Posted by John Bower on December 20, 2001, at 0:51:32
In reply to Re: lamictal too much -more questions , posted by dreamer on December 19, 2001, at 9:57:08
hi dreamer,
I cannot second-guess your pdoc.
But I'll tell you my experience:
1. In Stanford, they pulled me off all anti-depressants
(I'm bipolar) and had me on lithium and depakote.
I did not go to mania then but the depression was
so cruel I was in extreme pain for 6 months. Then
I was on aripiprazole which is extremely effective
for manic-depression --- will be released next year.
2. now i take lithium for mania until my lamictal
comes up ---- but lamictal is working as the only
anti-depressant for bipolar disorder that i need.
3. i have an itch now at 6.25 * bed/morning because
once I increased my lamictal from 75 mg to 100 mg
in 3 days.
4. ---- and this is what is important to you.
a. ask your doc if you can take 75 mg instead of 100 mg
b. one post here says (previous thread, this message)
to take an antileukotriane like monteklukast or
zariflukast if you get the itch or rash --- it
worked for this patient.best of luck,
and why don't you ask your pdoc to start at 75 mg
to be on the safe side.regards
poster:John Bower
thread:71041
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011213/msgs/87494.html