Posted by JohnX2 on April 17, 2002, at 1:11:34
In reply to Re: Help,Li vs. Zyprexa vs Lamictal for manic symptoms » JohnX2, posted by Ritch on April 16, 2002, at 9:18:39
Hi Gang,Thanks for the feedback.
I'm going to 1st test out the
Lamictal + high dose Serzone combo + ditch/lower Topamax. Any doubting thomases?Just give it a quick 1-2 week run.
I haven't felt some of the good benefits I felt from my last Serzone trial at the stronger dose.I'm next to positive that the Topamax is the root of my hypomanic swings.
Its interesting that with the Lamictal in place, the Serzone does not make me feel dizzy or drugged out at all. Do you think this is because the Lamictal is guard banding the glutamate effects caused by Serzone? I know that Serzone last time kinda felt like when I started lamictal...hard to walk straight lines, dizzy, etc. Ramblings...
Also, I would like to know if Lamictal has serotonin reuptake properties. The Lamictal at doses above 150 mg induces myofacial pain (tension headaches, tight jaw) and flattens my mood. And this is consistent with medicines that are SSRIs (like Zoloft). Anyone know about this? If the Serzone blocks this, then I may be able to push my Lamictal to a higher dose for better mood stabilization....
Thanks for listening to my drivel.
John
> > Lately I'm getting pins and needles in my hands.
> > I think it is the topamax. I'm getting nervous about being on too many meds.
> >
> >
> > Last time I took Serzone at a stronger dose it had a substantial anxiolytic response with absolutely no hypomania (very stable response), I was on no mood stabilizer at the time. Good AD response, and it completly alleviated my myofacial pain. No other AD pre mood-stabilizer did this (they all were non responders, or hypomanic response followed by poop-out). This time Serzone is not making feel the least bit drugged out (no cognitive impairment). Last time I felt drugged out and got into a fender-bender, so i quit the med.
> >
> > I'm just wondering if I can get my meds down to:
> >
> > Lamictal + Serzone
> >
> > before trying:
> >
> > Lamictal + Serzone + Topamax + Lithium.
> >
> > *Before* I added Serzone I had some wild hypomanic swings, this was shortly after topamax augmentation and during klonopin taper.
> >
> > I wish I could take Depakote, but it is a placebo for me. Trileptal gives me crushing myofacial pain, but a nice AD response.
> >
> > John
>
>
> Hmmm. Well, Topamax gave me quite a bit of tingles-needles-pins (paresthesia) at just 50mg/day. You mentioned that TOP seemed to trigger hypomania at the higher doses, and Serzone seems to have some sustainable positive efect. Of course you have already found your Lamictal dose of 150mg/day. I think you are right about delaying the lithium trial for a while. It sounds like the next step would be to do just one thing: Start tapering the Topamax. The Serzone is helping your myofacial pain. It would be nice if it could do it on its own??
>
> good luck,
> Tell us what happens either way.
>
> Mitch
poster:JohnX2
thread:103174
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020416/msgs/103310.html