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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by ClearSkies on December 26, 2006, at 22:43:13
I've got the reduced my Lamictal dosage from 400mg to 300mg Blues. Real, real bad. I'm wondering if eventually it will resolve itself and lift enough for me to continue with some hope. I am loathe to bump up to the 400mg dosage as I have had bad side effects from day one on this medication. I'm not sure that my pdoc has grasped just how difficult I find living with insomnia (which only responds to Ambien but that has caused severe cognitive problems) and constant constipation (I didn't expect to require fibre supplements this early in my life). When she prescribed Pamelor as an additional medication to take for the insomnia (I already take Cymbalta, too) I became pretty feisty.
I'm planning to get another pdoc if I can't work things out with this current one.
Anyways.
I appreciate, as always, any input on safely reducing the Lamictal. I did have an initial improvement in my sleep pattern, but that quickly faded :-(
ClearSkies
Posted by cubic_me on December 28, 2006, at 16:54:56
In reply to Lamictal rebound depression question, posted by ClearSkies on December 26, 2006, at 22:43:13
I had a week of major rebound after stopping mirtazipine, but it has now dissipated significantly.
Best of luck with cutting down, I'm sorry I can't offer any advice on Lactimal specifically.
Posted by ClearSkies on January 1, 2007, at 8:17:31
In reply to Lamictal rebound depression question, posted by ClearSkies on December 26, 2006, at 22:43:13
Now I figure it's a general descent into the bad place rather than being triggered by the Lamictal change. I know it's time for a major overhaul of my treatment... I am dreading going to see my pdoc this next time.
CS
Posted by Karen44 on January 1, 2007, at 17:44:24
In reply to Still quite depressed, posted by ClearSkies on January 1, 2007, at 8:17:31
I recall that I did not think Parnate was helping anymore until I started going off of it. I had a nasty rebound depression in spite of slow withdrawal. I wonder if I had stayed off psy meds, would it have resolved? I don't know. I have been recommended for ECT and don't want to do it. I have been discussing this recommendation for ECT with folks on the ECT.org forum. If I buy into the theory of my pdoc that my brain is not working right, neurotransmitters, and that ECT could cause them to be more receptive to antidepresant medication, then why not just go off all my psychiatric meds, not do ECT, and see if my depression improves to the level it was before I went down the psychiatric road again in April 2005. I just started Emsam and am on the 6 mg. patch. So, it would be easy to eliminate. I am also on 100 mg. of Lamictal, and I think I should try to go off that gradually like go down to maybe 75 mg. and then 50 mg. I am not sure. Does anyone know? Thanks.
Karen44
p.s. I don't think I would want to tell my pdoc I was doing this. I think I can tolerate even worse depression for a couple of weeks if I promise myself not to kill myself and to go back on the meds if I can't stand it.
> Now I figure it's a general descent into the bad place rather than being triggered by the Lamictal change. I know it's time for a major overhaul of my treatment... I am dreading going to see my pdoc this next time.
>
> CS
Posted by ClearSkies on January 4, 2007, at 22:20:28
In reply to Re: Reducing » ClearSkies, posted by Karen44 on January 1, 2007, at 17:44:24
Today my doctor agreed to taper off the Lamictal as she realized (after I pointed this out to her in her notes), after 6 weeks of complaints by me, that it isn't working.
For my hypomanic symptoms I have the temporary solution - xanax. is it maybe the only solution? It sure makes those bothersome galloping thoughts slow down enough for me to sleep.Karen44, have you been on Depakote or Lithium at all? Those sound like my next possiblities if the hypomania doesn't resolve itself. I would rather not, if possible. I'm hoping, upon hope, that eliminating the Lamictal altogether will allow my hypomania to just shut up already.
I haven't done any research about ECT.
CS
Posted by Karen44 on January 4, 2007, at 23:17:48
In reply to Re: Reducing » Karen44, posted by ClearSkies on January 4, 2007, at 22:20:28
I have done quite a bit of research now on ECT and know enough now to know I don't want to risk cognitive impairments. The research by Harold Sackheim (considered the definitive ECT researcher) has been terribly flawed, and even with his most recent study where he found indeed folks suffer cognitive impairments, he nevertheless, used test measures that are of his own making and that have never been validated. I read that he did his Master's thesis and Doctoral dissertation on the topic of "deception." And, it seems he has perpetrated deception on the medical community for some time. I asked my pdoc how it is that so many psychiatrists bought what this guy said hook,line,and sinker. There is no good answer.
Re Lamictal, I am not Bipolar but have known more than a few people who have taken Lithium and Depakote. The biggest problem with Lithium is that a person has to have their Lithium level (blood test) checked periodically to ensure the correct level. There is danger if the blood level gets too high with the worst case senario being coma and death. This is very rare, however. Depakote ahs been quite popular to treat Bipolar Disorder and has been quite effective with people I have known who were prescribed Depakote for Bipolar Disorder.
Karen4 4
Posted by ClearSkies on January 17, 2007, at 21:09:07
In reply to Re: Reducing » ClearSkies, posted by Karen44 on January 4, 2007, at 23:17:48
My pdoc is asking me to reduce further and eliminate Lamictal altogether in 2 weeks. In the meantime, I'll be starting up with Lithium.
At this point with the reduction in Lamictal I have felt very reactive, sensitive and agitated. Lamictal definitely helped tamp those feelings down. Whether or not that was my desired expectation is another question.
So now I'm at the brink of starting another, serious med. I am convinced that being unmedicated would be a seriously poor decision for me. This BP II does not "get better", with treatment, or therapy. I have learned some great coping skills, and more homework to come. To think, however, that I'll be able to function without regulating my mood with medications, is sheer folly, to me.
If I could live as a diabetic without insulin, then I would. If I couldn't, why then, I'd die. I see my BP II in the same light. Medication is required for me in order to function.
CS
This is the end of the thread.
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