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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by mmcasey on June 15, 2003, at 14:29:23
Does anyone know if these two can be combined? I've been taking Lamictal for a while and it seems to be helping my depression somewhat, but I have this strong desire to try Neurontin too. Plus, I *may* want to go off of Lamictal because it's making me gain weight. Has anyone taken neurontin to help depression? I'm also on Parnate.
Posted by avid abulia on June 15, 2003, at 15:48:08
In reply to Lamictal and/or Neurontin, posted by mmcasey on June 15, 2003, at 14:29:23
i`ve been taking Lamictal for over a year now, and i have found that by keeping my folate intake very high (through supplements; 2400mcg per day) it has not pooped out as an antidepressant. i also found that, though it initially made me gain, discontinuing it for two weeks and then starting over from scratch led to a net weight loss.
neurontin and lamictal can be combined, but neurontin tends to poop-out very quickly and for most people it is not so effective as an antidepressant (it did nothing for me in that regard). it is also more likely to make you gain then is lamictal.
Posted by mmcasey on June 15, 2003, at 17:34:39
In reply to Re: Lamictal and/or Neurontin, posted by avid abulia on June 15, 2003, at 15:48:08
Oh, that's interesting that after stopping and starting again you lost weight. Did you stop because of the weight gain? Maybe I'll try that, although considering that I have just recently started feeling like it might be working, and considering it is the ONLY thing that has helped at all, I don't know if I should risk it.
Also... can you tell me what dose you take? I currently am taking 150mg, but I feel like more could help more maybe.
Thanks. MMC
Posted by indivmed on June 15, 2003, at 17:45:31
In reply to Re: Lamictal and/or Neurontin » avid abulia, posted by mmcasey on June 15, 2003, at 17:34:39
I took Lamictal for a few months but had to stop due to some immune system issues. Actually, Lamictal worked too well as an anti-depressant--I became hypomanic on it. Also, I don't remember it doing anything for anxiety.
Neurontin, on the other hand, immediately helped with anxiety from the very first dose, but has lost its "oomph." An interesting medication to try, but I would almost take it prn as it seems that taking it daily either makes it stop working altogether or an increased dose is needed to get the same level of effectiveness. This may be an issue when it comes to cost.
You already have one mood-stabilizer on board--again, I would throw on Neurontin as an adjunct...but know that the chances it will lose effectiveness are quite high. Furthermore, it REALLY affected my memory and coordination and made me quite sleepy about an hour after my dose. If you have "lethargic depression," this can cause some issues. I recently started Parnate and had to add Wellbutrin because I was so exhausted all of the time--which makes me feel more depressed.
As for weight gain, I don't remember it going up or down--then again, I'm 25 and a triathlete, so that helps. The only medication I ever took that just threw on the pounds was Zyprexa, which was utterly insane when it came to hunger and weight gain. It should be outlawed in my opinion--I'd rather be fucking crazy that haul around an extra 50, 100 pounds--talk about being depressed, that would really make me want to end it.
Hope the neurontin info helped.
Rick
Posted by Emme on June 15, 2003, at 22:02:36
In reply to Lamictal and/or Neurontin, posted by mmcasey on June 15, 2003, at 14:29:23
Was a good combo for me. No weight gain. And I could very easily titrate the neurontin up and down depending on need - not quite prn like a benzo, but close - I'd make a dose change over a few days.
Emme
Posted by avid abulia on June 15, 2003, at 23:52:34
In reply to Re: Lamictal and/or Neurontin » avid abulia, posted by mmcasey on June 15, 2003, at 17:34:39
> Oh, that's interesting that after stopping and starting again you lost weight. Did you stop because of the weight gain?
no, i quit because it was in my backpack (which was my home at the time) and someone stole it... but if i had put on any more weight, i was about ready to drop it for that reason.
>Maybe I'll try that, although considering that I have just recently started feeling like it might be working, and considering it is the ONLY thing that has helped at all, I don't know if I should risk it.
it was, at the time, the only thing that was helping me as well (mood- or seizure- wise) which was why i took the chance and started over again.
>
> Also... can you tell me what dose you take? I currently am taking 150mg, but I feel like more could help more maybe.
>i take 400mg (200mg b.i.d.) but it first started showing antidepressant effects for me at about 200mg per day.
~AA
Posted by avid abulia on June 16, 2003, at 0:01:26
In reply to Re: Lamictal and/or Neurontin » mmcasey, posted by Emme on June 15, 2003, at 22:02:36
> Was a good combo for me. No weight gain. And I could very easily titrate the neurontin up and down depending on need - not quite prn like a benzo, but close - I'd make a dose change over a few days.
>
> Emme
neurontin did not actually cause any weight gain for me, either, but i was constantly having to raise the dose, and pretty soon even 5600mg wasn`t cutting it... but while it worked, it worked okay.i am no triathelete, but i am young, male, and get on average two hours of cardio per day, so that and also my restricted Caloric intake may have had something to do with why i almost never gain on any meds (didn`t put on an ounce with zyprexa, even).
i am not sure why lamictal made me gain, or if it was even the lamictal and not the depression i wasn`t quite out of yet...
~AA
Posted by JackD on June 17, 2003, at 0:34:49
In reply to Re: Lamictal and/or Neurontin, posted by avid abulia on June 15, 2003, at 15:48:08
Folic Acid eh? Can you think of how this may work? Who suggested it to you? I did a search and I found out Lamictal is a Folic Acid inhibitor, so taking supplements would raise Folic acid levels. Has this worked for anyone else? I'm looking for anything to stop my Lamictal poopout.
Posted by Ponder on June 17, 2003, at 11:36:29
In reply to Re: Lamictal and/or Neurontin, posted by JackD on June 17, 2003, at 0:34:49
> Folic Acid eh? Can you think of how this may work? Who suggested it to you? I did a search and I found out Lamictal is a Folic Acid inhibitor, so taking supplements would raise Folic acid levels. Has this worked for anyone else? I'm looking for anything to stop my Lamictal poopout.
Add my name to that list. Looking for augmentation strategies or supplements...don't want to give up on Lamictal after nearly 2 years of the best relationship I've ever had with a drug. Raising the dose isn't seeming to help for me, so...I'll be following this thread and others, eagerly seeking input.
Posted by mmcasey on June 17, 2003, at 14:23:44
In reply to Re: Lamictal and/or Neurontin, posted by Ponder on June 17, 2003, at 11:36:29
My problem right now is this weight gain on Lamictal. Other than that I am not having any problems and for the first time it seems like a drug is actually working. So I don't want to go off of it. But if the weight gain keeps up, I may have to because I just can't stand it. Is this abnormal or have others gained weight from Lamictal? Does anyone have any suggestions about how to lose the weight that I've gained (about 6 or 7 pounds so far, after 6 weeks)?
Posted by starlight on June 18, 2003, at 14:51:29
In reply to Re: Lamictal and/or Neurontin, posted by mmcasey on June 17, 2003, at 14:23:44
I have not gained weight on lamictal at all, it's actually known for not having this side effect and actually people have lost wieght while on it, which was one of my main reasons for convincing my pdoc to let me try it. What else is going on that could be the cause?
Starlight
Posted by mmcasey on June 19, 2003, at 9:41:59
In reply to Re: Lamictal and/or Neurontin, posted by starlight on June 18, 2003, at 14:51:29
> What else is going on that could be the cause?
Yeah, I was surprised to realize that I was gaining weight since it didn't say anything about that anywhere (I thought it was "neutral" with respect to weight gain). I have never gained weight from depression itself (never lost weight either) or from taking any other medication including Paxil. I lost weight on Effexor and Wellbutrin.
But I just don't know what else it could be. My eating habits haven't really changed, or anything else in my life. And it seemed so rapid, 6 or 7 pounds in 6 weeks.
I'm tempted to go off of it, but that seems ridiculous with it being the first drug to actually make me feel any different.
This is the end of the thread.
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