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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by indigolilly on June 19, 2003, at 23:30:18
Hi,
I've had dysthymia for a long time -- depression which gets worse, then better, then worse.
I was on Zoloft for years, but went off due to edema and swelling in my hands (made work tough).
My Pdoc tried me on everything -- Wellbutrin makes me too giddy and hyper. The usual tryout of Celexa and Effexor -- either feel sedated or just didn't work. Have been on Prozac lately --lifts the depression somewhat but makes me feel somewhat sedated and blah.
So my Pdoc now wants me to try Lamictil. I have not been diagnosed with bipolar, but she feels I may have a very slow bipolar swing type of thing going on with the waves of depression.
I'm sick of feeling so down and semi-suicidal. Any thoughts, anyone?
Posted by HenryO on June 20, 2003, at 3:10:55
In reply to Lamictil After SSRIs Not Effective?, posted by indigolilly on June 19, 2003, at 23:30:18
I can recomend Lamictal. For me it has been great. I feel pretty good right now. It takes a few weeks to get to an effective dose. The build up is usually 25mg per week. You have to watch for and avoid a possible nasty rash. My dose is currently 200mg. 100mg twice a day. I've had no rash. No sexual side effects. No weight gain. I have to take it with food or I get gas cramps. I was on SSRIs for years. Six or seven weeks after I quit them I got slammed by my depression. So even though you may feel they haven't been working, you might want to get on something soon. In my case they were doing more than I realized, even if not enough. I am describing SSRI's to people these days like a life preserver. If your drowning then they stop you from going under, but for long term everyday wear they are not that comfortable. Back to Lamictal it really has been the best med I've been on to date, and that is based on more experience than I care to think about. You may need something to see you through the long titration period of the Lamictal. Pindolol (a.k.a. Visken) tides me over when the pain is gets bad. This is just my experience with Lamictal. Hope it works for you too. Good luck.
Posted by yesac on June 20, 2003, at 13:01:57
In reply to Lamictil After SSRIs Not Effective?, posted by indigolilly on June 19, 2003, at 23:30:18
I've been on Lamictal for about 6 weeks and it has been the only drug so far that has helped me at all. Out of SSRIs, wellbutrin, effexor, risperdal, and a few others. So I'd give it a try if I were you.
Posted by Geezer on June 20, 2003, at 22:00:31
In reply to Lamictil After SSRIs Not Effective?, posted by indigolilly on June 19, 2003, at 23:30:18
> Hi,
>
> I've had dysthymia for a long time -- depression which gets worse, then better, then worse.
>
> I was on Zoloft for years, but went off due to edema and swelling in my hands (made work tough).
>
> My Pdoc tried me on everything -- Wellbutrin makes me too giddy and hyper. The usual tryout of Celexa and Effexor -- either feel sedated or just didn't work. Have been on Prozac lately --lifts the depression somewhat but makes me feel somewhat sedated and blah.
>
> So my Pdoc now wants me to try Lamictil. I have not been diagnosed with bipolar, but she feels I may have a very slow bipolar swing type of thing going on with the waves of depression.
>
> I'm sick of feeling so down and semi-suicidal. Any thoughts, anyone?Count one more vote in favor of Lamictal. I am Bipolar, something or other, (the psycho-alchemists seem reluctant to put a # with it). In any case Lamictal helps and it may help you decide if you have a type of Bipolar Disorder or not. I am at 350mg now, only side effect is a little morning nausea with the first dose.
Cocktail:
Prozac 15mg.
Lamictal 350mg.
Klonopin 1.5mg.
Provigil 150mg. (might want to hold off on this until you know if you are Bipolar, I am doing a balancing act with the L and the P).Give the Lam a try it is the easiest med. to take I have found yet.
Best of luck
Geezer
Posted by HenryO on June 21, 2003, at 2:14:34
In reply to Re: Lamictil After SSRIs Not Effective? » indigolilly, posted by yesac on June 20, 2003, at 13:01:57
Who cares what my diagnoses is. It's the med which works that I care about.
I'm glad other people are having good experiences with Lamictal. Any negative stories out there?
Nobody else is getting gas from Lamictal?
I am thinking of bumping my dose up another 50mg in the next 2 weeks, maybe even keep going as far as 300mg daily. Just to find out if more is better.
Posted by HenryO on June 21, 2003, at 2:16:05
In reply to Lamictil After SSRIs Not Effective?, posted by indigolilly on June 19, 2003, at 23:30:18
Hey indigolilly, will you post your experiences if you start taking Lamictal after you get to say about 200mg or higher? I'd like to hear if it helps. I am pretty hopeful for you. It seems to do a good job on those of us who have tried many many other meds for the last 15 years.
Posted by HenryO on June 21, 2003, at 15:57:50
In reply to Lamictil After SSRIs Not Effective?, posted by indigolilly on June 19, 2003, at 23:30:18
Up-date on the gas thing. Over the counter anti-gas meds are working very well.
Posted by indigolilly on June 23, 2003, at 0:36:43
In reply to Re: Lamictil After SSRIs Not Effective?, posted by HenryO on June 21, 2003, at 15:57:50
Thanks everyone.
I will post my experiences with Lamictil.
I don't know if the message board allows this type of post, but I just read a wonderful book -- "More Than Moody" -- very good book by a Pdoc who works with adolescents. Recommend it very highly.
Posted by Dr. Bob on June 24, 2003, at 2:20:53
In reply to Re: Lamictil After SSRIs Not Effective?, posted by indigolilly on June 23, 2003, at 0:36:43
> I just read a wonderful book -- "More Than Moody" -- very good book by a Pdoc who works with adolescents.
I'd just like to plug the double double quotes feature at this site:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faq.html#amazon
The first time anyone refers to a book without using this option, I post this to try to make sure he or she at least knows about it. It's just an option, though, and doesn't *have* to be used. If people *choose* not to use it, I'd be interested why not, but I'd like that redirected to Psycho-Babble Administration:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20020918/msgs/7717.html
Thanks!
Bob
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