Posted by sweetmarie on March 27, 2001, at 14:24:57
In reply to Re: treatment resistant depression-Lamictal » sweetmarie, posted by JahL on March 23, 2001, at 11:47:53
> > > > I've had high-dose trials of all the meds you mention, & many more besides. All w/out significant success...that was until I started Lamotrigine just over 2 wks ago. I'm only just up to 37.5mg but already the improvement has been dramatic (see 'BIPOLAR EXPERT' thread 4 details).
>
> > > >At yr current 25mg dose I can almost *guarantee* (tho' definitely no expert) you won't feel significant remission of yr depression. The proposed 250mg will give Lamotrigine scope to work it's magic (I'm biased).
>
> > > >You are fortunate to have found such a forward-thinking UK pdoc-I can't even find one to prescribe Lamotr. monotherapy, let alone such 'power combos'. I have to order mine from abroad (tut,tut,eh steve?). It's just a shame you have to reside in hospital.
>
> > > >I have high hopes for the Lamotrigine (which has the most anti-depressive profile of the mood-stabilizers); you may even find the Venlafaxine+Mirtazapine become/are redundant!
>
>
> > I`m sorry to bug you. You mentioned Lactimal working it`s `magic` - does this mean that it has had an effect, or just that you are expecting it to?
>
> HI Anna.
>
> The 'magic' I speak of refers to sporadic rpts I have read of Lamotrigine vanquishing resistant depression where all else had failed. Of course these give no guarantee.
>
> I'm only on 67.5mg but already there are robust improvements in cognition, co-ordination & social phobia. No great improvement in mood but that generally requires higher doses (which I'm building up to).
>
> > I am now on 200 mg (since March 18th - 6 days now), and so far I don`t feel a thing. Do you reckon it`s too early to know? The intended dose that I`m aiming for is 250 mg, but I`m leaving that until I go into Hospital in 3 weeks or so. Am I being impatient? (I expect I am, only I`m just so ill).
>
> If you're impatient then so am I; this cautious upwards titration goes against my nature.
>
> 250 sounds like a good dose if it's the only anti-convulsant you're taking. I have read that for some a *month+* @ therapeutic doses is required for a response. I think there's a lot of guesswork involved since Lamotrigine's use in mood disorders is a fairly recent development.
>
> > Again, sorry to hassle you (you don`t have to answer this if you don`t want to).
>
> No worries!
>
> J.Jah,
I spoke to the `medication helpline` (a helpline that specifically deals with psychiatric medications, based in the Affective Disorders Unit at the Maudsley Hospital in London) regarding Lamotragine. The woman I spoke to told me that there wasn`t too much info about the drug as it`s so new (as we know). However, she was able to look into a file they have about it. She quoted a case study of a woman who had been on Lamotragine for 7 weeks, felt completely well and went back to work (a concept that I can`t even think about - I haven`t worked for 3 years now). Also, she found a research project, which quoted `4 +` weeks for any effect. This was helpful as far as it went, but like I said, info about Lamotragine is pretty thin on the ground as yet.
I have a question that I meant t ask her, and was wondering if you knew the answer. Do I count ALL the weeks that I have been on an increased dose, or the weeks that I have been on the top dose, or rather the optimum dose for me (250 mg)? Do you know? I`ve always been a bit hazy on this whole time-scale business.
Cheers,
Anna.
poster:sweetmarie
thread:55847
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010327/msgs/57682.html