Posted by garylee on June 13, 2008, at 16:30:03
In reply to Lamictal dosage, posted by blueboy on June 9, 2008, at 7:39:47
> After my diagnosis of Bipolar II, my pdoc started me on lamotrigine. I took 2 weeks at 25mg and I just started 50 mg per day.
>
> He indicated that most of his patients who use it stay at 50 mg per day, although one of them gets sufficient effect at 25 mg and doesn't want to increase.
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> Then I hear online a lot of people taking like 200-300 mg per day!
>
> Does anyone have any insight on this? I know dosages can be higher for epileptic problems, I'm just talking about lamotrigine taken to treat Bipolar II.
Hey BlueboyDiagnosed Bipolar II/NOS too... Made a proper appearance in my early 20's, knew it was Bipolar after taking Prozac for six weeks, then started rapid cycling straight after.
Think if you research on Google, you'll find the usual dose for us is around 200mg, in the morning. For me it gives me energy and helps massively with cognition. Cannot think straight at all if I don't have it. Also has that slight AD effect too. I got a small phase of hypomania when I was on around 25mg, which was nice. That faids though.
I've recently bumped the dose up to 400mg a day now. Was feeling so bad and couldn't get to my pdoc, so had to do something. Feel a bit better for it. Sulpiride in small doses helps too, espeacially with SP and as an AD.
One thing is though, and I think applies to all, if you stop taking it, second time round you will need a higher dose. My brother, also Bipolar NOS is on 600mg now from changing around his meds...
As for;
"Actually, I'm cautious about giving credit to a drug, since I (and I think a majority of BP II people) naturally have periods of spontaneous remission. But it's nice to hear that the drug is actually helping someone :) "
I don't think we have periods of remission as such, just periods of mild hypomania, from cycling. I've kinda stopped rapid cycling now, have the odd day iff I haven't slept the night before, but usually just a very, very flat mood - constant.
I've found, (from personal experience and studies on the net, google pramipexole and bipolar II) that BII's seem to respond well to DA's. I'd highly suggest trying Pramipexole - was a wonder drug for me till I tried another med and it didn't work 2nd time around :O( .
Anyhoo, I hope some of this helps?
Gary
poster:garylee
thread:833728
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080606/msgs/834476.html