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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by addinbc on August 10, 2006, at 18:38:55
Hello there;
I've been on Effexor XR for the last 2.5 months only to increasingly find as we were upping the dose, that I was having a paradoxical reaction to it - it was making me markedly more depressed, very similar to my experience with Cymbalta.
My doctor has decided to try me on Lamictal (Lamotrigine). I have ADD/anxiety and depression. Strattera worked like a DREAM for me until it pooped out on me a few months later.
Anyway, I took my first 25mg tablet of Lamictal last night. Last night and all of today, I have been feeling very heavy (physically - like I weigh 500lbs). My affect is very very flat, and I am feeling very "ho hum - I think I'll just lie here like a blob for the rest of the day". I have no motivation to do anything. I am also finding I'm feeling a little down. Also, my brain feels like it is in slow motion.
Have others experienced anything similar when starting Lamictal? Does this pass? What can be expected when taking Lamictal?
Could Lamictal prevent other drugs from 'pooping out'? Could it enhance the effects of other drugs? (I'm thinking of maybe going back on Strattera with the Lamictal to see if it will last longer).
Thank you for reading this. Any assistance would be most appreciated!
Regards and best wishes to you all!
Posted by linkadge on August 10, 2006, at 18:41:21
In reply to Just started Lamictal as monotherapy- Help please, posted by addinbc on August 10, 2006, at 18:38:55
Did you drop the effexor and start lamictal ?
The abrupt change could explain the heaviness.
Linkadge
Posted by addinbc on August 10, 2006, at 19:01:51
In reply to Re: Just started Lamictal as monotherapy- Help please, posted by linkadge on August 10, 2006, at 18:41:21
I'm actually still in the process of coming of the Effexor - am down to 75mg.
Surprisingly, I haven't had a horrendous time coming off the Effexor - likely because I haven't been on it for overly long.
The heaviness is definitely related to the Lamictal, however, because I haven't experienced this before since I started tapering the Effexor, and it came on last night after I took my first Lamictal dose. I kept having to move my legs just to make sure I still *could* move my legs ;).
Thanks.
Posted by Racer on August 10, 2006, at 20:23:19
In reply to Re: Just started Lamictal as monotherapy- Help please, posted by addinbc on August 10, 2006, at 19:01:51
That didn't start for me right away, but it sounds a lot like what eventually knocked me off the drug. On the other hand, I'm weird. ;-)
What I will say, though, is that my ride on Lamictal changed over the first few weeks, as I titrated up. At about 150mg, it kicked in and gave me a few really nice days. And again at 200mg. If that had kept up, I might have stuck with it.
My advice, truly, is to stick it out through the first few weeks -- if the few days it gave me are any indication, if it works for you it'll be very well worth it.
Good luck.
Posted by Phillipa on August 10, 2006, at 20:41:23
In reply to Re: Just started Lamictal as monotherapy- Help pl, posted by Racer on August 10, 2006, at 20:23:19
I got to 50mg and had to stop. But no heaviness. Salivation so I was always spitting and itchiness on my backside. Love Phillipa
Posted by Karen44 on August 11, 2006, at 23:00:06
In reply to Re: Just started Lamictal as monotherapy- Help pl, posted by Phillipa on August 10, 2006, at 20:41:23
> I got to 50mg and had to stop. But no heaviness. Salivation so I was always spitting and itchiness on my backside. Love Phillipa
Symptoms not likely due to Lamictal; what else was going on in your life that might explain the symptoms?
Karen44
This is the end of the thread.
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