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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 38. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by karen m. on August 22, 2004, at 16:50:52
it seems like i am the verge of tears whenever anything happens halfway bad. a commercial, a checkbook that isn't up to snuff, another persons problems. yikes! i can't be crying all the time like this. i haven't cried in front of my husband in nine years of marriage (ok, maybe that's not healthy) until yesterday when i was sobbing about the stupidist thing. freaked him out since he's never seen it. to top it off my weight has started to climb back up and that was the best part about lamictal was the no gaining weight issue. my pdoc says on ssri's you just mask your emotions and on lamictal they aren't masked. as in, you would be crying alot anyway? i don't know what to think. it's been getting moreso this way as my dosage has increased to where it is now at 325 mg. maybe crying is good for you? i'll just be a big girl who sits in the corner and cries at parties. plus, i'm like halfway to a panic attack but not quite there a fair amount of times. haven't had those in 15 years. i think my pdoc will just want to up my dosage cause he keeps saying these things will go away when you get to the dosage that is appropriate for you. what do you all think?
Posted by woolav on August 22, 2004, at 17:44:44
In reply to getting more depressed on lamictal, posted by karen m. on August 22, 2004, at 16:50:52
First question, is lamictal the only med your taking??
SJ
Posted by karen m. on August 22, 2004, at 19:19:16
In reply to Re: getting more depressed on lamictal, posted by woolav on August 22, 2004, at 17:44:44
> First question, is lamictal the only med your taking??
>
> SJyes, it's the only one.
Posted by 4mygrls on August 22, 2004, at 20:16:55
In reply to Re: getting more depressed on lamictal, posted by karen m. on August 22, 2004, at 19:19:16
I cried if i was happy, mad or sad. I was very sensitive on lamictal. I was also very tired. It made me irritable. I got more moody on it. i'm still searching for that perfect drug. I had the same reaction on other mood stabilizers too. I don't know why? My pdoc tried to keep upping the dose too and said the same thing as yours. everytime i went up in dose it got worse. i'm tired of pdoc's but it's a love hate relationship. i can't live without one so i just have to cope.
Kathi
Posted by waki on August 22, 2004, at 21:36:48
In reply to RE:getting more depressed on lamictal?, posted by 4mygrls on August 22, 2004, at 20:16:55
I've taken 400 mg lamictal for at least 2 years now. For me it appears it just kept me from hitting rock bottom, but I am not so sure anymore.
Possibly these episodes are a emotional cycle with some other changes in your body.
Only you know yourself, however my bet is you need something else in an anti depressant.
Posted by karen m. on August 22, 2004, at 21:59:43
In reply to RE:getting more depressed on lamictal?, posted by 4mygrls on August 22, 2004, at 20:16:55
are you still on lamictal then? if so, what is your dosage?
Posted by waki on August 22, 2004, at 22:52:13
In reply to RE:getting more depressed on lamictal?, posted by karen m. on August 22, 2004, at 21:59:43
i take 400 mg every night. I want to get off it because it's one less med to manage then.
It was presented to me as a booster to AD's.
It is highly known for Bipolar and people with seizures.
Posted by BJM on August 23, 2004, at 9:18:06
In reply to RE:getting more depressed on lamictal?, posted by waki on August 22, 2004, at 22:52:13
This is just my opinion but its based on my experience and doctors info. Lamictal without an AD is not necessarily so great. Its not strong enough as an AD. Better as a mood stabilizer, AD booster with a little AD properties. The weight gain could also be from the depression coming back. That always happens to me. It seems like a number of people who have started gaining weight with Lamictal have also stopped their AD's.
If you are BPII weight gain can definetly be a symptom of depression. I've noticed that taking a smaller dose of Lamictal with a very small dose of Prozac has helped better than the Prozac alone.
Best Wishes
Posted by 4mygrls on August 23, 2004, at 10:05:28
In reply to RE:getting more depressed on lamictal?, posted by karen m. on August 22, 2004, at 21:59:43
I'm not taking it anymore. I was worse on it.I don't remember the exact dose i was on but it was the recomended max dose.It really messed with my memory too.
Kathi
Posted by prodgirl on August 23, 2004, at 15:50:15
In reply to RE: getting more depressed on lamictal?, posted by 4mygrls on August 23, 2004, at 10:05:28
I am taking 400 mg of Lamictal as well, and my pdoc just added 50 mg of Zoloft. It's been two weeks, and I just had a horrible weekend where I didn't want to leave my apartment, stayed in bed, really bad depressive episode.
I feel better on Lamictal, however, I am also more emotional. I am part of a research project and my pdoc there has suggested that adding Topomax to the Lamictal might be a good thing (no AD).
Started out on Lexapro, then evil Effexor before dx as BPI. Is going back to another AD good?
Any ideas?
Posted by karen m. on August 24, 2004, at 1:04:54
In reply to RE: getting more depressed on lamictal?, posted by prodgirl on August 23, 2004, at 15:50:15
i hope someone like chemist will answer that for you. he is the best knowledge supply!
i do know that i have read in other posts here that being part of a research group is a great way to go. they say you get the best cutting edge treatments that way. has your experience been such that that is true?
Posted by karen m. on August 24, 2004, at 1:07:26
In reply to RE: getting more depressed on lamictal?, posted by 4mygrls on August 23, 2004, at 10:05:28
can i ask what you went to after going off the lamictal?
Posted by karen m. on August 24, 2004, at 1:09:34
In reply to RE:getting more depressed on lamictal?, posted by BJM on August 23, 2004, at 9:18:06
thanks...that makes sense
Posted by 4mygrls on August 24, 2004, at 9:59:09
In reply to RE: getting more depressed on lamictal?, posted by karen m. on August 24, 2004, at 1:07:26
i went on lithobid. it didn't work out either. i can't take mood stabilizers. they all make me worse. i don't know why but i get more moody on them.
Kathi
Posted by prodgirl on August 24, 2004, at 11:32:36
In reply to RE: getting more depressed on lamictal?, posted by karen m. on August 24, 2004, at 1:04:54
> i hope someone like chemist will answer that for you. he is the best knowledge supply!
> i do know that i have read in other posts here that being part of a research group is a great way to go. they say you get the best cutting edge treatments that way. has your experience been such that that is true?I think that my involvement in a research study has helped me to have a second opinion from a great pdoc for free. It has helped me to learn more about myself and actions. Unforturnately, I do not have health insurance, so this is the closest I get to any type of therapy.
If there are research studies near you, they can be great for you, as long as your pdoc agrees. It can be a good place to try new cuting edge meds as well.
Posted by Starlight on August 24, 2004, at 13:15:52
In reply to RE:getting more depressed on lamictal?, posted by BJM on August 23, 2004, at 9:18:06
Lamictal is not an anti-depressant. It's just a mood stabilizer so while it may help you from going too deep into depression, it's not going to help lift you out of it. It has a bit of a mood lifting quality at first, but it wears off over time. I agree completely with adding an anti-depressant, only I advocate for Effexor or Wellbutrin if you're having weight issues as well. The only thing you have to watch for is aggravation or irritation with wellbutrin. But both of those drugs have been more associated with weight loss rather than gain. Pretty much all the others will make you gain, and I have never ever understood why a pdoc would prescribe an anti-depressant that causes weight gain - which to me would be even more depressing.
Good luck
Starlight
Posted by Starlight on August 24, 2004, at 13:19:48
In reply to RE:getting more depressed on lamictal?, posted by Starlight on August 24, 2004, at 13:15:52
Alot of people give effexor a bad rap, but I personally love it. It has helped me more than any other anti-depressant I have taken thusfar. I haven't of course, experienced the withdrawl from it, but every anti-depressant that I have withdrawn from has had negative effects during the withdrawl, so I'm not scared of that.
And sometimes, Lamictal alone is not enough of a mood stabilizer. I take both Lamictal and Trileptal.
starlight
Posted by BJM on August 24, 2004, at 16:47:16
In reply to RE:getting more depressed on lamictal?, posted by Starlight on August 24, 2004, at 13:15:52
I gained alot of weight from Effexor. So as usual it just depends on the person. I agree with the Wellbutrin causing agitation. When I took it I just kept feeling like I wanted to punch everybody in the nose. ESPECIALLY if I had even just 1 cup of coffee. My friends and family begged me to stop taking it. Its so tough finding the right meds. Each person reacts so differently and you don't know how you are going to do until you've invested alot of time and tears.
Posted by karen m. on August 24, 2004, at 17:19:46
In reply to RE:getting more depressed on lamictal?, posted by Starlight on August 24, 2004, at 13:19:48
do you like the trileptal with the lamictal?
Posted by karen m. on August 24, 2004, at 17:21:50
In reply to RE:getting more depressed on lamictal?, posted by BJM on August 24, 2004, at 16:47:16
i had the same reaction to wellbutrin. i was realllly cranky. went off it. i tried effexor previously but side effects caused me to go off it too. i wonder if lamictal can make some ssri's that were previously intolerable, now tolerable. too farfetched?
Posted by poop'd-out on August 25, 2004, at 0:38:17
In reply to RE: getting more depressed on lamictal?, posted by prodgirl on August 23, 2004, at 15:50:15
> I am taking 400 mg of Lamictal as well, and my pdoc just added 50 mg of Zoloft. It's been two weeks, and I just had a horrible weekend where I didn't want to leave my apartment, stayed in bed, really bad depressive episode.
>
> I feel better on Lamictal, however, I am also more emotional. I am part of a research project and my pdoc there has suggested that adding Topomax to the Lamictal might be a good thing (no AD).
>
> Started out on Lexapro, then evil Effexor before dx as BPI. Is going back to another AD good?
>
> Any ideas?I don't know whether you should add the topomax, but in terms of adding an AD, I would definitely go with the Prozac.
I was on the Prozac for a short while with the Lamictal and they really seemed to work well together. I personally cannot tolerate the Prozac though.
I really do hope you are feeling better soon.
Beth =)
Posted by BJM on August 25, 2004, at 8:12:41
In reply to RE: getting more depressed on lamictal? » prodgirl, posted by poop'd-out on August 25, 2004, at 0:38:17
> I don't know whether you should add the topomax, but in terms of adding an AD, I would definitely go with the Prozac.
>
> I was on the Prozac for a short while with the Lamictal and they really seemed to work well together. I personally cannot tolerate the Prozac though.
>
> I really do hope you are feeling better soon.
>
> Beth =)I second the vote for Prozac. Thats been the best one by far for me. And it can most definetly work well at a really low dose so you can minimize side effects. Zoloft had me just about suicidal within a matter of days (and at a very low dose). I've tried pretty much all of the AD's and Prozac has been the most managable. If the side effects get to be too much in the beginning you can just skip a day and the next time you take it your body will already be better adjusted.
Hope that helps a little.
BJM
Posted by Starlight on August 25, 2004, at 14:10:02
In reply to RE:getting more depressed on lamictal? ? Starlight, posted by karen m. on August 24, 2004, at 17:19:46
Yes. I take 300 Lamictal and 1800 Trileptal and have had no adverse effects, and I take 75 mgs of the Effexor.
starlight
Posted by Starlight on August 25, 2004, at 14:11:05
In reply to RE:getting more depressed on lamictal? ? BJM, posted by karen m. on August 24, 2004, at 17:21:50
It didn't for me. I tried the wellbutrin before the Effexor and it caused me agitation even on the mood stabilizers.
Starlight
Posted by Starlight on August 25, 2004, at 14:12:10
In reply to RE:getting more depressed on lamictal?, posted by Starlight on August 25, 2004, at 14:11:05
I've never tried Prozac but doesn't it cause more weight issues?
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