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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 17 of 17. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by ace on November 30, 2004, at 23:05:43
Guys -- i have being doing a lot of research on Lamictal and I hgave barely seen one negative response for depression....actually all the responses have been brilliant
success stories please...and at what dose???I just hope my acid reflux goes away....i am using a poten proton inhibitor now, so cross your fingers for me!
I love all you guys!!!Ace
Nardil- 90mg
Zyprexa- 2.5
Xanax- 2-4mg
Lamictal- 25mg
Posted by saw on December 1, 2004, at 0:50:37
In reply to Lamictal Success stories!, posted by ace on November 30, 2004, at 23:05:43
Unfortunately, Lamictal is not working for me. I am taking 100mg a day and have become deeply depressed, full of rage, aggressive and quite irritable. My husband says I switch between 10 different bad moods a day.
I moved from Effexor XR to Lamictal because of the weight gain. This also hasn't stopped and I am gaining on a daily basis.
The only thing Lamictal has achieved for me is to be able to function to the bare minimum.
I am at a loss as to what I can take now.
Sabrina
Posted by justyourlaugh on December 1, 2004, at 7:29:34
In reply to Re: Lamictal Success stories!, posted by saw on December 1, 2004, at 0:50:37
giving it a try aswell..
last night started 25...jyl
60 celexa
.75 synthroid
25 lamictal
Posted by theo on December 1, 2004, at 7:32:49
In reply to Re: Lamictal Success stories!, posted by saw on December 1, 2004, at 0:50:37
Lamictal is great while it works, meaning every time you increase the dose you feel good then it poops out, leading to a dose increase. Pretty much as benzos do. It's a cycle that can get old. Just remember, the higher you go up in dose, the harder it is to come off. I know people who have chased the "good" feeling all the way to 500mg only to find themselves disappointed.
I think Lamictal is a good mood stabilizer, but not a good antidepressant by itself.
I also experienced upper respritory infections, felt sick alot on doses above 100mg. I also never had mood swings, always more of a down person, depressed.
Now that I've been on Lamictal I have had huge mood swings and been angry.
I guess you won't know until you try!
Posted by becksA on December 1, 2004, at 8:20:12
In reply to Re: Lamictal Success stories! » saw, posted by theo on December 1, 2004, at 7:32:49
Well that is all very discouraging to hear. I'm up to 75mg daily, and have noticed a significant increase in my mood, feeling much better. Sounds like I'm just on a dead-end road though? Great! (sarcasm).
I did read a lot of stories about people taking it with SSRI's or other AD's, but I've tried ENDLESS different ones of those, and NONE had any effect on me whatsoever, if not a negative one. So, I kinda feel that Lamictal is my last hope...except maybe MAOI's?, which I really don't want to get into if I don't have to.
Are there any cases where people finally stabilized at a dosage that worked for them?
Posted by Wildflower on December 1, 2004, at 15:14:33
In reply to Lamictal Success stories!, posted by ace on November 30, 2004, at 23:05:43
I seem to be pretty well with 50 mg of lamictal. It keeps me from experiencing the extreme sadness that was crippling me. Some days I feel like a zombie but I'd rather be flat than deal with that downward spiral again.
I'm also taking wellbutrin, cymbalta and seroquel.
Posted by banga on December 1, 2004, at 20:33:17
In reply to Re: Lamictal Success stories! » ace, posted by Wildflower on December 1, 2004, at 15:14:33
I recently started Lamictal, still too early to tell but I am beginning to get rid of awful anxiety that Cymbalta gave me.
When I looked at people's ratings of Lamictal on the info board www.remedyfind.com, I was quite encouraged. Some peolple there had been on it for quite a while and felt good.
Posted by Soulnik on December 1, 2004, at 21:52:45
In reply to Lamictal Success stories!, posted by ace on November 30, 2004, at 23:05:43
I'm hopeful that it will work too. I've been on 100 mgs for about a week. I have noticed more energy so I am keeping my fingers crossed. My pdoc swears by the stuff for depression. I hope it works for all of us!!!
Posted by theo on December 1, 2004, at 22:26:04
In reply to Re: Lamictal Success stories!, posted by Soulnik on December 1, 2004, at 21:52:45
Do you take it in the morning or night?
Posted by Soulnik on December 1, 2004, at 22:57:11
In reply to Re: Lamictal Success stories! » Soulnik, posted by theo on December 1, 2004, at 22:26:04
Theo,
I take it in the morning, right after breakfast.
Nikki
Posted by catmint on December 2, 2004, at 2:49:08
In reply to Re: Lamictal Success stories! » theo, posted by Soulnik on December 1, 2004, at 22:57:11
Posted by Mr.Scott on December 2, 2004, at 23:44:58
In reply to 200 mg/day,2 years,LOVE IT (nm), posted by catmint on December 2, 2004, at 2:49:08
I don't get how you guys can tolerate the stuff...If I take 50mg of Lamictal at night before bed I'm a zombie the next day????
So I'm forced to stay at 25mg unless I'm supposed to wait for the fatigue and lethargy to pass??? Does it?
I also take 25mg Zoloft and .5mg Klonopin. Maybe they are all reacting in the body or something..
Scott
Posted by catmint on December 3, 2004, at 0:56:23
In reply to Lamictal question » catmint, posted by Mr.Scott on December 2, 2004, at 23:44:58
Your fatigue might be due to the night dosing.I always take Lamictal in the morning and afternoon. Taking it at night seems counter productive; it is an energizing med for most of us, that's why it is so excellent for bipolar depression.
Are you sleeping well?
Posted by theo on December 3, 2004, at 6:59:57
In reply to Lamictal question » catmint, posted by Mr.Scott on December 2, 2004, at 23:44:58
If you feel like zombie, taking it in the morning might only make it worse. I would try taking earlier eve versus bedtime, say around 8:00pm. Also this will give you a chance to see how you react to it while awake.
Posted by maryhelen on December 4, 2004, at 16:55:46
In reply to Re: Lamictal Success stories!, posted by saw on December 1, 2004, at 0:50:37
I had tremendous success a couple of years ago when I took Lamitcal. Early on, at 50 mg., I was began to feel a noticeable improvement to my depression. I was quite shocked that it worked so fast. By the time I reached 150 mg. I was NOT depressed. This would be the first time in my life that I could say this. In fact, it was kinda scary, even though that sounds weird. I could not believe that this is the way life could be. It was quite stunning. I can remember at the time, that I had a huge hair loss while I was taking Lithium, prior to Lamitcal. The hair loss continued, but I did not care anymore. I can remember thinking that I would not care if I went bald, if it would mean feeling the way I was. I would just wear a wig.
Unfortunately, after about 6 weeks I began to feel that I was losing the positive response. I had such a sick feeling in my stomach, but stayed positive, and worked with dosing with my pdoc. I continued to have a response for about 8 weeks, when it became evident that I was definitely losing the effect and was returning to the depression. I do not have to tell you how I felt. Given that I, like so many others, have tried so many antidepressants and combos, that I can't even remember all of them ........ my doc and I stayed with it for over a year, going up as high as 450. I have even had two separate rounds of ECT..... hosptitalalizations, all different types of therapy ......... and couldn't believe that something had worked, after having pretty much lost hope.
After a lifetime of knowing mostly sadness and for the past 25 years being chronically depressed, living outside of hell, it seems, in darkness and hopelessness (sp) .... treatment resistant (but for the exception of the Lamitcal) WHY, WHY, WHY, HOW ......... HOW did Lamitcal work and then stop.
I am not able to come to this wonderful site very often, given the level of depression I am living in, but would like to ask a question. I wonder if there has been any information I may have missed, that Lamitcal works better for those who are bipolar?
I wish all of those receiving a response to Lamitcal ......... continued success. I wish that I could have been more positive.
Thank you for listening. I hope I have made some sense, as I have a hard time getting my thoughts down.
maryhelen
Posted by Mr.Scott on December 6, 2004, at 22:28:08
In reply to Re: Lamictal Success stories!, posted by maryhelen on December 4, 2004, at 16:55:46
My heart truly goes out to you, and I can relate just as surely as the sun will rise tomorrow morning.
That happened to me with both Prozac and Nardil. They temporarilly gave me an opportunity to see what others may see and it brought me to fully recognize that there is something wrong with me. The upshot is that I know how to act despite how I feel wheras prior to that experience of euthymia I thought I was normal. The problem is that any hope of acceptance is forever lost and I am chasing those glimpses of happiness I once felt for a brief period.
May we all find happiness one day in whatever form it comes.
Scott
Posted by snowy on December 20, 2004, at 23:00:16
In reply to Lamictal Success stories!, posted by ace on November 30, 2004, at 23:05:43
Hi, I have a question, do you take your lamictal all in one dose or split it up into two doses during the day? Thanks for your help.
snowy
This is the end of the thread.
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