Posted by delna on October 7, 2009, at 12:14:14
In reply to What is Lamictal like?, posted by psych chat on October 7, 2009, at 10:27:23
> What's it like to try Lamictal for the first time?
>
> My newest PDoc suggests I try it since I've had recent bad luck with (too many) SSRIs and SNRIs after using them over the past decade or so.
>
> I have atypical depression with cognitive problems and its getting increasingly more difficult to be successful in school.
>
> Is trying Lamictal worth the risk while in school? My main concern is that I will be worse off than I am now (regarding side effects) during the trial period. Even a couple weeks of adverse side effects could lead to failing the entire semester....
>
> I won't be taking any other meds during a Lamictal trial, and have mainly been taking ADD meds for the past 6 months.
>
> I'm also under a trial of st johns wort. This actually has given me a very noticable energizing effect - but it only lasts a few hours in the morning and disappears. I'm still experimenting with the time I take it and dosage, so I'll likely try the lamictal in a month if this doesn't work out.
>
> Thanks for any advice.I have been taking it for over 5 years now and I can say it is a wonderful mood-stabalizer. It did nothing for my bipolar depression though- just worked on aggression and agitation which was really life changing. as for starting the drug I had no real side effects worth mentioning (not even sleepiness and everything makes me sleepy) As long as the titration is slow (which it has to be for Lamictal) then from personal experience I can say that there are no real side effects that will make school difficult. But I may be unique in that.
However Lamictal made my cognition worse- i mean people commented on how dumb I had gotten (forgetting words, losing train of thought etc) although I have read a paper or 2 stating that it is good for cognition.
Everyone reacts differently I guess. You should get quite a few replies because many people here are on it.
Take care
D
poster:delna
thread:920057
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20091001/msgs/920066.html