Posted by SLS on August 12, 2006, at 22:27:29
In reply to Re: Is Kramer right? » SLS, posted by Dinah on August 12, 2006, at 20:39:19
> I'm actually on a very low dose for migraines. I wouldn't mind increasing it, as I haven't felt any ill effects. If I get up my nerve enough, maybe I'll mention it to my pdoc. (I'm more than a bit scared of my new psychiatrist, but there isn't a lot of choice out there.)
>
> It doesn't make you stupid does it? I've lost enough IQ points as it is.It can, but it is infrequent. However, when it does happen, it usually doesn't appear until one reaches dosages of 300mg and higher. 200mg seems to be the average effective dosage for bipolar disorder. No guarantees. You have to try it and see. Lamictal became popular, in part, because it was considered to be relatively free of cognitive side effects compared to the other anticonvulsants. I found that it produced some memory problems early in treatment that dissipated with continued use. I began to experience cognitive side effects at 300mg. At 150mg, I suffer no memory or cognitive impairments at all.
If you have the bad luck to be in the minority, and you find yourself getting really stupid, all you have to do is reduce the dosage. Nobody is going to hold a gun to your head. After being at 300mg for months, my head cleared within 48 hours after reducing the dosage to 200mg. Very few people on Psycho-Babble complain of cognitive side effects with Lamictal.
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:675829
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060810/msgs/675955.html