Posted by Cindylou on December 23, 2001, at 20:04:04
In reply to Increase of Lamictal dose less effective? , posted by Mags on December 23, 2001, at 13:37:40
Hi Mags,
I am currently up to 100 mg of Lamictal, and like you, I thought I felt quite a bit better right away, at 12.5 and then 25 mgs. However, after 25 mg., each time I titrated up I went through a week of agitation and exhaustion -- the opposite effect of what a mood stabilizer is supposed to do. After about a week, I would start to level off. I kept it up, because my pdoc said there really isn't much of a therapeutic reaction until 100 mg.Now, at 100 mg, I still have the depression, but it feels like I have a "safety net" that keeps me from hitting those all-time lows where I don't see the purpose in living. My anxiety is more under control as well. My pdoc describes me as not having the desperation and urgency as I did before.
We are going to try adding Paxil to see if it will help with my depression and social anxiety (which I think is related to my depression rather than being bonified "social phobia." I just feel so insecure, inferior, etc. around other people.)
I think we'll hold off on increasing the Lamictal until we see how the Paxil works.
Sorry for the rambling message -- I guess the bottom line is that, yes, I did feel an inital lift when I first started the Lamictal, and I don't think it was all in my head. But I'm not really discouraged that it went away, since the Lamictal does seem to be helping "stabilize" me a bit. It's just not acting as an AD right now.
Good luck! I think it's worth it to keep it up. I have had the same reactions to meds that you have -- feeling good and then CRASHING big time. It is such a discouraging feeling. I am hoping that Lamictal may help ward off that crash effect.
Keep us posted on how you are doing!
-cindy> I was wondering if anyone else has found that the more they increase the dosage of Lamictal the less effective? I have been DX as possible BPII or III. I suffer from Major Depression and don't believe I have any mania.I have had some response from Prozac, a week of feeling great then crashed, initially no response to Effexor until Lithium was added and then felt great for four days and then majorly crashed. Tried Desipramine and couldn't handle the S/E's.Couldn't satnd the SE's of Lithium either.
> I am now on Lamictal by itself. After about two weeks at 25mg felt FANTASTIC!! The nurses at the outpatient clinic were really concerned I was manic but my doc thinks I was just being back to me....I was feeling good most days but still had some down days. We have slowly increased the Lamictal to 50 MG and we are shooting for 100MG BUT I am feeling more down now than up. Has anyone else felt this way or can anyone explain to me what perhaps has happened?? Should I back off on doseage or keep at it? Thanks so much...
> Marg
poster:Cindylou
thread:87753
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011222/msgs/87777.html