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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 Spriggy on March 16, 2005, at 20:28:48
No.. I'm not paranoid *looks around room*
Dr. prescribed me to start this Lamictal at 25 mg's... but seeing as I am so not paranoid about starting it, I was wondering if I could cut it in half and take 12.5 for the first 2 weeks instead of the recommended 25 mg's?
I'm such a medication weanie. At least I'm not in denial.
Posted by anastasia56 on March 16, 2005, at 22:23:49
In reply to cutting the pills in half?, posted by Spriggy on March 16, 2005, at 20:28:48
i think a fair number of people do start at 12.5mg. i used the lamictal starter pack that doubles as an attack shield and i think the lowest dose there was 25mg.
i'm now at 100mg and cut my 200mg tabs in half for this. no weight gain. just watch your increases to make sure you're good at each level before going up. i went too high and had to come down.
ana
Posted by Tabitha on March 16, 2005, at 23:31:54
In reply to cutting the pills in half?, posted by Spriggy on March 16, 2005, at 20:28:48
The smartest thing would be to ask the doctor about it first, but I'd probably just cut them in half myself. I've found that a cuticle nipper makes a great pill cutter.
Posted by cache-monkey on March 17, 2005, at 1:35:30
In reply to cutting the pills in half?, posted by Spriggy on March 16, 2005, at 20:28:48
I think that starting as low as possible minimizes any chance of the random, non-threatening, rashes that many people experience upon starting Lamictal. The worry is that if you start too high and ramp too fast you get the random rash and start getting paranoid that it's THE rash. Some people on this board have gone up in 12.5 mg increments all the way to 100 mg.
There's no medical reason why it would be a problem: the pills aren't enteric coated or anything, so half a pill is just half a pill. If you do want to cut the pills, the 25 mg pills are so small that they're kind of tough to split or even cut with a knife. I'd recommend getting a pill cutter from your local drugstore. (Even with one of those I had to concentrate to get a clean even cut.)
Good luck,
cache-monkey> No.. I'm not paranoid *looks around room*
>
> Dr. prescribed me to start this Lamictal at 25 mg's... but seeing as I am so not paranoid about starting it, I was wondering if I could cut it in half and take 12.5 for the first 2 weeks instead of the recommended 25 mg's?
>
> I'm such a medication weanie. At least I'm not in denial.
Posted by Emily Elizabeth on March 17, 2005, at 8:42:15
In reply to Re: cutting the pills in half? » Spriggy, posted by cache-monkey on March 17, 2005, at 1:35:30
The only reason I could think of not to do it would be that it takes even longer to get up to a high enough dose. It felt like it took forever just to follow the starter pack. (Which, by the way, I also found IMPOSSIBLE to open--glad that others had the same problem!) I myself am hanging out at 200 for a while, but it doesn't seem to be doing too much. Sigh. But hey, I haven't really had much in terms of s/e's, so maybe that will ease some of your fears, Spriggy.
EE
Posted by Phillipa on March 17, 2005, at 17:19:28
In reply to cutting the pills in half?, posted by Spriggy on March 16, 2005, at 20:28:48
Unless the pills are scored, It's really hard to cut them a an equal half. Definitely get the pill cutter. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by lara53 on March 18, 2005, at 7:51:19
In reply to cutting the pills in half?, posted by Spriggy on March 16, 2005, at 20:28:48
I took 12.5 the first week also because I also was "afraid" to do 25.I had no trouble cutting them with sharp knife. I wish you the best.
Lara
Posted by Larry Hoover on March 18, 2005, at 22:03:19
In reply to Re: cutting the pills in half?, posted by lara53 on March 18, 2005, at 7:51:19
> I took 12.5 the first week also because I also was "afraid" to do 25.I had no trouble cutting them with sharp knife. I wish you the best.
>
> Lara
>One tip for cutting pills with a knife....put the pill in a sandwich baggie first. No bits flying about the room.
Lar
Posted by lara53 on March 19, 2005, at 3:14:57
In reply to Re: cutting the pills in half? » lara53, posted by Larry Hoover on March 18, 2005, at 22:03:19
thanks--i have trouble cutting klonopin
This is the end of the thread.
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