Posted by Christ_empowered on July 15, 2016, at 17:04:44
In reply to Re: neurontin, posted by jonhed on July 15, 2016, at 13:33:58
heart probems w/ lamictal?!? That's new to me...
I was on 30/Abilify and 1200/Trileptal. I was having problems with depression. I'd tried Prozac (dropped it too early on in trial) and then Tofranil (too many side effects), so then the new shrink (its a clinic...doctors come and go...) added Lamictal. I only take 100mgs.
It does help. I was still depressed after adding in the full 100mgs/day, so the doctor added in Wellbutrin. I take the SR, so its 200mgs tablet 2x daily. Works well. My best guess is that the Lamictal is keeping my mood more level and probably boosting the Wellbutrin...something like that, anyway.
I may have to ask about going to 200mgs/day. That seems to be a fairly standard dose. I haven't had any major problems. I did have some cognitive weirdness and sedation once I got up to 100mgs. Keep in mind that I also take a full 30mgs/Abilify and a full 1200/Trileptal, and I'm prone to lethargy and concentration problems when depressed (and depression, especially psychotic depression, is my usual mood state...or was, before wellbutrin...), so I don't know that I can put too much blame on the Lamictal.
Now, I will say that I do Orthomolecular. Its old school, from the 50s...b-100 complex, grams of niacinamide, grams upon grams of vitamin c, high dose vitamin E, plus other stuff I added in because...well...why not? Point is...if nothing else, I think the high (sometimes massive) dose supplements reduce side effects considerably. I used to get a tremor and stiff gait from just 15mgs/Abilify. Now I tolerate a full 30mgs plus other stuff and I have 0 EPS, no dysphoria, no cognitive problems, etc. etc. etc.
So...Lamictal has been good for me, but I didn't get the full effect until the doctor added Wellbutrin. Kinda makes sense...Lamictal to keep the mood from swinging any lower and prevent future mood episodes, then wellbutrin to actually treat the depression+concentration problems. Intuitively, that makes sense (to me).
I will say that anticonvulsants can depelete your body of needed vitamins, especially B vitamins and I think C and E as well. I do Orthomolecular, so I'm fairly certain I'm well covered in that regard. If you opt to take an anticonvulsant, I'd recommend some high dose vitamins to prevent any deficiencies ((just throwing that out there)).
Keep us all posted on what you and your doctor come up with.
poster:Christ_empowered
thread:1090508
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20160713/msgs/1090532.html