Posted by John Bower on December 18, 2001, at 23:45:55
In reply to Is 100mg lamictal too much to start with ?, posted by dreamer on December 18, 2001, at 23:36:23
100 mgs, IMHO, is definetely too much to start wwith. Dr Alan Brauer of Silicon Valley, California starts at 75 mg. The Indian Desk Reference (like your Physicians Desk Reference) recommends 50 mg to start with for 2 wweeks, then 100 mg for 2 weeks and so on.
I got an itch and now take 6.25 mg in the morning and 6.25 mg in the evening. And will step it upto 12.5 mg in the morning and 12.5 mg in the evening after a week.
Lamictal is useful because it has an anti-depressive effect for bipolars without preciptating mania. Lamictal metabolism is increased by Tegretol (carbamepezine) and decreased by Depakote (sodium divalproex/valproate).
I am now on lithium until my lamictal dosage goes up for lamictal's anti-manic effect to take action.
But the anti-depressive action of lamictal comes in at as low as 25 mg.
If you have to start on a high dose start at 50 mg or 75 mg. If you start at 75 mg you can go up to 100 mg (as per a patient's of Dr brauer's) after a montH.
Don't go too fast with lamictal or you'll get a dreadful itch (like me) or maybe even a rash. Then your pdoc will start whining maybe and want to not give you lamictal.
regards
> Fellow Lams......baa baaaaaaa
>
> Is my pdoc a crazy beast?
> Or increasing slowly is because you got rash?
>
> dreamerashfree
poster:John Bower
thread:71041
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011213/msgs/87366.html