on the other hand, when I was prescribed Cymbalta, my dreams were intensely vivid...
I have heard that for BP-II, Lamictal and either Mirapex or Deprenyl (selegeline) is effective - presumably because the Lamictal modulates the mood swings (via dopamine control) and that the Mirapex or Deprenyl acts to increase the dopamine levels in the synapses. (Both are Dopamine agonists.)
Ideally from what I've read thus far, the trick with BP-II is to contain the mood swings as well as relieve the dopamine-related depression... Sheesh...!
Anyone here with BP-II that can comment or has found a good regimine???
poster:nechron99
thread:686011
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080519/msgs/830709.html