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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by optimistic on March 11, 2002, at 15:30:24
I have been having problems with what I think is severe anxiety. I wake up early in the morning shaking and trembling along with feeling very anxious. I take Klonopin .25mg in the morning and .25 mg at night. I was wondering whether Lamictal would help in this area as most people seem to state that it has a calming effect.
I should note that I had been taking Remeron for about 6 months but also had the above symptoms while on it( but I slept well ). I just recently weaned myself off it since I didn't feel it was handling the depression or anxiety very well and my depression very often feels worse when I am on an AD. Could Lamictal be helpful??
Any and all input would be greatly appreciated.
Posted by JohnX2 on March 11, 2002, at 16:40:08
In reply to Lamictal for anxiety, posted by optimistic on March 11, 2002, at 15:30:24
Posted by JohnX2 on March 11, 2002, at 17:33:14
In reply to Lamictal for anxiety, posted by optimistic on March 11, 2002, at 15:30:24
Hi,Very sorry about your anxiety.
Lamictal is an antisiezure medicine that generally is used in
psychiatry for bipolar disorder (manic-depression) but sometimes
is used to treat unipolar (more mainline) depression. It is generally not thought to
exert a potent antianxiety effect. For people with bipolar disorder
who can be very agitated (kinda "manic"), the medicine may calm them down. But this
effect is less likely in my view to help the mainstream with anxiety
disorders. This is just my opinion for what it is worth, I am not
a doctor.I don't know the background on your diagnosis and
medicines with your psychiatrists. Maybe the Remeron is not
a good class of antidepressant and you should discuss other
classes of antidepressants to help with sleep and anxiety.
I don't know. These are good issues to talk about with your doctor.sorry I couldn't offer more information beyond the Lamictal.
best wishes,
john
> I have been having problems with what I think is severe anxiety. I wake up early in the morning shaking and trembling along with feeling very anxious. I take Klonopin .25mg in the morning and .25 mg at night. I was wondering whether Lamictal would help in this area as most people seem to state that it has a calming effect.
>
> I should note that I had been taking Remeron for about 6 months but also had the above symptoms while on it( but I slept well ). I just recently weaned myself off it since I didn't feel it was handling the depression or anxiety very well and my depression very often feels worse when I am on an AD. Could Lamictal be helpful??
>
> Any and all input would be greatly appreciated.
Posted by Thrud on March 12, 2002, at 5:43:54
In reply to Lamictal for anxiety, posted by optimistic on March 11, 2002, at 15:30:24
Hi Optimistic,
I have been taking Lamictal (150mg/day) for many months. I find it to be completely ineffective against anxiety and must take Xanax as well. In fact, I find it quite "energizing" (which is actually why I take it) and maybe even anxiogenic (definitely not why I take it).
Seems contradictory for something that is supposed to calm neurotransmission huh? I'm not a doc and can't say why it behaves that way, but that's been my experience with it.
Thrud
Posted by johnX2 on March 12, 2002, at 7:20:01
In reply to Re: Lamictal for anxiety » optimistic, posted by Thrud on March 12, 2002, at 5:43:54
Hi Thrud,Do you take lamictal for unipolar depression?
Of the anti-seizure meds besides the benzos,
Neurontin seems to be the only standout
for anxiety relief in my experience.Just wondering,
John> Hi Optimistic,
>
> I have been taking Lamictal (150mg/day) for many months. I find it to be completely ineffective against anxiety and must take Xanax as well. In fact, I find it quite "energizing" (which is actually why I take it) and maybe even anxiogenic (definitely not why I take it).
>
> Seems contradictory for something that is supposed to calm neurotransmission huh? I'm not a doc and can't say why it behaves that way, but that's been my experience with it.
>
> Thrud
Posted by johnX2 on March 13, 2002, at 5:41:07
In reply to Lamictal for anxiety, posted by optimistic on March 11, 2002, at 15:30:24
> I should note that I had been taking Remeron for about 6 months but also had the above symptoms while on it( but I slept well ). I just recently weaned myself off it since I didn't feel it was handling the depression or anxiety very well and my depression very often feels worse when I am on an AD. Could Lamictal be helpful??What type (names) of antidepressants do you take that often make your depression "worse"? Does this occur just as you ease into the andtidepressants (i.e. before you think maybe they actually worked)? Do feel an anti-depressant has ever really helped?
what kind of depression symptoms do you have that
you are having a difficult time getting treated?thanks for any follow up information.
hope you will be feeling better.john
Posted by optimistic on March 13, 2002, at 9:57:57
In reply to Re: Lamictal for anxiety » optimistic, posted by johnX2 on March 13, 2002, at 5:41:07
>
> > I should note that I had been taking Remeron for about 6 months but also had the above symptoms while on it( but I slept well ). I just recently weaned myself off it since I didn't feel it was handling the depression or anxiety very well and my depression very often feels worse when I am on an AD. Could Lamictal be helpful??
>
> What type (names) of antidepressants do you take that often make your depression "worse"? Does this occur just as you ease into the andtidepressants (i.e. before you think maybe they actually worked)? Do feel an anti-depressant has ever really helped?
>
> what kind of depression symptoms do you have that
> you are having a difficult time getting treated?
>
> thanks for any follow up information.
> hope you will be feeling better.
>
> john>
>
I have tried all of the ssris except Celexa and Effexor..also tried Norpramin, Wellbutrin..never tried an MAOI
I have all the classic sypmtoms of depression and anxiety. Some of the AD's may have partially worked for a short time but the side effects greatly outweighed the benefits..I am very med sensitive also.This has been going on for about 8 years and I have been from psych. to psych. without much help. Right now the only thing I am taking is Klonopin .25mg BID with an occasional snip of Xanax for breakthrough anxiety...but overall I am feeling lousy both from depression and anxiety.
Posted by johnX2 on March 13, 2002, at 11:12:55
In reply to Re: Lamictal for anxiety, posted by optimistic on March 13, 2002, at 9:57:57
> I have tried all of the ssris except Celexa and Effexor..also tried Norpramin, Wellbutrin..never tried an MAOI
> I have all the classic sypmtoms of depression and anxiety. Some of the AD's may have partially worked for a short time but the side effects greatly outweighed the benefits..I am very med sensitive also.
>
> This has been going on for about 8 years and I have been from psych. to psych. without much help. Right now the only thing I am taking is Klonopin .25mg BID with an occasional snip of Xanax for breakthrough anxiety...but overall I am feeling lousy both from depression and anxiety.Hi,
some follow up questions...
When you say that some ADs partially worked for a short time, does this mean that they stopped working after some period of time?
If so can you specify how long they did work?
Or did you terminate the antidepressant even though it did work mainly due to side effects?Also what side effects were causing the antidepressant to be so unbearable in your mind?
In what sense are you "sensitive" ?
thanks for the follow answers.
maybe I can give you some more thoughts with
some for feedback.regards
john
Posted by Thrud on March 14, 2002, at 6:06:24
In reply to Re: Lamictal for anxiety » Thrud, posted by johnX2 on March 12, 2002, at 7:20:01
>
> Hi Thrud,
>
> Do you take lamictal for unipolar depression?
>
> Of the anti-seizure meds besides the benzos,
> Neurontin seems to be the only standout
> for anxiety relief in my experience.
>
> Just wondering,
> John
>Hi John,
I have panic disorder with accompanying "super" fatigue. These symptoms do not correlate very well: I can have no anxiety but too tired to get out of bed or conversely I can be a nervous wreck and a bundle of energy. Or I can be any combination. I do get depression occasionally but it responds well to medication, even "weak" anti-depressants like Lamictal.
So I take Lamictal for my fatigue and Xanax for the panic.
I have not tried neurontin. People here often feel that it dumbs you down and I know how that feels. Others have complained about sexual side-effects...meaning I'm guarranteed to get them too. Therefore neurontin is not on my radar screen yet.
Thrud
Posted by jcoxjcoxjcox on October 5, 2007, at 19:17:40
In reply to Lamictal for anxiety, posted by optimistic on March 11, 2002, at 15:30:24
I just would like to say I was taking Remeron for several months then Celexa was added. I have been on them for 7 years. I just started Lamictal last week and I feel much better. I still have the occational anxiety attack but nothing serious so far. Remeron and Celexa took about 8 months for all the side effects to go away completely. I hung in there and glad I did. I added the Lamictal for Bi polar episodes. Rapid cycling 4-5 times a day. It is gone after a few days on Lamictal. Good luck
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