Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 1106717

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Lamictal, overlapping glutaminergic AED agents

Posted by porkpiehat on November 7, 2019, at 15:41:33

A lot of attention is being paid to the role of glutamine in controlling depression etc.

I've been on Lamictal for 15 years and, while helping with mood it has a tendency to increase obsessive/ruminative anxieties in me, and REALLY stumps me cognitively.

I've been looking at N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) to help with obsessiveness and general mood BUT it also regulates glutamine similar to Lamictal. Same with topomax, low dose naltrexone, etc.

My question is, can these agents be fairly evaluated with Lamictal on board without double dipping into glute side effects?

I've had failed attempts at adding topomax (too impaired at low doses) gabapentin (very effective with anxiety and obsessiveness but made me feel weak and drunk in the morning at only 100mgs the night before).

 

Re: Lamictal, overlapping glutaminergic AED agents

Posted by linkadge on November 9, 2019, at 8:19:44

In reply to Lamictal, overlapping glutaminergic AED agents, posted by porkpiehat on November 7, 2019, at 15:41:33

Drugs that suppress glutamate function could cause cognitive dysfunction. In some cases, however, they could improve it.

Chaotic neuronal firing can cause cognitive dysfunction. There are some studies, for example on how low dose Dilantin, or even lorazepam can improve cognition. I suppose the idea is to get glutamate levels in the right zone.

For example, low dose lithium tends to improve my cognition, perhaps by reducing the background noise (improving the signal to noise ratio). However, lithium is weird in that can also raise glutamate (by inhibiting the reuptake) if levels are too low.

Drugs like lamictal may exert more of a unidirectional effect on neurotransmission, which could cause dose dependent effects on cognition. My hunch is that NAC wouldn't worsen this, but who knows. I take co-q10 which reduces glutamate release, but it also improves cellular energy. I find that it improves my cognition.

In terms of increased obsessiveness, this may or may not be caused by the glutamate actions. Lamictal may be increasing dopamine (or something). Have you noticed the same thing with other anticonvulsants? (i.e. increased OCD)?

Linkadge


 

Re: Lamictal, overlapping glutaminergic AED agents

Posted by porkpiehat on November 9, 2019, at 11:09:21

In reply to Re: Lamictal, overlapping glutaminergic AED agents, posted by linkadge on November 9, 2019, at 8:19:44


> In terms of increased obsessiveness, this may or may not be caused by the glutamate actions. Lamictal may be increasing dopamine (or something). Have you noticed the same thing with other anticonvulsants? (i.e. increased OCD)?
>
> Linkadge

The other anticonvulsants I've tried seem to do the opposite in terms of rumination (make it much better/go away) Strangely, the brand name lamictal sometime improves my mood and socialability but can bring me to the brink of feeling hypomanic in the way that the generics never did. The smallest amount of stimulants will make me very hedonistic and disinhibited, so I wonder if there is something to the dopamine theory?

I've only ever tried the other anticonvulsants with Lamictal already on board, so it's hard to tell whether the dopiness is coming from the gabapentin/trileptal/topomax or from combining them with Lamictal. In any case I'm taking smaller doses of both. I've found lithium, topomax, and depakote feel like they increase my depression and social anxiety/apathy.

Right now I'm taking small amounts of ritalin or modafinil to help with the dopiness I'm getting after lamictal and the anhedonia/demotivation I get from celexa being back in the mix.

I haven't taken any meds yet this morning and I feel light and open. That will change with lamictal. Then I'll take a stim to get me out of a slump and then I'll be racy and drinking lol.

 

Re: Lamictal, overlapping glutaminergic AED agents

Posted by Lamdage22 on November 9, 2019, at 14:02:48

In reply to Re: Lamictal, overlapping glutaminergic AED agents, posted by porkpiehat on November 9, 2019, at 11:09:21

Does the Q10 help depression or anxiety? I am doing fairly well. I have my suspicions about why I am feeling better, but I don't know for sure. I am taking a lot of supplements including Q10.

 

Re: Lamictal, overlapping glutaminergic AED agents

Posted by Christ_empowered on November 9, 2019, at 14:29:40

In reply to Lamictal, overlapping glutaminergic AED agents, posted by porkpiehat on November 7, 2019, at 15:41:33

the NAC would probably be beneficial. maybe it would help psych probs, that's hit or miss...its the antioxidant boost that I'm thinking of, here.

i personally don't like 2+ anti-seizure drugs on board. i take low dose gabapetin, as needed, and with the lamictal on board...whoa. the stupid factor is high, very high, indeed.

have you done blood work for the lamictal? my current psych says...check for anemia, now and then. awesome. apparently, liver function is an issue here and there, too. blah.

 

Re: Lamictal, overlapping glutaminergic AED agents » Christ_empowered

Posted by porkpiehat on November 9, 2019, at 14:52:08

In reply to Re: Lamictal, overlapping glutaminergic AED agents, posted by Christ_empowered on November 9, 2019, at 14:29:40

I have regular blood work done but nothing to check actual lamictal levels.

In addition to the lamictal 100mg I also take .25-.5mgs klonopin mostly at night, so that's another AS drug.

 

Re: Lamictal, overlapping glutaminergic AED agents » porkpiehat

Posted by linkadge on November 10, 2019, at 14:42:35

In reply to Re: Lamictal, overlapping glutaminergic AED agents, posted by porkpiehat on November 9, 2019, at 11:09:21

Lamictal might have some action on dopamine. I believe it has some action on MAO-B. It can cause insomnia, perhaps owing to some stimulant like activity. I only took it briefly at lower doses, so can't really comment.


Linkadge

 

Re: Lamictal, overlapping glutaminergic AED agents » Lamdage22

Posted by linkadge on November 10, 2019, at 14:44:18

In reply to Re: Lamictal, overlapping glutaminergic AED agents, posted by Lamdage22 on November 9, 2019, at 14:02:48

I would say that the q10 improves both depression and anxiety (but perhaps more on depression). It doesn't really feel like an antidepressant, but I do notice a clearer mood and better cognition on it.

There are animal studies suggesting it can help depression, in synergy with traditional antidepressants.

Linkadge

 

Re: Lamictal, overlapping glutaminergic AED agents

Posted by linkadge on November 10, 2019, at 14:45:18

In reply to Re: Lamictal, overlapping glutaminergic AED agents » Christ_empowered, posted by porkpiehat on November 9, 2019, at 14:52:08

You might look at some 'natural' glutamate modulating agents such as magnesium and/or niacin.

Linkadge

 

Re: Lamictal, overlapping glutaminergic AED agents

Posted by Lamdage22 on November 11, 2019, at 9:54:21

In reply to Re: Lamictal, overlapping glutaminergic AED agents » Lamdage22, posted by linkadge on November 10, 2019, at 14:44:18

Dosage? I think i take 30mg.

> I would say that the q10 improves both depression and anxiety (but perhaps more on depression). It doesn't really feel like an antidepressant, but I do notice a clearer mood and better cognition on it.
>
> There are animal studies suggesting it can help depression, in synergy with traditional antidepressants.
>
> Linkadge
>
>

 

Re: Lamictal, overlapping glutaminergic AED agents

Posted by phidippus on November 30, 2019, at 19:41:22

In reply to Lamictal, overlapping glutaminergic AED agents, posted by porkpiehat on November 7, 2019, at 15:41:33

Lamotrogine made my OCD monstrous. My recommendation would be to stop the Lamictal rather than add anything to treat what is pretty much a side effect of Lamotrogine. In studies, Lamictal was shown to increase OCD in bipolar II patients.

Check out the APA algorithm for the treatment of OCD.

Phidippus

ps, how do you make a signature?

 

Re: Lamictal, overlapping glutaminergic AED agents » phidippus

Posted by SLS on December 1, 2019, at 10:34:28

In reply to Re: Lamictal, overlapping glutaminergic AED agents, posted by phidippus on November 30, 2019, at 19:41:22


> ps, how do you make a signature?

Try here:

http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/settings.pl


- Scott

 

Re: Lamictal, overlapping glutaminergic AED agents

Posted by phidippus on December 1, 2019, at 18:00:03

In reply to Re: Lamictal, overlapping glutaminergic AED agents » phidippus, posted by SLS on December 1, 2019, at 10:34:28

>
> > ps, how do you make a signature?
>
> Try here:
>
> http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/settings.pl
>
>
> - Scott
>
>


Thanks and I love you...

Phidippus


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