![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by lymom3 on March 20, 2007, at 17:52:23
I am going to try increasing my Lamictal dose from 75mg; 50 in the am and 25 in the pm; to 100mg. I have insomnia problems and have for a while; Lamictal or no Lamictal. The pdoc previously had told me to take majority of dose in the am if I was having problems sleeping. I honestly don't know if Lamictal is making sleep any worse or not. Seroquel has been helping me sleep the last couple weeks. Should I split the dose 50/50; try it all in the morning; all at night? Anyone have any suggestions? The pdoc gave me a script for 25mg pills and told me I could take it any way that worked for me; he just made it easier to split the dose.
Posted by Phillipa on March 20, 2007, at 21:28:18
In reply to Lamictal..when to take it, posted by lymom3 on March 20, 2007, at 17:52:23
Lymon experimentation. But splitting the dose sounds reasonable. 50mg of lamictal when I tried it took at night and didn't interfer with sleep. Of course valium at that time. But if I take a med in the am I worry about side effects. Good luck. Rest well. Love Phillipa let me know how it goes.
Posted by TheMeanReds on March 21, 2007, at 11:17:34
In reply to Re: Lamictal..when to take it » lymom3, posted by Phillipa on March 20, 2007, at 21:28:18
I've read that alot of people who take lamictal split up the dose. In my case, I take 100mg seroquel at night, and when I started lamictal my doc said to take it at night. I couldnt close my eyes. So, I take it all at once now around the time I wake up. Its like very strong coffee for me. I take it for Bipolar.
Posted by lymom3 on March 21, 2007, at 14:25:54
In reply to Re: Lamictal..when to take it, posted by TheMeanReds on March 21, 2007, at 11:17:34
I really think I might try all of mine in the morning tomorrow. I don't see any real need to split it up and the pdoc said for me to feel free to experiment and find what works for me.
Posted by TheMeanReds on March 21, 2007, at 15:31:31
In reply to Re: Lamictal..when to take it, posted by lymom3 on March 21, 2007, at 14:25:54
I'm glad you've got a plan. I hope it works well for you in the morning all at once. I do really think it has the most motivating qualities that way. Good Luck
Posted by nolegirl23 on March 21, 2007, at 16:15:18
In reply to Lamictal..when to take it, posted by lymom3 on March 20, 2007, at 17:52:23
> I am going to try increasing my Lamictal dose from 75mg; 50 in the am and 25 in the pm; to 100mg. I have insomnia problems and have for a while; Lamictal or no Lamictal. The pdoc previously had told me to take majority of dose in the am if I was having problems sleeping. I honestly don't know if Lamictal is making sleep any worse or not. Seroquel has been helping me sleep the last couple weeks. Should I split the dose 50/50; try it all in the morning; all at night? Anyone have any suggestions? The pdoc gave me a script for 25mg pills and told me I could take it any way that worked for me; he just made it easier to split the dose.
I take 200 mgs of Lamictal, and my Pdoc instructed me to take the full 200 mg dose at night. I found that the 200 mgs at night caused insomnia and HORRIBLE dreams. Very vivid and horrible dreams.
I then decided to take it in the morning (the full 200 mgs.). I found it to be very soothing, and I felt calm during the day. On the down side, I felt sleepy and at about 2:00 pm, I would crash, I literally couldn't keep my eyes open.I then thought about splitting the 200 mg pill in half, take 100 mg in the am, 100 in the pm. I looked at the bottle of Lamictal, and it clearly states that the pill is to be taken whole. It says not to split, crush or chew the pill.
So, now I'm back to taking it at night, as prescribed. Weird dreams are still a problem, but insomnia is no longer an issue.
Posted by notfred on March 21, 2007, at 16:35:17
In reply to Re: Lamictal..when to take it, posted by nolegirl23 on March 21, 2007, at 16:15:18
GSK, the manufacture for Lamictal, says divided dose. 1/2 life is such that in 24 hrs, almost half of the med is gone from your body. They also say only the childrens pills are not to be divided.
25 mgs pills and up are scored, as they are ment to be divded.
Posted by nolegirl23 on March 21, 2007, at 20:02:00
In reply to Re: Lamictal..when to take it, posted by notfred on March 21, 2007, at 16:35:17
> GSK, the manufacture for Lamictal, says divided dose. 1/2 life is such that in 24 hrs, almost half of the med is gone from your body. They also say only the childrens pills are not to be divided.
> 25 mgs pills and up are scored, as they are ment to be divded.
Strange, I wonder why my bottle from the pharmacy has clear instructions to take the pill whole, to not crush, split or chew ?
Posted by notfred on March 22, 2007, at 11:33:26
In reply to Re: Lamictal..when to take it, posted by nolegirl23 on March 21, 2007, at 20:02:00
> Strange, I wonder why my bottle from the pharmacy has clear instructions to take the pill whole, to not crush, split or chew ?
>
>Lamictal is very very bitter tasting, so you want to avoid crushing and chewing. If your directions
do not require you to split the tablet, don't.
For the most part people take doses in 100 mg increments so there is no need to split tabs
as Lamictal comes in several amounts (25,50, 100, 150, 200). Given this, if someone is splitting tabs it is likely they are no longer taking the
full prescribed dose. This is a really big deal if you are taking it for seizures as lowering the dose without a docs advice can bring on seizures.I am titrating up from 100 mgs in 75 mgs increments. I would need to buy 25, 50, and 100
tabs to do this without splitting & that would cost around $1,000 a month. It is much cheaper to give me 150 mgs tabs, which slip into 75 mgs.
The tab splits very cleanly along the scored line.
Once I get to 300mgs a day I will not need to split tabs and I also do not need a new prescription.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.