Posted by chemist on August 23, 2004, at 14:42:05
In reply to Lamictal: progressive brain slowing? » chemist, posted by AMD on August 23, 2004, at 14:34:02
hi adam, sorry to hear all this. i think first off that you should consider what Scott (SLS) and Sad Panda had to say, as in my opinion, they are better sources than i in this case (if not always). that said, given that you have experienced similar symptoms on drugs in the same class as lamictal, it is likely that this is the cause. you are 2 weeks in, that is not a long time by any stretch, as 6 to 8 weeks is when you can claim you really gave something a good try. now, that *is* a lot of celexa, and if you go down a bit on the lamictal and feel better, it should happen rather soon, and you can rule it out. the celexa is a little dicier, in my opinion. my opinion is that, given your similar reaction to other anti-convulsants, a logical thing to do is inform your doctor and reduce the lamictal by 50 mg/day at the outset. see if this remedies the problem, and stay at that level. if not, i would stay at a maintainence level of lamictal (100 mg/day, e.g.) and then adjust the celexa. please do get with your doctor, and please heed what the others have to say.....do keep us informed, all the best, chemist
> chemist,
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> Do you think the 200 mg of Lamictal might also be causing me to feel this extreme drowsiness. I'm hardly able to keep my eyes opened. My energy level is down, I'm breathing heavily (something I've noticed on all anticonvulsants), and I feel a general malaise. I'm starting to worry this is more serious, but I felt the similarly on Trileptal. Why would just just now start happening? I've been on 200 mg for a few weeks already.
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> Perhaps it's the higher dose of the Celexa.
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> Ugh -- I can feel my anxiety coming on ...
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> Adam
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> > > I've been on 200 mg of Lamictal/80 mg of Celexa for about a month now, and each day I feel progressively slower and weaker of mind. My memory is getting worse, my attention more so. What is going on? Is this Lamictal, or the high dose of Celexa? And are these results reversible?
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> > > Thanks,
> > > a
> >
> > hey there a....chemist here. it's the lamictal, the results are reversible, and a quick fix that also adds to mood stabilization while clearing up cognitive dulling is a cholinesterase inhibitor. i recommend looking into a low dose of aricept in concert with your doctor's approval. the mechanism involves blocking hydrolysis of acetylcholine (reversibly). if you want to go down another route, the ritalin/concerta/adderall/dexedrine/provigil one is an option, as your induced ADD/ADHD-like sympotoms could well be addressed by one of these meds. do keep us posted, be well, chemist
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poster:chemist
thread:381082
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040821/msgs/381340.html