Posted by Quietly_Existing on February 15, 2014, at 21:51:13
In reply to Re: Lamictal Higher dose causing anger and depression, posted by Tomatheus on February 15, 2014, at 15:13:13
Hello all,
Thank you for taking the time to respond, I appreciate it.
Thomatheus in re: to your response: I've been through a few other anticonvulsants, one being trileptal which I could see being a truly effective anti-manic for my individual chemistry. It doesn't help with the depression at all as most know. I was able to reach 600mgs (300mgs 2xaday) but it brought my mood so low it made me severely, severely depressed. Not in a good stae of mind if you will. As well as unmotivated and it greatly affected my cognition and memory to the point where I couldn't recall if I had even taken it. Upon reporting this to the "wonderful" clinic psychiatrist I see, she simply said, "just stop the 600mgs all together." A completely incompetent and dangerous order from a Dr. Listening to her nonsense could have resulted in a seizure or a severe manic episode. I used my judgement and tapered down s l o w l y and still became hypo coming off of it. I hope this gives you greater insight into just how lax and incompetent this woman is.
In regards to going to another Dr. as you suggested I am extremely limited in where I can go. No job = no insurance and no job = no money. Unfortunately most clinics are overburdened like this and switching to another may prove to be even more disastrous.
I agree with you in re: to the bloodwork. I had to ask this Dr. repeatedly to order these tests and when she didn't I took it into my own hands and had a general m.d. order bloodwork, including thyroid level. All came back normal.I also completely hear what you're saying in regards to orthomolecular/nutritional approach as I have read about it. But at this point I don't even have the energy and motivation to go that route. Even supplementation requires careful consideration as it poses a risk of pushing on into a manic state among other things.
I also have an individual therapist whom I see.
Phillipa - Hello,Thank you for your input. So sorry to hear you couldn't make it past 50mgs. You stated you "threw a plastic bottle at the wall of a grocery store" as a result of the lamictal. Glad to hear that the bottle you threw wasn't glass.
Phidippus Hello,
Thank you for your response as well.
I certainly agree with you on being just shy of the 200mgs. I plan to keep going until I reach that dose and take it from there. It may prove to be difficult. Although with each increase I get various responses with a few days which the seem to subside.
You stated "at 100 mg, you were probably reaping more side effects than benefit from the drug-your depression may have just been sedation from the drug." Sedation would be an additionally appropriate way to state how I am feeling upon titration. Sedated, lethargic, unmotivated, and now the anger emerging.
"400 mg seems to be the optimum dose"
I was under the impression 200mgs would be a beneficial dose for bipolar stabilization. There are certainly others who may reap benefits from doses over 200mgs. But numerous studies also indicate doses above 200mgs of Lamictal when being used strictly for bipolar disorder and stabilization of ones mood don't prove to be any more beneficial. Of course this can be controversial to numerous people. And I can attest as my trials and errors with psychiatric medications have proven to be that of the not so common. Of course one must also take into consideration numerous fatcors that would impact the desired results of lamictal. But that's for another day.
Your suggestion of adding a atypical antipsychotic is appropriate but has more cons than pros for me. Side note: Tried Geodon and the lower doses of acted like an antidepressant and caused psychotic symptoms I never had prior to going on the medication. Titrating up to a higher dose it proved to more like an AAP. Resulting in a 60 pound weight gain (yes weight neutral Geodon did this to me), literally passing out, wherever I was after taking it and remaining there for a good 5 hours or more. It's sedation proved to be so powerful on me that after taking it and it kicking in I passed and fell asleep in the middle of my hallway as I couldn't make it to the bedroom. I passed out/slept there for 6 hours straight.Alot to think about here. I will digest all this helpful information and try to get through each day.
Thank you again everyone for taking the time to reply.
Quietly_Existing
poster:Quietly_Existing
thread:1060718
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20140214/msgs/1060737.html