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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by kilo8 on July 19, 2015, at 20:29:44
I finally convinced my pdoc to let me try lamictal.
But I'm also scared especially because of the skin rashes. If I start and then get a rash then how do I know if it's really serious?I also don't know how safe lamictal is in general and what it does in the body and how many drug or food interactions it has. I only read in a book that it lowers folate. If it lowers folate then who knows what else it does. What if it's totally unhealthy and interferes with many chemical reactions inside of the body and depletes you of vitamins and other important things?
What also worries me is since you have to titrate up so slowly, how quickly can you get off it if you notice that it doesn't work? If you're on 150mg then how long does it take you to get to 0mg?
And how well can it be combined with antidepressants? I read in a book that it should not be combined with sertraline cause this raises the risk of steve johnson syndrome. i tried to find out more about this but found nothing. it's only in 1 psychopharmacology book which says that it should not be combined with sertraline but to me this is scary. i mean if sertraline should not be taken with lamictal then what if other drugs also shouldn't be taken with it and we don't know it yet!?
Posted by rjlockhart37 on July 19, 2015, at 20:47:48
In reply to Want to try Lamictal, but I'm also scared, posted by kilo8 on July 19, 2015, at 20:29:44
Lamictal can be a wonderder life saver to people with mood problems, usally fluctiations and depressed mood. I think you should just try it at 50mg-100
im on 400mg and i stopped taking it and only take 200mg because it makes me a boring mood.....i don't go down into depression but it won't let m go up and feel excited and euphoria.....
maybe just give it a try......because their are many success stories with lamictal saving people from mood flucuations
Posted by phidippus on August 5, 2015, at 10:39:11
In reply to Want to try Lamictal, but I'm also scared, posted by kilo8 on July 19, 2015, at 20:29:44
Many, many people take Lamictal up to doses of 400 mg.
SJS is very rare and happens only in a small minority of cases. If you do get the rash it will start as sores in your mouth-or at least this will be the key symptom.
Lamictal may lower folate in which case it is recommended you take supplements. As far as it being unhealthy in other ways, I know of none.
If you're titrating up slowly and say your at the 50 mg mark, stopping it immediately will not be harmful. If you're at higher dosages, it is recommended you titratee off the medication. I was at 300 mg once and stopped cold turkey with no ill effect.
I've seen patients who have been on all sorts of lamictal/antidepressant combos.
If your prone to hypochondriasm, I wouldn't recommend this drug. What do you take if for anyway?
Eric
Posted by SLS on August 12, 2015, at 5:52:47
In reply to Re: Want to try Lamictal, but I'm also scared » kilo8, posted by phidippus on August 5, 2015, at 10:39:11
> Many, many people take Lamictal up to doses of 400 mg.
Have you known of anyone who needed 400 mg/day to treat bipolar depression in the absence of a seizure disorder?
Thanks.
- Scott
Posted by chumbawumba on August 20, 2015, at 23:45:44
In reply to Re: Want to try Lamictal, but I'm also scared, posted by SLS on August 12, 2015, at 5:52:47
I tried Lamictal at a dose of 400 mg/day for bipolar disorder. It didn't help. But interestingly when I went in to get TMS they couldn't produce the finger tap reflex with the single pulse of the magnet. The doctor thought that the Lamictal was supressing it.
Posted by SLS on August 21, 2015, at 5:50:09
In reply to Re: Want to try Lamictal, but I'm also scared, posted by chumbawumba on August 20, 2015, at 23:45:44
> I tried Lamictal at a dose of 400 mg/day for bipolar disorder. It didn't help. But interestingly when I went in to get TMS they couldn't produce the finger tap reflex with the single pulse of the magnet. The doctor thought that the Lamictal was supressing it.
How did TMS affect you? Better, I hope.
- Scott
Posted by phidippus on August 21, 2015, at 10:09:51
In reply to Re: Want to try Lamictal, but I'm also scared, posted by SLS on August 12, 2015, at 5:52:47
I knew a guy who was prescribed 600 mg a day for bipolar disorder.
Eric
Posted by chumbawumba on August 21, 2015, at 17:13:25
In reply to Re: Want to try Lamictal, but I'm also scared, posted by SLS on August 21, 2015, at 5:50:09
>
> How did TMS affect you? Better, I hope.
>
>
> - ScottThe TMS had a very positive effect. I felt well for about a year afterwards. I would definitely do it again if it weren't for the cost. I was denied insurance coverage for it so I had to pay out of pocket.
Posted by porkpiehat on September 8, 2015, at 19:52:53
In reply to Re: Want to try Lamictal, but I'm also scared » SLS, posted by phidippus on August 21, 2015, at 10:09:51
> I knew a guy who was prescribed 600 mg a day for bipolar disorder.
>
> EricI may have gone up to 450 or so but I could finish a sentence, remember how to drive a car, or sleep properly at that dose. Did wonders for motivation and social anxiety and depression. It was a very busy-minded feeling.
Now at 150 mgs it seems to have the opposite effect and make me sad and foggy an hour after taking it.
why do say it's not good for hypochondriacs?
Posted by SLS on September 11, 2015, at 16:22:14
In reply to Re: Want to try Lamictal, but I'm also scared » phidippus, posted by porkpiehat on September 8, 2015, at 19:52:53
Your experience of feeling "foggy" so soon after a dose might actually be the drug "trying" to work, but the dosage is too low. This is from personal experience. If you haven't tried 200 - 300 mg/day, you might be missing your "sweet spot". Of course, there may not be a sweet spot. It just might not be the right drug for you. Your description of what you experienced at 450 mg/day mirrors mine exactly. You might have to give 300 mg/day 2 - 3 weeks to work. For me, 300 mg/day is my sweet spot.
- Scott
Posted by Jeroen on September 13, 2015, at 16:44:23
In reply to Want to try Lamictal, but I'm also scared, posted by kilo8 on July 19, 2015, at 20:29:44
lamictal produced a tardive psychosis in me be carefull
Posted by phidippus on September 15, 2015, at 20:40:44
In reply to Re: Want to try Lamictal, but I'm also scared » phidippus, posted by porkpiehat on September 8, 2015, at 19:52:53
Oh, I just think the possibility of rash triggers some people.
Eric
This is the end of the thread.
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