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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by smith562 on October 18, 2004, at 9:50:43
Sorry guys .... I know this has been talked about before. Seems like alot of individuals feel good just for a few days on lamictal, then it poops out until they raise their dose again. It sure happens to me and I am very discouraged. Can anyone tell me about their experience with Lamictal (poop out or no poop out)? Thank you so much.
Smith
Posted by boomarang on October 18, 2004, at 10:50:58
In reply to Lamictal Poop Out? Last Time, posted by smith562 on October 18, 2004, at 9:50:43
from my experience with lamictal i can tell you this:
the feelings i got following each titration did melt away within five days each time. however these feelings were not the effects lamictal produces once you are on your most effective dose. try not to confuse the two effects and stand back once you reach your optimum dose and study whether it is working in general.
Posted by smith562 on October 18, 2004, at 11:30:20
In reply to Re: Lamictal Poop Out? Last Time, posted by boomarang on October 18, 2004, at 10:50:58
Hey Boomarang,
Can you described the "effect" or feeling the optimal lamictal dose gives you? Is simply a "stablized" feeling? Thank you ...
Sincerely,
Smith
Posted by boomarang on October 18, 2004, at 12:51:51
In reply to Re: Lamictal Poop Out? Last Time » boomarang, posted by smith562 on October 18, 2004, at 11:30:20
exactly. Just a stabilized effect. It keeps you from going 'down' but it doesn't make you 'up'. I combine it with an a/d to lift my spirits.
hope this helps.
sara
Posted by smith562 on October 18, 2004, at 13:01:50
In reply to Re: Lamictal Poop Out? Last Time, posted by boomarang on October 18, 2004, at 12:51:51
Sara,
Thanks a million! I am on zoloft, klonopin, low dose lithium (along with a boost of coffee every few hours). I felt alittle flat and have added lamictal and tapering off lithium. I have my fingers crossed for this combo. Thanks again!
Sincerely,
Smith
Posted by colin wallace on October 19, 2004, at 15:53:01
In reply to Re: Lamictal Poop Out? Last Time, posted by smith562 on October 18, 2004, at 13:01:50
Hi Smith,
Just thought I'd chime in here with my past Lamictal experiences; so many people end up fruitlessly dose-chasing (as I did for two years),in my case going right up to 600mg.
I have rapid-cycling bipolar11 with severe depression, and I found that it provided me with very quick relief, before fading eventually.
To cut a long story short, I now believe it provoked more mood-cycles due to it's being at least as much of an AD as a mood-stabilizer.
Some need more stability to accompany it(I've just added a small dose to my Trileptal mainstay), and others may need an additional antidepressant, depending on your individual diagnosis.
It's a superb med. overall, but most people seem to need something to accompany it, sooner or later.
Good luck,Col.
Posted by smith562 on October 19, 2004, at 18:00:43
In reply to Re: Lamictal Poop Out? Last Time » smith562, posted by colin wallace on October 19, 2004, at 15:53:01
Thanks Everyone .... Colin, I remember reading about your Lamictal experience .... it is sooooo frustrating. Feels great for a couple of days, then crash! Can I ask you what in addition to trileptal is helping you? Thanks, Smith
Posted by colin wallace on October 20, 2004, at 5:07:49
In reply to Re: Lamictal Poop Out? Last Time » colin wallace, posted by smith562 on October 19, 2004, at 18:00:43
> Thanks Everyone .... Colin, I remember reading about your Lamictal experience .... it is sooooo frustrating. Feels great for a couple of days, then crash! Can I ask you what in addition to trileptal is helping you? Thanks, Smith
Hi Smith,
I'd been on Trileptal 900mg for quite a while, and this has provided excellent stability,
although again the dosing has been tricky- any more than 900mg aggravates my depression, causes headaches and general malaise.
Also,Trileptal has allowed me to tolerate 60mg Prozac, which has greatly eased my depression and helped ease my(ever-persistent)dysphoric bouts.
I had to resort to adding just 25mg Lamictal recently(depression), and I'm dropping the Prozac to 40mg to balance things out.
Helps a lot so far. We'll see.
Just keep fiddling around and try keeping a mood chart, so you can see which med is causing what response.I find that helpful too.Best,
Col.
Posted by catmint on October 20, 2004, at 13:42:04
In reply to Re: Lamictal Poop Out? Last Time » smith562, posted by colin wallace on October 20, 2004, at 5:07:49
Hi everyone,
Hi Colin, sorry our conversation was cut short when the thread we were on was lost.
I have to agree with you about cyling and Lamictal. I was on 300 mg. and was a wreck, up and down all day long. I backed down to 200 mg. and can't really say I'm doing that much better.
My last depressive episode followed a wild and crazy summer trying to keep up with my partying friends.I guess I still haven't learned to stay off drugs and alcohol.
But, I have stayed off them for nearly 3 months, but feel uninspired and bored, drinking lots of coffee. I can say that the Lamictal does give me energy and brightens my mood somewhat, but I am still an irritable, mooody as hell individual.
Often I will say outloud, I hate my life.
Sorry to be a downer, it's just where I'm at right now.
Thanks
Amy
Posted by colin wallace on October 21, 2004, at 11:49:14
In reply to Re: Lamictal Poop Out? Last Time, posted by catmint on October 20, 2004, at 13:42:04
> Hi everyone,
>
> Hi Colin, sorry our conversation was cut short when the thread we were on was lost.
>
> I have to agree with you about cyling and Lamictal. I was on 300 mg. and was a wreck, up and down all day long. I backed down to 200 mg. and can't really say I'm doing that much better.
>
> My last depressive episode followed a wild and crazy summer trying to keep up with my partying friends.I guess I still haven't learned to stay off drugs and alcohol.
>
> But, I have stayed off them for nearly 3 months, but feel uninspired and bored, drinking lots of coffee. I can say that the Lamictal does give me energy and brightens my mood somewhat, but I am still an irritable, mooody as hell individual.
>
> Often I will say outloud, I hate my life.
>
> Sorry to be a downer, it's just where I'm at right now.
>
> Thanks
> Amy
>
Hi there Amy,Have you thought about adding something like trileptal to the Lamictal?
I took a little too much Lam. today through carelessness and felt like leaping through the roof and singing.When I look back, no wonder I spun out of control on the 500/600mg dose with nothing to keep it in check.I notice that Lamictal definitely makes me irritable too, although I'm fine if I take a low dose AFTER my first Trileptal 'shot' of the day, and not before.
I've been on a serious downer lately since I lost my brother in that 'unmentionable crap-hole'of a country in the middle-east,but the addition of a little Lamictal has really pulled me out of a tailspin - once again.
So, when you go on off your next alcohol/drugs binge, give me a yell.Sounds terrific! ;)
Seriously though ,I'd consider adding something else to your Lam. to level your mood and stop your irritability bouts.But I'm sure you've thought carefully about your options anyhow.
Take care,Col.
Posted by catmint on October 22, 2004, at 23:52:09
In reply to Re: Lamictal Poop Out? Last Time » catmint, posted by colin wallace on October 21, 2004, at 11:49:14
Colin,
I'm so sorry to hear about your brother. I can't imagine what you must be going through; I've never lost anyone close to me. Try to stay away from drugs and alcohol if you can. I have to remind myself that they never make anything better and I always do stupid s%#* that I regret later. I'm just sticking with caffeine for now and an occasional Ativan. Try to get enough sleep now that you are on Lam again; you know what lack of sleep does.AS far as the Trileptal, doesn't it decrease the Lam levels?
Any weight changes on the Trileptal? Does it help your irritability?
I did try it once, kind-of made me sick to my stomach. I've not considered it since I have been on Lamictal, but maybe it will help the cycling.
I guess I'll take Lam. for the rest of my life. It really helps my depression.. Today I got a job for the first time in three years and am scared as hell. I almost felt like I would lose my mind so I took a nap. When I got up I took my afternoon dose and as soon as it kicked in, I was back to my normal self.Have you ever felt like you could lose your mind? Like one day you don't know who or where you are? Sometimes I get little glimpses of that reality. I don't mean this lightly, like my friends will say, "Oh sure I lost my mind once".
What I'm talking about is a serious feeling that something could go chemically haywire. Being bipolar sucks, but hey, who am I to complain.Take care Colin,
Amy
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