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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 17 of 17. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by 1lablvr on January 24, 2007, at 19:34:32
Hi,
I am new at posting. I have suffered from GAD and depression for twenty years. I am seeing a psychopharmacologist, because, like so many of you, I am exrtremely diffcult to medicate. Pamelor 190mg. worked for me for 12 years and then stopped. I am still on it as well as klonopin 5mg, 25mg tenormin. My Pdoc started me on 10mg of Lamictal as I had side effects to 25 mg. It has been two months. While not helping the depression, it made my thinking crystal clear. We increased a week ago by 2.5 mg, and I am having anxiety, brain spasma, fatigue, and faacial flushing, and shortness of breath. I am in perfect physical health, and work out regularly.
She wants me to stay at this level for another week, but I don't think I can take the anxiety. It's the crawling out of your skin type. The klonopin helps, but not completely. Has anyone else had this severe anxiety? I just don't think I can endure this for a week. I have tried every class of AD, and can't tolerate them.
Thanks,
Lablvr
Posted by Phillipa on January 24, 2007, at 22:05:53
In reply to Lamictal causing anxiety, posted by 1lablvr on January 24, 2007, at 19:34:32
Lamictal is a mood stabalizer sometimes used to boost an antidepressant . I got to 50mg then excess salivation caused me to go off. But I didn't have anxiety on it. Love Phillipa
Posted by ed_uk on January 25, 2007, at 13:25:06
In reply to Lamictal causing anxiety, posted by 1lablvr on January 24, 2007, at 19:34:32
Hi
>My Pdoc started me on 10mg of Lamictal as I had side effects to 25 mg. It has been two months. While not helping the depression, it made my thinking crystal clear. We increased a week ago by 2.5 mg, and I am having anxiety, brain spasma, fatigue, and faacial flushing, and shortness of breath.
You must be very sensitive to Lamictal. I would decrease the dose back down to 10mg if I were you. It doesn't sound like you will be able to tolerate a higher dose.
>I have tried every class of AD, and can't tolerate them.
Have you tried the MAOIs?
Ed
Posted by 1lablvr on January 25, 2007, at 13:33:51
In reply to Re: Lamictal causing anxiety » 1lablvr, posted by ed_uk on January 25, 2007, at 13:25:06
Thanks for responding. I tried Nardil and Parnate 10 years ago, but the side effects were severe even in small doses.
Have they been helpful for you?
Posted by ed_uk on January 25, 2007, at 13:48:09
In reply to Re: Lamictal causing anxiety, posted by 1lablvr on January 25, 2007, at 13:33:51
I've not taken Nardil or Parnate. I just mentioned them because a lot of people have tried everything EXCEPT the MAOIs!
Ed
Posted by becksA on January 25, 2007, at 18:59:27
In reply to Lamictal causing anxiety, posted by 1lablvr on January 24, 2007, at 19:34:32
i have social anxiety and the lamictal shot it through the roof. i take lithium and a much lower dose of klonopin and i'm even better than before. it's been great.
Posted by Greif on January 25, 2007, at 20:08:23
In reply to Re: Lamictal causing anxiety, posted by becksA on January 25, 2007, at 18:59:27
I began Lamictal at 25 mg for 2 weeks and then went to 50mg. I started getting vivid violent dreams and felt anxious. I chose to discontinue use. It is helpful for some.
Posted by 1lablvr on January 25, 2007, at 20:09:30
In reply to Re: Lamictal causing anxiety, posted by becksA on January 25, 2007, at 18:59:27
Thanks for your input. I just don't get why Lamictal is supposed to be great for the worst of anxiety disorders. I have unipolar depression, and my pdoc says this has helped some of her worse anxiety patients. Guess I'll ride it out a week if I can stand it. Thanks.
1lablvr
Posted by nolegirl23 on January 27, 2007, at 16:23:05
In reply to Re: Lamictal causing anxiety, posted by Greif on January 25, 2007, at 20:08:23
> I began Lamictal at 25 mg for 2 weeks and then went to 50mg. I started getting vivid violent dreams and felt anxious. I chose to discontinue use. It is helpful for some.
I am on 50 mgs of Lamictal (will be increasing to 200 mgs) and I too have the vivid, violent and very anxiety filled dreams.
I would almost call some of these dreams nightmares.
I don't have anxiety during the day, but I wake up anxious b/c of these vivid and frustrating dreams..
Posted by blueberry1 on January 27, 2007, at 18:40:43
In reply to Lamictal causing anxiety, posted by 1lablvr on January 24, 2007, at 19:34:32
I had bad nervousness on just 25mg lamictal. Maybe should have stayed at 12.5mg and not argued with the fact I was feeling better at that dose pretty fast. Who cares if the instructions say go to 100mg. Take what it takes to do the job and that's that, right?
I'm curious. I wonder by what mechanism does lamictal cause anxiety/nervousness? It is a glutamate antagonist which seems like it should help anxiety. I think gaba is made from glutamate. Maybe lamictal interferes with that? I read that lamictal increases noradrenergic and serotonergic function. Is that it? And that maybe it has something to do with dopamine function? When I took it I swear it felt dopaminergic, almost like an amphetamine or cocaine or something. Any ideas on what might be behind lamictal and anxiety?
Posted by Phillipa on January 27, 2007, at 19:06:25
In reply to Re: How Does Lamictal cause anxiety?, posted by blueberry1 on January 27, 2007, at 18:40:43
Gee for someone with constant anxiety even on meds can't believe I wasn't anxious on lamictal and took it at bedtime? Is there a pattern to me? Love Phillipa
Posted by blueberry1 on January 29, 2007, at 15:14:01
In reply to Re: How Does Lamictal cause anxiety? » blueberry1, posted by Phillipa on January 27, 2007, at 19:06:25
> Gee for someone with constant anxiety even on meds can't believe I wasn't anxious on lamictal and took it at bedtime? Is there a pattern to me? Love Phillipa
No way to tell Phillipa, but maybe that is a hint that your glutamate is going crazy. That would certainly cause anxiety, fear, paranoia.
This is too simple. Have you ever tried taurine supplements? Magnesium supplements? I mean, if glutamate is the smoking gun with you, those would be cheap, simple, natural safe tests to see.
Posted by 1lablvr on January 29, 2007, at 16:09:31
In reply to Re: How Does Lamictal cause anxiety? » Phillipa, posted by blueberry1 on January 29, 2007, at 15:14:01
I think I'm throwing in the towel. I did fine on 10 mg. of Lamictal added to my cocktail. Bumping it up 2.5 mg is too much. I can't take the anxiety, agoraphobia,irritability, etc.
My pdoc really pushes me to stay on new meds, so I'm afraid she'll balk. I just can't do it one more day.
Thanks for all the kind responses.
lablvr
Posted by Phillipa on January 29, 2007, at 19:39:56
In reply to Re: How Does Lamictal cause anxiety? » Phillipa, posted by blueberry1 on January 29, 2007, at 15:14:01
Yes Lar had me on taurine and I take extra l25 of magnesium every night. Now explain in plain terms what glutamine is please pretty please. Love Phillipa
Posted by thaddeus on December 16, 2007, at 7:59:34
In reply to Re: How Does Lamictal cause anxiety? » blueberry1, posted by Phillipa on January 29, 2007, at 19:39:56
I have had depression going on 18 years. I've tried just about every SSRI, some of them worked alright but my libido and other related side effects made my finally look elsewhere a year ago. At one time I had been taking Wellbutrin and Effexor simultaneously (don't ask my why), and I became hypo-manic, so I took an anti-convulsant which seemed to help. Anyway, my psych decided to try the lamictal, which seemed to reduce the side effects mentioned above, and help with the depression. At 200mg of lam I started feeling anxious consistently, and at 300mg I started developing OCD-type behaviors which I've never had--and the anxiety went through the roof. It's extremely frustrating, having tried almost everything out there and having one or the other side effect, but I'll keep trying *sigh*
Posted by Mufasa on April 18, 2009, at 22:37:46
In reply to Re: How Does Lamictal cause anxiety?, posted by thaddeus on December 16, 2007, at 7:59:34
> I have had depression going on 18 years. I've tried just about every SSRI, some of them worked alright but my libido and other related side effects made my finally look elsewhere a year ago. At one time I had been taking Wellbutrin and Effexor simultaneously (don't ask my why), and I became hypo-manic, so I took an anti-convulsant which seemed to help. Anyway, my psych decided to try the lamictal, which seemed to reduce the side effects mentioned above, and help with the depression. At 200mg of lam I started feeling anxious consistently, and at 300mg I started developing OCD-type behaviors which I've never had--and the anxiety went through the roof. It's extremely frustrating, having tried almost everything out there and having one or the other side effect, but I'll keep trying *sigh*
---------------------
I just ripped myself off of Lithium assuming that was the culprit. They say I have Bipolar I, I don't know, probably and I've suffered Panic Disorder since early childhood. They put me on Lexapro first and that did nothing but cause issues. Then Geodon equivalent to a bear hibernating for a century. Then Seroquel at 600MGs where I laid on the couch, labored breathing afraid to use the restroom for any exertion of my body strained the heart and I'd panic. My doctors ignored that so I got off cold turkey and survived.
I do hallucinate people who are not present and 'blacked out' once running off until the police caught me and I have little memory of the incident, some alter ego with a different name and sex 'took over me'...I had -no- idea but seemingly it happened. So I was put on Lamictal and Lithium. It's like..nothing really went wrong until now and it's been 2 years. I'm on ..or was on 750MG's of Lithium and take 200MGs of Lamictal. I just got off of the Lithium and even on the drugs I talk to these people like they're there, I've learned to adapt in that I know they are not real and tune them out when other real people are present. One of these people is the one who 'takes me over'. Before medication and treatment he was aggressive and cruel and tortured me..it was in my head but I suffered regardless. He told me to do things, what started the treatment was when he advised me to threaten someones life and take it if necessary to protect myself ..to ensure I could live in peace. So I attempted, was hospitalized but it worked..they left and there was peace in the home. Sick eh? On the meds he became like a father to me and advised me to take care of myself, he never tampered with my ego or controlled me. Now my moods are shifting along with my anxiety and he is prompting me to aggressive behavior which depresses me, he harasses me greatly and it's more horrible than the beginning because I had a good bond with him prior to this and it's a complete 180. I cannot share this with anyone around me and my doctor does not know I went cold turkey on Lithium though I see him this Monday. I am becoming satiated and at ease with dark thoughts and cruelty, evil even and I enjoy when he tampers with my mind. It becomes more addicting and he uses my radical phobia of drugs against me to the extent I wish to quit it all and stop treatment and live rampant in the throngs of mood swings for the sake of the thrill of my highs. I don't want to be criminal or be hospitalized but Lamictal is a sheer sh*t and I would like to return to Lithium but it gives me the shakes, the runs, the brain zaps, nausea and this very bizarre fatigue. It's as if it's a downer in some sort of way but am I confusing it with my Lithium? I don't really know what tod anymore.
I'd like someone to talk to because nobody around here understand Bipolar or even just GAD in general and the reality is doctors can't know exactly, obviously and you sign up for experimenting on drugs, the suffering and madness and I'm becoming annoyed with doctors and even the police...it's odd but authority makes me aggressive..control makes me anxious so I'm sure that's my other fear of drugs..random influence I cannot see nor comprehend?
Posted by hitman60 on September 14, 2009, at 8:23:47
In reply to Re: Lamictal causing anxiety, posted by nolegirl23 on January 27, 2007, at 16:23:05
Well, I have been taking Lamictal 100 mg for 5 weeks, I was fine on 50 mg, but the 100 mg gave me anxiety in the form of racing, intrusive thoughts. I had to resort to taking ,25mg of Klonopin and that helped. But I refuse to take benzos long term. I am bumping down to 50 mg and if that does not help I am stopping. My mind is just full of clutter and the thoughts keep racing, something I have never had before, so I thought it was the caffeine. I am 5 days caffeine free and still racing thoughts. I think it must be the Lamictal.
The good news is I kicked a 50 year caffeine habit and had no problems doing that.
This is the end of the thread.
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