Posted by Ritch on July 30, 2002, at 8:18:56
In reply to Re: Lamictal and Neurontin Strange effects, posted by Peter S. on July 30, 2002, at 1:15:52
> > > Help!
> > >
> > > OK here's the regimen:
> > > 600 mg Lamictal/day
> > > 900 mg Neurontin/day
> > >
> > > I have had experiences of "dissociation" where I seem to have disconnected from my body- like my brain is somewhere else. Kind of feeling spacy but not really- it makes it very difficult to drive because it takes a great deal of concentration to keep the reflexes going. Before, during, and after these episodes my mood is extremely good- I don't know if it's hypomanic or just "good"- I have yet to distinguish these two. Within the next day or two I crash and burn and go back to my mild to moderate depressed state.
> > >
> > > Anybody ever experienced this? Is this kind of dissociation associated with hypomanic episodes. Lamictal has been the best thing for me- it has really helped, but now that I've increased my dose as it has petered out, I'm getting these experiences.
> > >
> > > Any help would be most appreciated!
> > >
> > > Peter
> >
> > Hi Peter,
> >
> > I got that with higher doses of Neurontin and Gabitril. It felt like my arms and hands were connected to someone else (very odd). Have you been OK on the 900mg/day of Neurontin for quite some time before you bumped the Lamictal dose? Six hundred mg of Lamictal is actually quite high. You may have to reduce your Lamictal dose.
> >
> > Mitch
> >
>
> Mitch,
>
> Thanks for recounting your experience. Actually I started bumping up the Lamictal first and then added the Neurontin. At first it seemed to really work and then of course the rolling of moods started. Good for 4 to 5 days and then crash. I also have a pattern where if I take a nap in the afternoon it kills me and causes extreme depression. This has always been the way with sleep- getting a good night sleep can really cause depression.
>
> I might do as you say and decrease the dosage of Lamictal, but I really thought that going up to such a high dosage would help- and it does to some extent. I have'nt noticed any side effects at all except for that dissociation feeling that happens occasionally. I'm seeing my Pdoc soon so we will talk about it.
>
> Thanx for the input.
>
> Peter
>Peter,
So you added the Neurontin lastly? It's probably the Neurontin. I noticed the depersonalization the most at doses above 900mg/day of N. Neurontin has a very short half-life. If you notice it the most about a couple of hours after a Neurontin dose-that's probably your culprit. Also, I found 300mg doses just to be a little much when combined with other meds that can cause drowsiness. I was on Topamax with Neurontin and nearly wrecked my car a couple of times and found myself being waked up at friend's house for snoring on their couch!
Mitch
poster:Ritch
thread:114238
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020725/msgs/114356.html