Posted by Bela on August 25, 2003, at 10:12:51
In reply to Re: Lamictal: withdrawal, poop-out, effectiveness, posted by HenryO on August 23, 2003, at 4:36:47
>Many thanks to both Jah and Henry. Jah, you asked for my diagnoses. I am not sure whether you mean professional or personal, so I will give you both. I read considerable med literature because of my science/med background, and have done successful self-diagnoses before. Frequently, I find I have read more extensively than the docs, a common experience I am sure most of you have had. I am not trying to be critical; docs are overwhelmed with ever-changing literature.
A few years back, I was coerced into taking an SSRIs for insomnia. Prior to taking the SSRIs and mood stabilizers, I never had deep depression (suicidal thoughts), mania, or abnormal mood swings. Since taking the meds, I have experienced all of these except the mania. I was unsuccessfully placed on Lithium, then Lamictal to augment the failing SSRIs.
My personal life has never been anything but positive, with the exception of significant sexual dysfunctionality brought on by the meds. I am 60 and physically, at least, very healthy. Currently, I am titrating slowly off Remeron, but concurrently taking Lamictal (200 mg) and Lexipro (10 mg), both which likely mask the Remeron reduction. I feel great (positive, motivated, energy, NOT manic), but I have felt this way in the past, only to crash very abruptly. But, I emphasize, the crashes have been a post-med initiation phenomenon. There you have it. Again,thanks.
BelaI agree with the above post, if I read it correctly. I think long term SSRI use messes one up. I'd say slowly taper off the SSRI and see what the Lamictal alone is like. SSRI's were not good for me after about two years, but Lamictal by itself has been pretty good. Those SSRI's take a long time to leave your system. Be patient and when you start to feel awful boost the Lamictal a bit. I have gone through periods in which I felt my meds weren't working at all. Only to find out when I went off them that they had in fact been keeping me from experiencing something far worse.
poster:Bela
thread:253110
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030823/msgs/253840.html