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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Chaston on April 5, 2001, at 20:14:47
Hi,
I have read that lamotrigine is both a mood stabilizer and an antidepressant. Has anyone here had experience using it alone, or as the primary med, to control bipolar II depression?
Several people that I have talked to with recently diagnosed bipolar disorders were prescribed lamotrigine by their Pdocs. Most of these people, though, got diagnosed while in manic phases. I have had more problems with depression, but do experience elevated moods that have turned hypomanic on antidepressants. Apparently, I have bipolar II, and I also have periodic problems with anxiety.
For the past 5 months, I have been taking Depakote (750-1250 mg) and Neurontin (1000 mg) along with 125mg Zoloft/day. Although I've been having 1 or 2 up days a week over the last couple of months, I'm depressed the other 5 or 6. Various SSRIs have helped me a great deal in the past with both depression and anxiety, but I don't want to risk worsening the mood swings by increasing the dosage of Zoloft too much. I'm wondering if I should ask my Pdoc to consider lamotrigine to replace all three.
Posted by phillybob on April 5, 2001, at 21:49:31
In reply to Anyone tried lamotrigine (Lamictal) by itself?, posted by Chaston on April 5, 2001, at 20:14:47
There are some trials of Lamictal (lamotrigine) monotherapy goin' on right now ... for example, I am and so is Jah ( http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010302/msgs/55962.html ).
But, we're at the early stages. I'd be curious to know who is using Lamictal as therapy with success, too.
Posted by BK on April 5, 2001, at 22:06:34
In reply to Anyone tried lamotrigine (Lamictal) by itself?, posted by Chaston on April 5, 2001, at 20:14:47
> Hi,
>
> I have read that lamotrigine is both a mood stabilizer and an antidepressant. Has anyone here had experience using it alone, or as the primary med, to control bipolar II depression?
>
> Several people that I have talked to with recently diagnosed bipolar disorders were prescribed lamotrigine by their Pdocs. Most of these people, though, got diagnosed while in manic phases. I have had more problems with depression, but do experience elevated moods that have turned hypomanic on antidepressants. Apparently, I have bipolar II, and I also have periodic problems with anxiety.
>
> For the past 5 months, I have been taking Depakote (750-1250 mg) and Neurontin (1000 mg) along with 125mg Zoloft/day. Although I've been having 1 or 2 up days a week over the last couple of months, I'm depressed the other 5 or 6. Various SSRIs have helped me a great deal in the past with both depression and anxiety, but I don't want to risk worsening the mood swings by increasing the dosage of Zoloft too much. I'm wondering if I should ask my Pdoc to consider lamotrigine to replace all three.I tried Lamictal for about four months and did experience some positive cognitive effects and some mood ehancement as well. Unfortunatley, I also experienced rather painful sore throats and a persistent and severe dandruff that made me eventually stop using the drug. Compared to most AD's, I found the side effects, other than the ones i just mentioned, not too severe. Its definitely worth a try and I noticed improvements within two weeks. Good luck.
Posted by phillybob on April 5, 2001, at 22:30:13
In reply to Re: Anyone tried lamotrigine (Lamictal) by itself?, posted by BK on April 5, 2001, at 22:06:34
> I tried Lamictal for about four months and did experience some positive cognitive effects and some mood ehancement as well.
Hi, BK. What dosage were you on and how slowly/quickly did you get there?
>Unfortunatley, I also experienced rather painful sore throats and a persistent and severe dandruff that made me eventually stop using the drug.
I've actually been taking zinc tablets at the first sign of dandruff, and it's helped. No sore throats (yet ... knock on wood). I did have them with Topamax, though.
So, BK, are you taking something different now and having as much or more success than your Lamictal trial?
Thanks for your input.
Posted by BK on April 6, 2001, at 17:33:11
In reply to Re: Anyone tried lamotrigine (Lamictal) by itself? » BK, posted by phillybob on April 5, 2001, at 22:30:13
> > I tried Lamictal for about four months and did experience some positive cognitive effects and some mood ehancement as well.
>
> Hi, BK. What dosage were you on and how slowly/quickly did you get there?
>
> >Unfortunatley, I also experienced rather painful sore throats and a persistent and severe dandruff that made me eventually stop using the drug.
>
> I've actually been taking zinc tablets at the first sign of dandruff, and it's helped. No sore throats (yet ... knock on wood). I did have them with Topamax, though.
>
> So, BK, are you taking something different now and having as much or more success than your Lamictal trial?
>
> Thanks for your input.Bob,
I started pretty slow, about 50mg/day. I eventually increased up to 200mg/day after about six weeks and then leveled off at 100mg/day. Initially, I did notice a significant improvement in my cognitive abilities. Specifically, I felt that I was writing and speaking better. I also noticed that my energy level was higher and that I required less sleep (which was a good thing since I had trouble sleeping while on the drug).
Eventually, though, the sore throat (which is a first time experience while on any AD) really seemed to outweigh the advantages. Combined with the severe dandruff, I thought it best to stop. Incidentally, it was from reading a thread here that i realized the dandruff and sore throat were induced from the Lamictal. I initially thought I had a sinus infection or something similar.
I've been experimenting with Adrafinil for about two months. I'm taking a dosage of 300mg/day and really haven't had any positives in the way of mood enhancement. I'm thinking about supplementing with Prozac as was recommended herein. I recently stopped taking it for a few days and actually felt better. I've experienced this phenomenon with a lot of AD's. It seems by dramatically reducing the dosage, they miraculously kick in, albeit for a short period.
The only AD that truly worked for me was Nardil. I felt incredible while taking it . Unfortunately, it totally stopped working after three months. I tried to take it again, several years later, but I just didn't get the same effects that i once had.
I hope the info proves useful and if you have any suggestions for me, that too would be appreciated. Good luck.
BK
Posted by Chaston on April 6, 2001, at 21:04:56
In reply to Re: Anyone tried lamotrigine (Lamictal) by itself?, posted by BK on April 6, 2001, at 17:33:11
Thanks for the info on Lamictal and possible side effects.
> > > I tried Lamictal for about four months and did experience some positive cognitive effects and some mood ehancement as well.
> >
> > Hi, BK. What dosage were you on and how slowly/quickly did you get there?
> >
> > >Unfortunatley, I also experienced rather painful sore throats and a persistent and severe dandruff that made me eventually stop using the drug.
> >
> > I've actually been taking zinc tablets at the first sign of dandruff, and it's helped. No sore throats (yet ... knock on wood). I did have them with Topamax, though.
> >
> > So, BK, are you taking something different now and having as much or more success than your Lamictal trial?
> >
> > Thanks for your input.
>
> Bob,
>
> I started pretty slow, about 50mg/day. I eventually increased up to 200mg/day after about six weeks and then leveled off at 100mg/day. Initially, I did notice a significant improvement in my cognitive abilities. Specifically, I felt that I was writing and speaking better. I also noticed that my energy level was higher and that I required less sleep (which was a good thing since I had trouble sleeping while on the drug).
>
> Eventually, though, the sore throat (which is a first time experience while on any AD) really seemed to outweigh the advantages. Combined with the severe dandruff, I thought it best to stop. Incidentally, it was from reading a thread here that i realized the dandruff and sore throat were induced from the Lamictal. I initially thought I had a sinus infection or something similar.
>
> I've been experimenting with Adrafinil for about two months. I'm taking a dosage of 300mg/day and really haven't had any positives in the way of mood enhancement. I'm thinking about supplementing with Prozac as was recommended herein. I recently stopped taking it for a few days and actually felt better. I've experienced this phenomenon with a lot of AD's. It seems by dramatically reducing the dosage, they miraculously kick in, albeit for a short period.
>
> The only AD that truly worked for me was Nardil. I felt incredible while taking it . Unfortunately, it totally stopped working after three months. I tried to take it again, several years later, but I just didn't get the same effects that i once had.
>
> I hope the info proves useful and if you have any suggestions for me, that too would be appreciated. Good luck.
>
> BK
Posted by avoet on April 6, 2001, at 23:15:31
In reply to Anyone tried lamotrigine (Lamictal) by itself?, posted by Chaston on April 5, 2001, at 20:14:47
chaston,
i sympathize with your depression and anxiety and i am sorry you are having so many depressed days. i take lamictal and it helped with the depression but not the anxiety. i also take geodon and celexa for anxiety. lamictal is good for stopping cyclic depression. it also causes no weight gain! good luck - hope you have less depressed days.
amanda
Posted by Chaston on April 7, 2001, at 10:20:01
In reply to Re: Anyone tried lamotrigine (Lamictal) by itself?, posted by avoet on April 6, 2001, at 23:15:31
Thanks Amanda, I hope you're feeling better, too.
> chaston,
>
> i sympathize with your depression and anxiety and i am sorry you are having so many depressed days. i take lamictal and it helped with the depression but not the anxiety. i also take geodon and celexa for anxiety. lamictal is good for stopping cyclic depression. it also causes no weight gain! good luck - hope you have less depressed days.
> amanda
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