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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by JohnX2 on February 8, 2002, at 21:36:03
Fellow Lamictalians,Summary Question:
Has anyone else felt that Lamictal had SSRI like effects?
Background (Ok, I type too much):
Ok, I've started a brave move pushing my Lamictal
dose upwards from its long seated 150 mg. Target
goal is maybe 300 mg.I am bipolar II/I depending on who you ask when.
Anyways, I'm taking also 400 mg Topamax and 15 mg
Zyprexa. Lately I have had a bit of a crash coming
off of a binge hypomania from Klonopin tapering.
I still am left with residual psychomotor agitation
and a bit of dysphoric hypomania. So I thought I would
retry bumping the Lamictal dose as I already pushed
Zyprexa and Topamax.So I pushed Lamictal to 225 mg, and it is giving me
a bit of a headache and some loose stools. This is
what happened last time at 300 mg, but that time I
also had severe emotional numbing. This time I get minor headache/loose stools
at 225 mg but without the severe emotional numbing.
Also, I seem to be hitting paydirt on the psychomotor
agitation front. I feel a lot calmer. I walk slower.
I feel less hurried. I swing my golf club with a better
tempo. Kinda weird.My question is: the effects I am getting at these increased
doses are consistent with those I would expect if I had
added on Zoloft. Particularly the loose stools and the
alleviation of the psychomotor agitation. I have experienced
this before when taking Zoloft with Klonopin. When I
took Zoloft without Klonopin I got really bad emotional
numbing and tension headaches. So I say Lamictal is somehow
nudgeing sertonin and Topamax is replacing Klonopin (this
was the intention during the tapering).
So, has anyone else felt that Lamictal had SSRI like effects?
Regards,
John
Posted by Panic AttacK on February 8, 2002, at 22:14:33
In reply to Anyone get SSRI like side effects on Lamictal?, posted by JohnX2 on February 8, 2002, at 21:36:03
I also would like to know the side effects of this Lamictal drug. I hate SSRI's.... horrible. A friend is recommending me to try Lamictal and im really scared... i want something to help me feel better and take my anxiety away... not make it worse. ... "oh it will subside after a few weeks"... I cant deal with it one day.
Posted by Jason911 on February 9, 2002, at 1:26:49
In reply to Anyone get SSRI like side effects on Lamictal?, posted by JohnX2 on February 8, 2002, at 21:36:03
Posted by JohnX2 on February 9, 2002, at 20:27:33
In reply to Re: Anyone get SSRI like side effects on Lamictal?, posted by Panic AttacK on February 8, 2002, at 22:14:33
Hi,What is your diagnosis?
Not sure what your diagnosis is, but one thing you could
do as a preemptive strike is to take a med like Zyprexa.
Zyprexa is an anti-psychotic but at lower doses has fairly
decent anti-anxiety and some anti-depressant effects. The
Zyprexa *specifically* blocks the serotonin receptor
that causes the anxiety the SSRIs give you grief over.
There are other meds similar to Zyprexa that could help too.
You could even had taken Zyprexa with the SSRIs to make them
less likely to make you irritable.Anyways, on to Lamictal.
Lamictal tends to be neutral to mildly stimulating
depending on the person. The dosing schedule
is really slow, so any side effects would be worked through
system gradually. I don't know why this medicine has
any stimulant property, most of the other anti-convulsants are
more likely to be sedating.That's the information I have for now.
Best Regards,
John
> I also would like to know the side effects of this Lamictal drug. I hate SSRI's.... horrible. A friend is recommending me to try Lamictal and im really scared... i want something to help me feel better and take my anxiety away... not make it worse. ... "oh it will subside after a few weeks"... I cant deal with it one day.
Posted by Cindylou on February 10, 2002, at 7:03:59
In reply to Re: Anyone get SSRI like side effects on Lamictal?, posted by Panic AttacK on February 8, 2002, at 22:14:33
If you start Lamictal, you may want to take Klonapin, or perhaps a small dose of Serzone, along with it at first. While I was titrating up on Lamictal, I vascillated between agitation and fatigue ... then I would level off after about a week on one dose. (and it would start all over again when I increased the dose again!) The Klonapin and Serzone (only about 75 mg Serzone) really helped the anxiety. Now I don't need either.
I am on 75 mg Lamictal now -- a low dose for most, but it seems to really be stabilizing me now. I tried going up to 125, but felt much worse -- tired and bloated. I usually respond to about 1/4 of the normal therapeutic dose.
All in all, the Lamictal has mainly stopped my anxiety altogether. I am so much calmer now I can hardly believe it's me. Things I used to obsess over no longer bother me. It has taken a long time to get to this point, however.
> I also would like to know the side effects of this Lamictal drug. I hate SSRI's.... horrible. A friend is recommending me to try Lamictal and im really scared... i want something to help me feel better and take my anxiety away... not make it worse. ... "oh it will subside after a few weeks"... I cant deal with it one day.
Posted by JohnX2 on February 11, 2002, at 14:43:13
In reply to Re: Anyone get SSRI like side effects on Lamictal? » Panic AttacK, posted by Cindylou on February 10, 2002, at 7:03:59
Yep, Serzone also blocks the same serotonin receptor that
Zyprexa blocks. That darned 5ht-2 receptor that causes
anxiety. I've tried both meds and personally found Zyprexa
to be more tolerable (less cognitive side effects).
But everyone is different (default disclaimer).Regards.
John> If you start Lamictal, you may want to take Klonapin, or perhaps a small dose of Serzone, along with it at first. While I was titrating up on Lamictal, I vascillated between agitation and fatigue ... then I would level off after about a week on one dose. (and it would start all over again when I increased the dose again!) The Klonapin and Serzone (only about 75 mg Serzone) really helped the anxiety. Now I don't need either.
>
> I am on 75 mg Lamictal now -- a low dose for most, but it seems to really be stabilizing me now. I tried going up to 125, but felt much worse -- tired and bloated. I usually respond to about 1/4 of the normal therapeutic dose.
>
> All in all, the Lamictal has mainly stopped my anxiety altogether. I am so much calmer now I can hardly believe it's me. Things I used to obsess over no longer bother me. It has taken a long time to get to this point, however.
>
> > I also would like to know the side effects of this Lamictal drug. I hate SSRI's.... horrible. A friend is recommending me to try Lamictal and im really scared... i want something to help me feel better and take my anxiety away... not make it worse. ... "oh it will subside after a few weeks"... I cant deal with it one day.
Posted by Mr. Scott on February 11, 2002, at 18:57:25
In reply to Re: Anyone get SSRI like side effects on Lamictal?, posted by JohnX2 on February 11, 2002, at 14:43:13
Trazodone does this too. However I find it very sedating.
Scott
This is the end of the thread.
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