Posted by poop'd-out on December 17, 2003, at 16:49:05
In reply to Re: Lamictal- dosage recommendations for depression?, posted by linnette on December 17, 2003, at 0:33:31
>
> I relapsed after only 3 or so weeks off of my AD's. Yes, it was my decision to stop the AD's, (a bad decision I think). My pdoc didn't think it such a bad idea, just to see how I would do with a MS alone. My appetite and energy was better before I went off of my AD's. And now both are in the toilet. I should have left well enough alone. At least I am sleeping now, but wake up a little anxious still..
>I understand about not having an appetite. When I'm depressed I would prefer not to eat anything. Everything tastes like cardboard. But, I learned a long time ago that I feel even worse when I don't eat, so I force myself to. I hope you are eating, it is really important to your physical and mental health. I find protein to be very important. I have to have my carbs though, or I get very cranky. The protein really tempers the carbs so you don't get that sugar crash. I like a nice juicy steak, makes me happy, truly. Sorry if you are a vegetarian. =)
> Your symptoms sound much like my own.. I can totally relate to the wanting to sleep, just sleep, and not caring about anything else. Although right now I am at the tail end of an agitated depression, or maybe a mixed state, I do know what you are feeling. And like yours, my depression is also very very physical. Since I have gone off of my AD's my back and my joints have been killing me, and I even think part of my flu was due to the other meds washing out of my system. Then I resumed my AD and miraculously my back feels so much better.
>You were still probably experiencing some of the w/d's from you AD's. I think alot of the agitation you are experiencing might be from the lamictal.
> Your comments about the irritability or rage, yes, I can totally relate. And that is the main reason I have hoped that a mood stabilizer would help me.
>
I don't think the lamictal is enough of a mood stabilizer on its own. From what I have read most people have ended up having to take it with either an AD or another MS. You could throw that idea out to your Doc?> Beth, you are on tegretol too? And zoloft, right? Did you have trouble getting adjusted to the tegretol? I tried 2 times to take it with no success, but maybe I should have stuck it out. Do you think it makes you less irritable, and what benefit does it have over the lamictal for you?
Yes, I had a rough time of it. I don't know why I actually ended up staying on it except that I had tried everything else and didn't know where else to turn. Also, my Doc had said that it may take 6mos-yr to work(yikes). The initial SE's that I had made the lamictal SE's like a walk in the park. It was so long ago I will try to remember what happened.
I was also on the neurontin then(and now). Initially, I ended up taking 4 tabs(800mg) all at night. That did not work at all. Tegretol is supposed to be long acting, but I knew that my body processes meds very quickly. So, since that wasn't working I decided to take it throughout the day instead. When I finally started combining it with my neurontin that is when it finally started working for me.
It wasn't always the best cocktail but I was alot less angry and my anxiety was all but nil. Eventually, we added the zoloft and that is another story!
This has been my staple cocktail for several years. Not the best but much much better than I was prior, alot of sweat and tears to get here!
>Also do you ever find that the lamictal reacts with the zoloft in any way, such as puts you in a very confused anxious state. Probably not, if you are on 100 mg. I think the effect I had a year ago with the 2 of them was somewhat rare.
>I don't think that I had that. Maybe at the very beginning. I also did some switching around with my meds(again). I used to take 50mg zoloft in the day and 50mg at night, I have switched it to 100mg at night taken with 300mg of neurontin. I don't take it concurrently with the lam so maybe that was your problem(if you did that).
> So now I am taking 200 mg lamictal, 30 mg nortriptyline, xanax 1.5 mg day. I guess that isn't so bad. Oh and a little dexedrine that I take for ADD. Right now it just helps me get my butt into work in the morning and that is about it, although I have missed days and have been late on several occasions.
>The dex and lam could probably interact to cause some of your agitation also. How long have you been on the nortriptyline? You might just want to chill until it kicks back in and see how you are from there? (In regards to adding any other meds at this time).
> Anyway, bring me up to date, and hoping you are sleeping less, and feeling a little more energetic. The holidays can sure aggravate things. I will keep you posted.
>I have just increased to 125mg of lam and feel much better! For how long, I don't know.
Just for your info this is how my complicated med schedule goes:(I don't eat 1 hour before of after taking tegretol or I just get tired and depressed)
Morning: 1-1/2 teg 200mg tabs
with 1 neurontin 300mg
Mid morn: 75mg lam with 1 neurontin
Lunch: 50mg lam with 1 neurontin
hour or
so after: 1-1/2 teg with 1 neurontin
2 or 2-1/2
hours later
or after
small snack: 1 teg with 1 neurontin
Dinner: sometime after and before bedtime
zoloft 100mg with 1 neurontinI like the neurontin as sort of a buffer to the other drugs. I'm not exactly sure how it helps, it just seems to compliment the other meds. It has a very short half-life so I take it all day long. My tummy also gets upset by most meds and I have found it to really helpful in that department.
Take care of yourself. I hope I helped and didn't make things more confusing for you.
Beth
poster:poop'd-out
thread:99395
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031213/msgs/291043.html