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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 Mags on January 16, 2002, at 20:50:31
I have read lots of post on how well lamictal works initially. I am one who has had that reaction but overtime the feeling fades.
I would like to hear from someone who has been on it for more than 3 months at 100+ MG and feeling good.
Anyone????Thanks
Mags
Posted by TSA West on January 16, 2002, at 21:44:51
In reply to Has Lamictal worked for anyone LONGTERM???, posted by Mags on January 16, 2002, at 20:50:31
--------------TSA West-------------------------
I've been on it for 2 years with good prophylaxis against unipolar depression. And it has an excellent reputation with psychiatry, such that it is often the second-line mood stabilizer. Also, it has been around for 8 some-odd years and thus we have noticed some amazing recoveries with it, some of them no-doubt long-term; some recoveries were made on persons formerly recieving Electro-Convulsive Therapy.
Reference: The American Journal of Psychiatry
Volume 157 December 2000
"Maintenance ECT Replaced With Lamotrigine"------------TSA West-------------------------
Posted by Sulpicia on January 16, 2002, at 21:48:58
In reply to Has Lamictal worked for anyone LONGTERM???, posted by Mags on January 16, 2002, at 20:50:31
>loved one with bipolar II on 400 mgs for 18 months and going strong.
i should add that she takes an AD along with, and it took ca. 6 months
to get the lamictal dose correct.good luck.
S.
Posted by JohnX2 on January 16, 2002, at 23:02:02
In reply to Has Lamictal worked for anyone LONGTERM???, posted by Mags on January 16, 2002, at 20:50:31
12 months+ w/o major depression.
just added topamax to wipe out residual
minor lows.Lamictal was the 1st med to cure my major
depression after 2.5 yrs of searching.The topamax add-on helped bunches.
regards,
-john
> I have read lots of post on how well lamictal works initially. I am one who has had that reaction but overtime the feeling fades.
> I would like to hear from someone who has been on it for more than 3 months at 100+ MG and feeling good.
> Anyone????
>
> Thanks
> Mags
Posted by Blue Cheer 1 on January 17, 2002, at 4:30:04
In reply to Re: Has Lamictal worked for anyone LONGTERM??? » Mags, posted by JohnX2 on January 16, 2002, at 23:02:02
>
> 12 months+ w/o major depression.
> just added topamax to wipe out residual
> minor lows.
>
> Lamictal was the 1st med to cure my major
> depression after 2.5 yrs of searching.
>
> The topamax add-on helped bunches.
>
> regards,
> -john
>
>
> > I have read lots of post on how well lamictal works initially. I am one who has had that reaction but overtime the feeling fades.
> > I would like to hear from someone who has been on it for more than 3 months at 100+ MG and feeling good.
> > Anyone????
> >
> > Thanks
> > MagsNext month marks 4 years on Lamictal for bipolar disorder. It was the first AED I was able to tolerate, and it kicked in (during a severe depressive episode) at around 100 mg/day. It may have lost a *little* of its initial benefit, but that's the nature of bipolar disorder. When Trileptal was added as a stabilizer (June 2000, I think), I raised the Lamictal dose to 250 mg q.h.s. I was on Lamictal monotherapy for over a year (after discontinuing lithium) before adding Trileptal 1200 mg. q.h.s. (now 900 mg/day due to dizziness). They've been the only two AEDs I've been able to tolerate, and I've learned that both Trileptal and Lamictal have strong antidepressant properties. When used in combination therapy, most people use Trileptal at 450 to 600 mg/d (b.i.d.). Trileptal is also used in atypical panic disorder according to Drug Facts and Comparisons.
Posted by Mags on January 17, 2002, at 8:08:14
In reply to Re: Has Lamictal worked for anyone LONGTERM???, posted by Blue Cheer 1 on January 17, 2002, at 4:30:04
Thanks everyone for your responses. It gives me hope. I will keep at it and hope for the best. ;o)
If you remember, did SE's get bad every time you titrated? Did they go away? I have flu like symptoms; major aches and pains, sore throat and ears, and chest pain...no rash.
Thanks!
Mags
> > 12 months+ w/o major depression.
> > just added topamax to wipe out residual
> > minor lows.
> >
> > Lamictal was the 1st med to cure my major
> > depression after 2.5 yrs of searching.
> >
> > The topamax add-on helped bunches.
> >
> > regards,
> > -john
> >
> >
> > > I have read lots of post on how well lamictal works initially. I am one who has had that reaction but overtime the feeling fades.
> > > I would like to hear from someone who has been on it for more than 3 months at 100+ MG and feeling good.
> > > Anyone????
> > >
> > > Thanks
> > > Mags
>
> Next month marks 4 years on Lamictal for bipolar disorder. It was the first AED I was able to tolerate, and it kicked in (during a severe depressive episode) at around 100 mg/day. It may have lost a *little* of its initial benefit, but that's the nature of bipolar disorder. When Trileptal was added as a stabilizer (June 2000, I think), I raised the Lamictal dose to 250 mg q.h.s. I was on Lamictal monotherapy for over a year (after discontinuing lithium) before adding Trileptal 1200 mg. q.h.s. (now 900 mg/day due to dizziness). They've been the only two AEDs I've been able to tolerate, and I've learned that both Trileptal and Lamictal have strong antidepressant properties. When used in combination therapy, most people use Trileptal at 450 to 600 mg/d (b.i.d.). Trileptal is also used in atypical panic disorder according to Drug Facts and Comparisons.
Posted by Emme on January 17, 2002, at 8:40:53
In reply to Thanks and one more question, posted by Mags on January 17, 2002, at 8:08:14
> Thanks everyone for your responses. It gives me hope. I will keep at it and hope for the best. ;o)
> If you remember, did SE's get bad every time you titrated? Did they go away? I have flu like symptoms; major aches and pains, sore throat and ears, and chest pain...no rash.
> Thanks!
> Mags
>Mags,
See the thread above on Lamictal and fluish symptoms. Several people (including myself) wrote that they have had various flu-like symptoms. I have not had major aches and pains, but tiredness and a touch of fever mostly.cheers,
Emme
Posted by Sulpicia on January 17, 2002, at 14:21:49
In reply to Thanks and one more question, posted by Mags on January 17, 2002, at 8:08:14
> Thanks everyone for your responses. It gives me hope. I will keep at it and hope for the best. ;o)
> If you remember, did SE's get bad every time you titrated? Did they go away? I have flu like symptoms; major aches and pains, sore throat and ears, and chest pain...no rash.
> Thanks!
> Mags
>
by what dosage are you increasing? and at what frequency?we increased 25 mgs at 10 to 14 day intervals.
i've heard of 12.5 mg increases every 2 weeks also.perhaps slower would lessen the SEs. do hang in.
good luck,
S.
Posted by Mags on January 18, 2002, at 9:56:55
In reply to Re: Thanks and one more question, posted by Sulpicia on January 17, 2002, at 14:21:49
I was increasing by 25 mg every two weeks but I think I am going to increase by 12.5 mg from now on . I was at 75mg and backed off to 50mg 'cause I was feeling so bad.....the pains and aches have let up a fair bit and I am not nearly so tired plus sore ears throat gone....I am going to wait a week and then titrate up again...thanks for the encouragement everyone!
Mags
> > Thanks everyone for your responses. It gives me hope. I will keep at it and hope for the best. ;o)
> > If you remember, did SE's get bad every time you titrated? Did they go away? I have flu like symptoms; major aches and pains, sore throat and ears, and chest pain...no rash.
> > Thanks!
> > Mags
> >
> by what dosage are you increasing? and at what frequency?
>
> we increased 25 mgs at 10 to 14 day intervals.
> i've heard of 12.5 mg increases every 2 weeks also.
>
> perhaps slower would lessen the SEs. do hang in.
> good luck,
> S.
Posted by cindylou on January 19, 2002, at 20:10:11
In reply to Re: Thanks and one more question, posted by Mags on January 18, 2002, at 9:56:55
Hi Mags,
Sorry I haven't e-mailed you back yet...by the time I'm done reading and responding to posts, it's time to get my daughter up or crash myself.Anyway, I'm glad to hear you're going to give Lamital another try. I am holding my own at 75 mg after dropping down from 100 mg. I think I'll stay at this dose for awhile -- I usually get effects at about 1/4 of the usual dose, so 75 mg may actually be where I will stay, at least for the time being. My anxiety is amazingly reduced, but I still suffer from fatigue and fogginess.
Take care!
cindy> I was increasing by 25 mg every two weeks but I think I am going to increase by 12.5 mg from now on . I was at 75mg and backed off to 50mg 'cause I was feeling so bad.....the pains and aches have let up a fair bit and I am not nearly so tired plus sore ears throat gone....I am going to wait a week and then titrate up again...thanks for the encouragement everyone!
> Mags
> > > Thanks everyone for your responses. It gives me hope. I will keep at it and hope for the best. ;o)
> > > If you remember, did SE's get bad every time you titrated? Did they go away? I have flu like symptoms; major aches and pains, sore throat and ears, and chest pain...no rash.
> > > Thanks!
> > > Mags
> > >
> > by what dosage are you increasing? and at what frequency?
> >
> > we increased 25 mgs at 10 to 14 day intervals.
> > i've heard of 12.5 mg increases every 2 weeks also.
> >
> > perhaps slower would lessen the SEs. do hang in.
> > good luck,
> > S.
Posted by Vince on January 20, 2002, at 23:11:08
In reply to Thanks and one more question, posted by Mags on January 17, 2002, at 8:08:14
> Thanks everyone for your responses. It gives me hope. I will keep at it and hope for the best. ;o)
> If you remember, did SE's get bad every time you titrated? Did they go away? I have flu like symptoms; major aches and pains, sore throat and ears, and chest pain...no rash.
> Thanks!
> Mags
>So what does SE mean?
Vince
Posted by IsoM on January 20, 2002, at 23:30:23
In reply to What are SE's ? » Mags, posted by Vince on January 20, 2002, at 23:11:08
This is the end of the thread.
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