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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by confused186 on August 13, 2005, at 10:44:35
Hi I'm new to dr. bob and find this site to be amazing and informative.I was wondering if anyone had any good effects from lamictal. I have been dealing with depression for 7yrs now and recently was diagnosed with being bipolar. I tried abilify and got those horrible muscle spasms and twitches after 6 days on it and had to stop taking it. Now im on lamictal my doc says i wont feel anything really till at least 150-200 milligrams yet he started me on 25 milligrams and wants to move me 25 milligrams up every 2 weeks. I feel absolutely nothing and wondering how am i supposed to hold on till i get to 200 milligrams and does this med even work? I have been known to be treatment resistant ive been on.....zoloft, prozac, wellbutrin,paxil,lexapro,celexa,remeron,klonopin(which was for sleep and no nightmares)my doc says trhose didnt help since im bipolar and dont just suffer from depression. I'm just fed up and tired and almost hopeless at this point...my m oods are out of control one minute im ok the next so angry im chewing somebody's head off and thinking all kinds of weird crazy things.Sometimes im so mean I want to stop myself but I just cant control my words and then I'll cry afterwards becuase im so sorry...the lows I cant get out of bed and I just cant go outside cant even stand the sunlight. Yet again I can be high up thinking i'm so smart and clever and shop till I drop and get such a rush. I can't manage it anymore
Posted by gardenergirl on August 13, 2005, at 21:21:10
In reply to lamictal, posted by confused186 on August 13, 2005, at 10:39:20
Hi confused, welcome to Babble!
I take Lamictal to augment the MAOI I take for atypical depression. My pdoc had me start low and go slow as well. This is the best way to avoid potentially dangerous side effects such as the rash that can be associated with Lamictal.
I know it's hard to wait for a drug to take effect, but try to be patient. It's been helping me so far, and from what I understand, it's very good for treating the lows of bipolar.
Hang in there and keep posting if it helps!
gg
Posted by john berk on August 13, 2005, at 21:32:23
In reply to lamictal, posted by confused186 on August 13, 2005, at 10:39:20
Hi, i actually just got off the phone with my friend who is bi-polar with ocd, and he said lamictal saved his life 3 years ago!! he never mentioned dosages with me, but he still takes it, and said it is great, and he is also quite med-resistant!! hang in there, low and slow, he said in 3 weeks his major depression, [for which he was hospitalized] was almost entirely gone!!
good luck, stay strong...john
Posted by willyee on August 14, 2005, at 13:22:08
In reply to Re: lamictal » confused186, posted by gardenergirl on August 13, 2005, at 21:21:10
> Hi confused, welcome to Babble!
>
> I take Lamictal to augment the MAOI I take for atypical depression. My pdoc had me start low and go slow as well. This is the best way to avoid potentially dangerous side effects such as the rash that can be associated with Lamictal.
>
> I know it's hard to wait for a drug to take effect, but try to be patient. It's been helping me so far, and from what I understand, it's very good for treating the lows of bipolar.
>
> Hang in there and keep posting if it helps!
>
> gg
Im curious what if someone is exper significant lows at the current time?I understand the importance of mood stablization with meds like lamictal,but not having anything to actualy elevate u out of the depression itself,wont that only make noticing if a stablizer is effective that much harder?Is there a system to what u treat first?Is it ok to treat maniac before depression when both are cycling,meaning prescribing a stablizer alone with no anti-depressant?Im just curious...btw psst,hi!!
Posted by gardenergirl on August 15, 2005, at 1:21:30
In reply to Re: lamictal, posted by willyee on August 14, 2005, at 13:22:08
>
> Im curious what if someone is exper significant lows at the current time?I understand the importance of mood stablization with meds like lamictal,but not having anything to actualy elevate u out of the depression itself,wont that only make noticing if a stablizer is effective that much harder?Hi willyee,
That's a good question. I think my pdoc was saying that she uses Lamictal to augment mood stabilizers to treat the depressive end. I think in that regard she is having luck with it elevating someone out of depression. But as far as what to treat first, manic or depression...I don't know. I suppose someone would treat what is present at the moment or perhaps which state presents more of a risk?I don't know as much about bipolar treatment or especially rapid cycling, so I'm just sort of guessing here.
gg
>
> Is there a system to what u treat first?Is it ok to treat maniac before depression when both are cycling,meaning prescribing a stablizer alone with no anti-depressant?Im just curious...btw psst,hi!!
>
>
This is the end of the thread.
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