Posted by blueboy on June 18, 2008, at 14:05:42
In reply to Lamictal: can I use as needed?, posted by NewHampshireGuy on June 15, 2008, at 19:44:47
> Hello,
>
> I actually got some kind of response to Lamictal on 25 mg where it curbed my mania quite a bit and the noise in my head
>
> I am affraid to go up, as I think my already bad insomnia is made worse by it.
>
> I was hoping it would somehow positivly affect my serotonin receptors as I have reason to believe my sleep problems also lie there
>
> I am debating going up to 50 mg to see if the noise in the head and sleep problems completely go away/I feel re-balanced so to speak.
>
> my question:
>
> if that doesn't work and I am too stimulated at 50mg (I am very sensitive to medications), can I use lamicatal during episodes to bring me back down into remission?
>Okay, I am no expert and I'm just starting on Lamictal. That said, my understanding of it is that it is not considered useful to stop a depressive episode once it starts, but is generally used to prevent it from starting. I'm just guessing that the same holds true for a manic or hypomanic problem.
Also, at least in my case and also what I understand, it takes a number of days to become effective.
So, my thought would be "No, you can't use it as needed."
> is 50 mg too little of a dose to be thereputic? I honestly seemed to notice a good difference on 25 mg, but like it didn't QUITE get me exactely back to feeling normal, but close
>No, my pdoc says that most of his patients are on 50mg/day. He has one patient who takes only 25mg per day and swears by it.
My layman's suggestion would be to consider trying 50mg and see if you can sleep. If not, drop back. Also, others have told me that some of the manic-inducing side effects lessen over time, so be sure you give it a couple of weeks before you decide the insomnia is too bad to take.
poster:blueboy
thread:834778
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080617/msgs/835270.html