Posted by Maximus on August 1, 2002, at 16:27:47
Hi,
My dx: bpII. (i.e. very few moments of hypomania but very often deep depressions).
I took Lamictal for 6 months with complete success, until anxiety spells and panic attacks strike me like a mad.
I was taking 200 mg of Lamictal. First, i tried to increase it. It was worse. Next, i tried to decrease it. It was a little bit better but still. After i added a benzo (rivotril) without success. Now i'm completely off Lamictal. The side effects are gone!!!
Lamictal is indeed a strange animal.
Actually i'm taking Effexor 150 mg a day and Rivotril (clonazepam) 1 mg a day. But i have to be on a mood stabilizer as soon as possible. I'm going to see my pdoc next week.
What is worried me is the choice of the mood stablizer. I've been on:
- Lithium: effective with an AD but i hated the blood drawns and weight gain.
- Neurontin: most expensive sugar pill. But it was relatively effective as an anti-anxiety med.
- Epival-Depakote: probably good for "hardcore" bipolars. But put me on eternal "zombification" without counting the weight gain.
- Topamax: never tried.
- New AP: never tried one of them.
Well, if you have any comments, experiences or suggestions, you're welcome.
poster:Maximus
thread:114841
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020731/msgs/114841.html