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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by elanor roosevelt on October 31, 2008, at 19:44:54
my pdoc suggested trying to up my 100mg of lamictal to help with the depression but i take lamictal at night because it makes me nastyhas anyone actually had success treating depression w/ 150mg of Lamictal?
Posted by azalea on October 31, 2008, at 21:06:19
In reply to any success treating depression with Lamictal?, posted by elanor roosevelt on October 31, 2008, at 19:44:54
Lamictal antidepressant effects increase as you go up to 150-200mg. Going above that, you're likely to derive little additional. Of course, everyone is different. Taking 150mg at night sounds quite reasonable. You could consider 125mg for a week before going to 150mg.
> my pdoc suggested trying to up my 100mg of lamictal to help with the depression but i take lamictal at night because it makes me nasty
>
> has anyone actually had success treating depression w/ 150mg of Lamictal?
Posted by Phillipa on October 31, 2008, at 21:14:05
In reply to Re: any success treating depression with Lamictal? » elanor roosevelt, posted by azalea on October 31, 2008, at 21:06:19
Azalea always thought above l00 was only for bipolar? So it can be used for depression also? Phillipa
Posted by bulldog2 on November 1, 2008, at 13:57:57
In reply to any success treating depression with Lamictal?, posted by elanor roosevelt on October 31, 2008, at 19:44:54
>
> my pdoc suggested trying to up my 100mg of lamictal to help with the depression but i take lamictal at night because it makes me nasty
>
> has anyone actually had success treating depression w/ 150mg of Lamictal?My p-doc says 200 for depression.
Posted by azalea on November 1, 2008, at 18:45:56
In reply to Re: any success treating depression with Lamictal? » azalea, posted by Phillipa on October 31, 2008, at 21:14:05
Lamictal is FDA-approved for bipolar maintence, but is also used off-label for treatment-resistant depression in similar doses.
> Azalea always thought above l00 was only for bipolar? So it can be used for depression also? Phillipa
Posted by Phillipa on November 1, 2008, at 19:35:24
In reply to Re: any success treating depression with Lamictal? » Phillipa, posted by azalea on November 1, 2008, at 18:45:56
Thanks Phillipa
Posted by Peter S. on November 2, 2008, at 0:21:03
In reply to Re: any success treating depression with Lamictal? » azalea, posted by Phillipa on November 1, 2008, at 19:35:24
Lamictal has been a life saver for me. I take only 50mg/day. The effect kicks in after 3 hours and lasts for about 6 hours. There is some irritablity associated with it, but the increase in energy and lack of depression compensates greatly. I wish I knew how it was working, because it's the only thing that has really helped long term.
Unfortunately, it is only effective if I take it once a day, but 6 hours of a glimpse of mental health is better than nothing!
Posted by ricker on November 2, 2008, at 11:51:50
In reply to Re: any success treating depression with Lamictal?, posted by Peter S. on November 2, 2008, at 0:21:03
> Lamictal has been a life saver for me. I take only 50mg/day.
Hi Peter, Did you experience side-effects above 50mg that were not tolerable?
Regards, Rick
Posted by Quintal on November 2, 2008, at 15:05:52
In reply to any success treating depression with Lamictal?, posted by elanor roosevelt on October 31, 2008, at 19:44:54
I'm still taking 100mg and it's working okay. I had problems with concentration and blurred vision at 125mg so I went back down, and have been thinking of trying to lower it to 50-75mg. I took 200mg years ago, and once up to 300mg for a few weeks, but it made me very irritable. I had some cognitive problems but never had any serious depression while I was taking 200mg.
Q
Posted by Peter S. on November 3, 2008, at 11:14:34
In reply to Re: any success treating depression with Lamictal? » Peter S., posted by ricker on November 2, 2008, at 11:51:50
The main side effect above 50mg is being "over-amped" or too speedy, and and not any less depressed. It just seems that 50mg is my optimum dose where I get maximal anti-depressant effect.
> > Lamictal has been a life saver for me. I take only 50mg/day.
>
> Hi Peter, Did you experience side-effects above 50mg that were not tolerable?
>
> Regards, Rick
Posted by hattree on November 3, 2008, at 20:42:42
In reply to Re: any success treating depression with Lamictal? » elanor roosevelt, posted by azalea on October 31, 2008, at 21:06:19
I had the best year of my life on Lamictal, depression-wise. I got up to like 200mg eventually.
It pooped out, but it was great while it lasted.
Posted by ricker on November 3, 2008, at 21:30:36
In reply to Re: any success treating depression with Lamictal?, posted by hattree on November 3, 2008, at 20:42:42
> I had the best year of my life on Lamictal, depression-wise. I got up to like 200mg eventually.
> It pooped out, but it was great while it lasted.Lamictal poop-out!!!!! Here I thought only the SSRI's layed claim to the dreaded fecal stoppage??
If all these meds loose their effect, I think new termonology is in order? Why say the meds poop out when in fact, it's "US" that stops responding to the once helpful drug? A drug does not change it's chemical structure/actions so why do we keep blaming them?? I'm one of the worst for that, I'm beginning to think another course of ECT may be in order. ): Sorry for the vent.
Take care, Rick
Posted by elanor roosevelt on November 6, 2008, at 0:23:10
In reply to Re: any success treating depression with Lamictal? » hattree, posted by ricker on November 3, 2008, at 21:30:36
i refer to it as "a med meltdown"
seems we need a sadder term really
This is the end of the thread.
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