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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Janelle on September 15, 2001, at 20:38:28
I am titrating up (gradually) on Lamictal, and just today started taking 50 mg in the am and 25 in pm, up from 25 am and 25 pm. Well, a few hours after taking 50 mg in the am, did I ever feel lightheaded and a bit more anxious. Is this a "typical" side effect? Anyone on Lamictal experience this? Will it go away. Pdoc's goal is to get me to at least 100 mg doing 50 in am and 50 in pm, but thankfully I don't add in the next 50 for another week. Any info greatly appreciated.
Posted by Hattree on September 16, 2001, at 15:29:44
In reply to Help! LAMICTAL and lightheadedness, anxious?, posted by Janelle on September 15, 2001, at 20:38:28
Was it helping at just 50? I find 25 in the am and 25 in the pm to be helpful, and haven't increased in a month or two. Don't know if that will do the trick for bipolar; I take it for disthymia. How about trying 37.5 for a few days?
> I am titrating up (gradually) on Lamictal, and just today started taking 50 mg in the am and 25 in pm, up from 25 am and 25 pm. Well, a few hours after taking 50 mg in the am, did I ever feel lightheaded and a bit more anxious. Is this a "typical" side effect? Anyone on Lamictal experience this? Will it go away. Pdoc's goal is to get me to at least 100 mg doing 50 in am and 50 in pm, but thankfully I don't add in the next 50 for another week. Any info greatly appreciated.
Posted by Janelle on September 16, 2001, at 19:16:52
In reply to Re: Help! LAMICTAL and lightheadedness, anxious?, posted by Hattree on September 16, 2001, at 15:29:44
I had developed social anxiety and feelings of unease in general and I think my pdoc is trying to see if more of it will help any underlying depression that may be a factor in this. She also wants to see if I can be "free" of any SSRI (for the first time in YEARS) by being on 100 mg/day of Lamictal as well as my other meds.
Did you by any chance go higher than 25/25 and find that you had to bo back down? If not, are you planning to go up any higher than 25/25?
Thanks for your suggestion about trying 37.5 for a few days -- I may do that if the lightheadness does not subside soon.
THANKS!
-Janelle
Posted by Janelle on September 16, 2001, at 19:17:56
In reply to Re: Help! LAMICTAL and lightheadedness, anxious? » Hattree, posted by Janelle on September 16, 2001, at 19:16:52
> I had developed social anxiety and feelings of unease in general and I think my pdoc is trying to see if more of it will help any underlying depression that may be a factor in this. She also wants to see if I can be "free" of any SSRI (for the first time in YEARS) by being on 100 mg/day of Lamictal as well as my other meds.
>
> Did you by any chance go higher than 25/25 and find that you had to bo back down? If not, are you planning to go up any higher than 25/25?
>
> Thanks for your suggestion about trying 37.5 for a few days -- I may do that if the lightheadness does not subside soon.
> THANKS!
> -Janelle
Posted by Hattree on September 17, 2001, at 8:59:03
In reply to HATTREE: please read/answer above thread! » Janelle, posted by Janelle on September 16, 2001, at 19:17:56
I have taken as much as 75mg/day--didn't notice much of a difference from 50-75. I'm doing reasonably well on 50 and haven't been inclined to mess with success. Also, my one side effect is an itchy spot on my belly--there's nothing to see and its nothing life-threatening, but it takes care of any temptation I feel to arbitrarily ratchet up the dose. By the way I tried dropping my zoloft because the lamictal seemed to be making a difference, but I got pretty depressed so it seems the combo is key.
How are you doing today?
> > I had developed social anxiety and feelings of unease in general and I think my pdoc is trying to see if more of it will help any underlying depression that may be a factor in this. She also wants to see if I can be "free" of any SSRI (for the first time in YEARS) by being on 100 mg/day of Lamictal as well as my other meds.
> >
> > Did you by any chance go higher than 25/25 and find that you had to bo back down? If not, are you planning to go up any higher than 25/25?
> >
> > Thanks for your suggestion about trying 37.5 for a few days -- I may do that if the lightheadness does not subside soon.
> > THANKS!
> > -Janelle
Posted by Janelle on September 17, 2001, at 23:12:40
In reply to Re: HATTREE: please read/answer above thread!, posted by Hattree on September 17, 2001, at 8:59:03
Well, I'm up to 75 mg/day of the Lamictal (50 am/25 pm) and actually it seems to make me feel more "positive" and calm soon after taking it. However, that wears off and in addition to ongoing electric head, I now have times of panic, anxiety and depression (crying, etc.) is setting back in. ACCCCK. I feel like a fool for thinking I was "home free" when I stopped the Effexor. It took a few days for withdrawal to start. So, I seem to need some kind of SSRI, but Effexor was NOT the one. I think I'm similar to you in that a COMBO of Lamictal and SSRI is what is needed.
I will titrate up to the 100 mg/day of Lamictal that my pdoc is so sure will be the dosage for me, but she also said if going up starts to feel yucky, to go back down to a level that felt good (so far, 50/25 is okay). However, I will also be telling her of my problems being off the Effexor SSRI and ask that she and I try me on yet another one (I've already been on Paxil which pooped out, Zoloft, Celexa, neither of which worked for me).
I'm sorry to hear you have that annoying itchy spot on your belly - but thank goodness it is not a full blown "rash" that is associated with Lamictal. I agree with you that the presence of the itchy spot would be a "sign" (literally!) not to go any higher on Lamictal.
Thanks for your interest!
-Janelle
Posted by Hattree on September 18, 2001, at 7:52:39
In reply to HATTREE: it's getting worse and I feel like a fool » Hattree, posted by Janelle on September 17, 2001, at 23:12:40
According to my pdoc, the way to deal with the effexor withdrawal is to take prozac for a few days...it dissipates slowly from the body and so inhibits the withdrawal symptoms. Ask your doc.
> Well, I'm up to 75 mg/day of the Lamictal (50 am/25 pm) and actually it seems to make me feel more "positive" and calm soon after taking it. However, that wears off and in addition to ongoing electric head, I now have times of panic, anxiety and depression (crying, etc.) is setting back in. ACCCCK. I feel like a fool for thinking I was "home free" when I stopped the Effexor. It took a few days for withdrawal to start. So, I seem to need some kind of SSRI, but Effexor was NOT the one. I think I'm similar to you in that a COMBO of Lamictal and SSRI is what is needed.
>
> I will titrate up to the 100 mg/day of Lamictal that my pdoc is so sure will be the dosage for me, but she also said if going up starts to feel yucky, to go back down to a level that felt good (so far, 50/25 is okay). However, I will also be telling her of my problems being off the Effexor SSRI and ask that she and I try me on yet another one (I've already been on Paxil which pooped out, Zoloft, Celexa, neither of which worked for me).
>
> I'm sorry to hear you have that annoying itchy spot on your belly - but thank goodness it is not a full blown "rash" that is associated with Lamictal. I agree with you that the presence of the itchy spot would be a "sign" (literally!) not to go any higher on Lamictal.
> Thanks for your interest!
> -Janelle
This is the end of the thread.
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