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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by meAgain on December 15, 2006, at 23:26:03
Anyone have positive or negative experience with this med. I am new to this med and was curious when the best time of the day or night is to take it. I appreciate anyones feedback. thanks
Posted by Phillipa on December 16, 2006, at 10:00:22
In reply to Lamictal, posted by meAgain on December 15, 2006, at 23:26:03
I tried it for TRD and at 50mg got an uncommon side effect so off it but no bad insomnia so I took it at night with my usual valium. Love Phillipa
Posted by tensor on December 16, 2006, at 10:09:49
In reply to Lamictal, posted by meAgain on December 15, 2006, at 23:26:03
I have been on Lamictal for several months. It makes me tired, that's the only notable side effect for me, but it has no therapeutic value for me. I will quit it soon. I prefer taking it at bedtime, because of the tiredness it produces.
/Mattias
Posted by Quintal on December 16, 2006, at 11:11:26
In reply to Lamictal, posted by meAgain on December 15, 2006, at 23:26:03
I took Lamictal for about two years. In the beginning I was taking it with Klonopin and they worked brilliantly together - mood solid as a rock, nothing could shift it. I was taking 200mg at that time. I became very agitated and irritable when I raised the dose to 300mg.
When I quit the Klonopin I found that Lamictal was making me agitated and irritable again - I had bad insomnia too, so I eventually gave up on Lamictal.
Q
Posted by meAgain on December 16, 2006, at 11:31:12
In reply to Re: Lamictal, posted by Quintal on December 16, 2006, at 11:11:26
thank you everyone for your feedback about your experience with Lamictal!! yall are are great!
love,
meAgain
Posted by tensor on December 16, 2006, at 13:13:58
In reply to Re: Lamictal, posted by Quintal on December 16, 2006, at 11:11:26
Quintal, what did you take Lamictal for? Did you have any response at lower doses, eg. 100mg? I've been 100mg for several months for depression with no success and I'm wondering if there is any point going higher with in mind that it makes me so tired. The tiredness is dose-related.
/Mattias
Posted by meAgain on December 16, 2006, at 14:16:52
In reply to Re: Lamictal » Quintal, posted by tensor on December 16, 2006, at 13:13:58
I was put on Lamictal along with Abilify to act as a mood stablizer. no SSRI's were being effective in treating my depression, anxiety, and OCD. so my doc swicthed me from Paxil to Cymbalta and added the Abilify and Lamictal at the same time, so I dont what side effects are from one or the other. I do know that everytime I increase the Lamictal I am very forgetful, my speech is affected, and I totally lack coordination for a couple of days. I am currently on 100mg for about 15 days now. Then I am supposed to increase 1 more time to 150.
Posted by Quintal on December 16, 2006, at 17:51:12
In reply to Re: Lamictal » Quintal, posted by tensor on December 16, 2006, at 13:13:58
I took Lamictal for bipolar/borderline tendencies (mood swings and general instability). I get the impression Lamictal isn't so great as a monotherapy for unipolar depression as it is for depression in people who have bipolar tendencies. Are you taking Lamictal with some other ADs? It is supposed to be good as an augmenter. Have you thought about combining it with a stimulating AD like Wellbutrin or Parnate?
It may be worth taking the dose up to 200mg for a while - I didn't notice any effect and was ready to give up on it until I'd been taking 200mg for about a month. If still no response I would guess you're not likely to be a Lamictal responder.
Q
Posted by tensor on December 16, 2006, at 18:22:32
In reply to Re: Lamictal » tensor, posted by Quintal on December 16, 2006, at 17:51:12
>I get the impression Lamictal isn't so great as a monotherapy for unipolar depression as it is for depression in people who have bipolar tendencies.
That's what I've read too. I have recurring unipolar depression. Currently I take Lamictal with Zoloft and Remeron. The only reason I try Lamictal is because of its mood stabilizing properties, in my case, prevent future relapses. It doesn't do anything for my depression, I wonder if it still can prevent relapses if the "base" ADs kick in. Raising the dose would be logical, but it makes so tired. We'll see, I will meet my pdoc at wednesday.
/Mattias
Posted by Quintal on December 16, 2006, at 18:38:54
In reply to Re: Lamictal » Quintal, posted by tensor on December 16, 2006, at 18:22:32
Are you sure Remeron isn't contributing to the tiredness? I had that problem once the inital sedation wore off.
>I wonder if it still can prevent relapses if the "base" ADs kick in.
It did for me once it started working - not a single depressive episode during the two years I took it. An amazing acheivement for me.
Q
Posted by sick puppy on December 16, 2006, at 23:50:06
In reply to Lamictal, posted by meAgain on December 15, 2006, at 23:26:03
I have had a terrific experience with Lamictal for bipolar depression and mood stabilization. The sleepiness went away within a few days of a dose increase. I know several people, myself included, that did not notice the positive effects of Lamictal until they were at a pretty high dose. I take 300Mg and split it morning and night. I also take a low dose of lithium (600). I have read a couple of studies on the Lamictal/Lithium combo and it gets good reviews.
Posted by tensor on December 17, 2006, at 9:47:59
In reply to Re: Lamictal » tensor, posted by Quintal on December 16, 2006, at 18:38:54
Yes I'm sure Remeron isn't causing it. I have been taken Remeron for many years. The problem is, for me, that if I e.g. swap Remeron for Wellbutrin and I responds to it, is there any point in keeping Lamictal for preventing relapses? Or do I have to get an antidepressant response from Lamictal first?
Maybe impossible to answer, but I'm not looking forward to extend this Lamictal trial with higher dosage./Mattias
Posted by Quintal on December 17, 2006, at 10:15:34
In reply to Re: Lamictal » Quintal, posted by tensor on December 17, 2006, at 9:47:59
I was thinking that perhaps the tiredness could be caused by some interaction between Remeron and Lamictal, since Remeron isn't the most energizing AD to begin with?
There may be some advantage in you continuing to take the Lamictal if you get a good response to another AD if you have a history of sudden poop-out with ADs taken alone. The Lamictal may help continue the good response. Perhaps a more energizing AD would help counter the tiredness?
Q
Posted by tensor on December 17, 2006, at 10:40:51
In reply to Re: Lamictal » tensor, posted by Quintal on December 17, 2006, at 10:15:34
>Remeron isn't the most energizing AD to begin with?
I must say, for me it is. I.e. when it's working it's very energizing. The sedating effect only lasts a couple of hours after intake.
>There may be some advantage in you continuing to take the Lamictal if you get a good response to another AD
This is an encouraging idea, because the tiredness is the only notable s/e for me, so I can stick with it(Lamictal). And as you said, a more stimulating AD could counteract this. I'm looking seriously at Wellbutrin. I have heard people doing well on "Well-loft", Zoloft-Wellbutrin.
>if you have a history of sudden poop-out with ADs taken alone
Yep, this is exactly my problem/diagnosis. I can do very well on a combo of ADs for a year or more but can and has suddenly poop-out in just one or two days. They stop working to the degree that I can't work.
Thanks,
Mattias
Posted by meAgain on December 18, 2006, at 13:43:09
In reply to Re: Lamictal, posted by sick puppy on December 16, 2006, at 23:50:06
thanks for the feedback
This is the end of the thread.
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