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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Emme on January 14, 2002, at 15:05:01
Hi Everyone.
I need feedback. I'm titrating up on Lamictal at a very slow rate (7.5 mg/week). I'm at 60 mg at the moment and feeling like it's starting to help the depression. But over the last several weeks I've felt crummy on and off - originally I seemed to have an infection and I was on antibiotics for 10 days. After the antibiotics I felt better overall and figured whatever ailed me was cleared up. But I periodically have days where I feel profoundly tired and weak and slightly feverish. Not a high temp (99-99.2 at most), no swollen glands, no sore throat, no rash, nothing escalates. Just "off". (I did have a one-day harmless bit of flushing, but that was during a week I was feeling pretty good. Dermatologist thought it was safe.) Anyway, I'm starting to think that these occasional spells may be a temporary reaction to increases in Lamictal dosage. Either that or it's my body's way of complaining that I'm not sleeping well enough on Lamictal, which I could work on correcting. Anybody else notice anything similar?
How 'bout tight muscles - upper shoulders and upper chest, especially upper shoulders? I've arranged for a massage. :)
Thanks,
Emme
Posted by JohnX2 on January 14, 2002, at 16:32:45
In reply to Lamictal increases - fluish symptoms?, posted by Emme on January 14, 2002, at 15:05:01
I have a cold right now because it is January.
Not because of my medication.-John
> Hi Everyone.
>
> I need feedback. I'm titrating up on Lamictal at a very slow rate (7.5 mg/week). I'm at 60 mg at the moment and feeling like it's starting to help the depression. But over the last several weeks I've felt crummy on and off - originally I seemed to have an infection and I was on antibiotics for 10 days. After the antibiotics I felt better overall and figured whatever ailed me was cleared up. But I periodically have days where I feel profoundly tired and weak and slightly feverish. Not a high temp (99-99.2 at most), no swollen glands, no sore throat, no rash, nothing escalates. Just "off". (I did have a one-day harmless bit of flushing, but that was during a week I was feeling pretty good. Dermatologist thought it was safe.) Anyway, I'm starting to think that these occasional spells may be a temporary reaction to increases in Lamictal dosage. Either that or it's my body's way of complaining that I'm not sleeping well enough on Lamictal, which I could work on correcting. Anybody else notice anything similar?
>
> How 'bout tight muscles - upper shoulders and upper chest, especially upper shoulders? I've arranged for a massage. :)
>
> Thanks,
> Emme
Posted by Krazy Kat on January 14, 2002, at 16:43:19
In reply to Lamictal increases - fluish symptoms?, posted by Emme on January 14, 2002, at 15:05:01
Emme:
Lamictal can certainly cause fluish symptoms - that happened to me the first time I tried it. I haven't had that thus far this time - going up 25mg a week.
You might want to contact your Dr. and at least let him/her know what is going on.
- KK
Posted by Emme on January 14, 2002, at 21:46:37
In reply to Re: Lamictal increases - fluish symptoms? » Emme, posted by JohnX2 on January 14, 2002, at 16:32:45
>
> I have a cold right now because it is January.That's funny. I always thought colds were caused by viruses. ;)
Posted by Emme on January 14, 2002, at 22:00:06
In reply to Re: Lamictal increases - fluish symptoms? » Emme, posted by Krazy Kat on January 14, 2002, at 16:43:19
> Lamictal can certainly cause fluish symptoms - that happened to me the first time I tried it. I haven't had that thus far this time - going up 25mg a week.> You might want to contact your Dr. and at least let him/her know what is going on.
>
> - KKHmm...so my gut feeling may be right. My latest symptoms just seemed too nondescript and sporadic, and my internist had blood drawn - normal. I was starting to suspect the drug. I certainly had odd symptoms on Gabitril that caused me to stop it. I also recall feeling a bit fluish for a few days both times I started up Remeron. I'll hang out at my current dosage for a little while to let my body adjust and see what happens, and mention it to my pdoc.
Thanks,
Emme
Posted by Mags on January 14, 2002, at 22:53:42
In reply to Re: Lamictal increases - fluish symptoms? » Krazy Kat, posted by Emme on January 14, 2002, at 22:00:06
> I have felt exsactly the same, especially the aching bones and muscles. I also had a sore throat and earaches. It seems to get worse for a week or two after you titrate ...and then evens out. The last time I titrated up to 75mg, these SE's wouldn't go away..worst ever..so I have gone back down to 50 and may even go to 25mg...I am feeling better at the lower dose physically...but still felling depressed.
Good Luck!
Mags
> > Lamictal can certainly cause fluish symptoms - that happened to me the first time I tried it. I haven't had that thus far this time - going up 25mg a week.
>
> > You might want to contact your Dr. and at least let him/her know what is going on.
> >
> > - KK
>
> Hmm...so my gut feeling may be right. My latest symptoms just seemed too nondescript and sporadic, and my internist had blood drawn - normal. I was starting to suspect the drug. I certainly had odd symptoms on Gabitril that caused me to stop it. I also recall feeling a bit fluish for a few days both times I started up Remeron. I'll hang out at my current dosage for a little while to let my body adjust and see what happens, and mention it to my pdoc.
>
> Thanks,
> Emme
Posted by Roo on January 15, 2002, at 9:09:35
In reply to Re: Lamictal increases - fluish symptoms?, posted by Mags on January 14, 2002, at 22:53:42
Yes, I had fluish symptoms when first titrating...
but they usually went away in 2 days or so...
Posted by JohnX2 on January 16, 2002, at 1:09:15
In reply to Re: Lamictal increases - fluish symptoms? » JohnX2, posted by Emme on January 14, 2002, at 21:46:37
Sometimes I think all us head cases are
more vulnerable with sticking our fingers
in our mouths to pop all these pills. ;)-John
> >
> > I have a cold right now because it is January.
>
> That's funny. I always thought colds were caused by viruses. ;)
Posted by anniebananie on January 16, 2002, at 1:49:53
In reply to Lamictal increases - fluish symptoms?, posted by Emme on January 14, 2002, at 15:05:01
The first time I tried it I felt sick enough to stop taking it after 3 weeks. Six weeks later I tried again, upping the dose gradually and staying with each dose for a little longer, and I had no fluish feelings. I recommend giving lamictal a chance. Good luck.
Annie
> Hi Everyone.
>
> I need feedback. I'm titrating up on Lamictal at a very slow rate (7.5 mg/week). I'm at 60 mg at the moment and feeling like it's starting to help the depression. But over the last several weeks I've felt crummy on and off - originally I seemed to have an infection and I was on antibiotics for 10 days. After the antibiotics I felt better overall and figured whatever ailed me was cleared up. But I periodically have days where I feel profoundly tired and weak and slightly feverish. Not a high temp (99-99.2 at most), no swollen glands, no sore throat, no rash, nothing escalates. Just "off". (I did have a one-day harmless bit of flushing, but that was during a week I was feeling pretty good. Dermatologist thought it was safe.) Anyway, I'm starting to think that these occasional spells may be a temporary reaction to increases in Lamictal dosage. Either that or it's my body's way of complaining that I'm not sleeping well enough on Lamictal, which I could work on correcting. Anybody else notice anything similar?
>
> How 'bout tight muscles - upper shoulders and upper chest, especially upper shoulders? I've arranged for a massage. :)
>
> Thanks,
> Emme
Posted by cindylou on January 16, 2002, at 5:39:09
In reply to Lamictal increases - fluish symptoms?, posted by Emme on January 14, 2002, at 15:05:01
Hi Emme,
Every time I titrated up on the Lamictal I would feel horrible for about a week or so. It would be a combination of exhaustion and agitation. Eventually it would level off -- however, when I got up to 100 mg, I couldn't shake the exhaustion and the depression worsened.I hope things work out for you better than they did for me!
take care,
cindy> Hi Everyone.
>
> I need feedback. I'm titrating up on Lamictal at a very slow rate (7.5 mg/week). I'm at 60 mg at the moment and feeling like it's starting to help the depression. But over the last several weeks I've felt crummy on and off - originally I seemed to have an infection and I was on antibiotics for 10 days. After the antibiotics I felt better overall and figured whatever ailed me was cleared up. But I periodically have days where I feel profoundly tired and weak and slightly feverish. Not a high temp (99-99.2 at most), no swollen glands, no sore throat, no rash, nothing escalates. Just "off". (I did have a one-day harmless bit of flushing, but that was during a week I was feeling pretty good. Dermatologist thought it was safe.) Anyway, I'm starting to think that these occasional spells may be a temporary reaction to increases in Lamictal dosage. Either that or it's my body's way of complaining that I'm not sleeping well enough on Lamictal, which I could work on correcting. Anybody else notice anything similar?
>
> How 'bout tight muscles - upper shoulders and upper chest, especially upper shoulders? I've arranged for a massage. :)
>
> Thanks,
> Emme
Posted by Krazy Kat on January 16, 2002, at 8:33:49
In reply to Lamictal increases - fluish symptoms?, posted by Emme on January 14, 2002, at 15:05:01
Emme:
Just FYI, I've stopped the Lamictal again per my pdoc's advice. I had the "flu" last week - it didn't even occur to me that it was the med again until I saw your post. Started feeling terrible again on Monday when I upped my dose.
Others say this goes away, so it may be worth it to keep trying. I don't have the patience.
- KK
Posted by Emme on January 16, 2002, at 8:55:05
In reply to Lamictal increases - fluish symptoms?, posted by Emme on January 14, 2002, at 15:05:01
Hi folks,
Thanks for all your input. It does sound like Lamictal can mimic a viral syndrome and make you feel a bit cruddy. My current status is:
- Getting better. I've made it to the gym a few times for a light workout. So althgouh I'm still tired, I do have enough energy to make myself exercise a bit. And I feel good after a workout.
- the fatigue is mixed with jittery overstimulation - I'm controlling it as best I can with Klonopin and Neurontin. It's not bad enough to make me stop. I'm susepcting it'll simmer down in time.
- I'm at 60 mg and it's starting to help my depression. It works. I still need more depression control, but the change is noticeable to me.
- Not sleeping as well as I want. I'm going to talk to my pdoc about that.
- I know now that if I feel a bit sick when I bump it up again, I should be patient and wait it out.
- All this at the world's slowest tiration. (no more than 7.5 mg/week). :)
- All in all, I'm optimistic about my ability to tolerate and benefit from this drug.cheers,
Emme
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