Posted by blueberry on May 23, 2006, at 17:53:20
In reply to Really unsure about Lamictal, posted by madeline on May 23, 2006, at 15:28:15
I agree with you about the prozac. After 8 years you are asking for a lot of trouble in just stopping it. If you were to stop it, I would take a year of slow tapering to avoid any frieking out of the body and mind. From personal experience in also taking it for 8 years, it is hell to get off of and hell to be off of, despite its long halflife. 8 years and your body pretty much relies on that molecule being there. Now that I am off and tried going back on, my body totally rejects it and it makes me suicidal. Sometimes you can't go back to where you were, and then you're in a mess.
Lamictal is nothing to be afraid of. In terms of psych meds, it is overall effective for a whole wide range of things and has a much milder side effect profile than most meds. It treats anxiety, schizophrenia, unipolar depression and bipolar depression.
To avoid the rash, start with 12.5mg for 4 - 7 days, and then increase the dose by the same amount every 7 days. If you get to a point where you think you are feeling good, stop at that dose, whatever it is. If you get side effects that bother you, stop at that dose, wait it out, and then move up when you're comfortable. To make a long story short, just go slow in small steps. Except for the rash, which is almost always a result of going up in dose to fast or in too big of steps, lamictal is safer than most meds you could take.
poster:blueberry
thread:647374
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060520/msgs/647450.html