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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by lawrence s. on October 30, 2002, at 2:10:39
I'm at 50mg. of lamictal. It has been good for my social anxiety. I started trying it about a month ago for deppression, social phobia.
I feel OK for a while and then my mood just hits bottom and I just don't feel like myself. I'm not paranoid or hallucinating, but I just have these terrible crashes and feelings of rage that seem to get worse the higher the dose I take. Should I lower the dose, stop? Mood stabilizers do not go well with me. Could this be why? Any advice appreciated.lawrence
Posted by judy1 on October 30, 2002, at 4:21:10
In reply to Lamictal advice, urgently needed!!, posted by lawrence s. on October 30, 2002, at 2:10:39
I guess if you can directly trace your symptoms to an increase in your dose of lamictal, then I would consider it not helpful, especially since the recommended dose (for bipolar anyway) is 200mg/day. FWIW, it caused a manic reaction in me (which makes me curious about your rage symptoms). Sorry, I'm sure you had big hopes for it, but you sound like me with mood stabilizers. Have you tried the benzo family yet? take care, judy
Posted by colin wallace on October 30, 2002, at 4:26:56
In reply to Lamictal advice, urgently needed!!, posted by lawrence s. on October 30, 2002, at 2:10:39
Try a few weeks at 37.5mg first.You'll need to either get some scored 25mg pills, or just try to fairly accurately split one half of a scored 50mg pill.You may well have titrated upwards a little to quickly.I experienced a similar reaction if I overshot the mark too quickly.
I would personally aim for a slower titration for a month or so, before considering other options, such as the (perhaps temporary) addition
of a benzo., or even neurontin for the agitiation.In the long run however, Lamictal alone should level your mood whilst maintaining a good AD effect.Patience and trial and error are the key with this med- well worth the wait for many people though.
Col.
Posted by judy1 on October 30, 2002, at 5:19:56
In reply to Re: Lamictal advice, urgently needed!!, posted by colin wallace on October 30, 2002, at 4:26:56
That's good advice to take it down a little then go up slower. It really has been a life-saver for a lot of people. Thanks for adding that- judy
Posted by colin wallace on October 30, 2002, at 6:55:18
In reply to Re: Lamictal advice, urgently needed!! » colin wallace, posted by judy1 on October 30, 2002, at 5:19:56
> That's good advice to take it down a little then go up slower. It really has been a life-saver for a lot of people. Thanks for adding that- judy
Hi Judy,This reminded me of what Dr. Kramer said to me once when he came here for a week, and I aked about subtherapeutic doses- at that stage I hadn't quite grasped that some people, like myself, do better on less.
He said something like,"you seem to need very little medicine to see improvements.Why increase the dose and endure unnecessary side-effects-remember, therapeutic doses are based on populations as a whole, not individuals."
That was the soundest advice I've ever had!
Of course, just the opposite is the case for some people- its just a painful process trying to find out, isn't it?!Take care,
Col.
This is the end of the thread.
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