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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Peter S. on July 29, 2002, at 20:31:45
Help!
OK here's the regimen:
600 mg Lamictal/day
900 mg Neurontin/dayI have had experiences of "dissociation" where I seem to have disconnected from my body- like my brain is somewhere else. Kind of feeling spacy but not really- it makes it very difficult to drive because it takes a great deal of concentration to keep the reflexes going. Before, during, and after these episodes my mood is extremely good- I don't know if it's hypomanic or just "good"- I have yet to distinguish these two. Within the next day or two I crash and burn and go back to my mild to moderate depressed state.
Anybody ever experienced this? Is this kind of dissociation associated with hypomanic episodes. Lamictal has been the best thing for me- it has really helped, but now that I've increased my dose as it has petered out, I'm getting these experiences.
Any help would be most appreciated!
Peter
Posted by Ritch on July 29, 2002, at 22:52:11
In reply to Lamictal and Neurontin Strange effects, posted by Peter S. on July 29, 2002, at 20:31:45
> Help!
>
> OK here's the regimen:
> 600 mg Lamictal/day
> 900 mg Neurontin/day
>
> I have had experiences of "dissociation" where I seem to have disconnected from my body- like my brain is somewhere else. Kind of feeling spacy but not really- it makes it very difficult to drive because it takes a great deal of concentration to keep the reflexes going. Before, during, and after these episodes my mood is extremely good- I don't know if it's hypomanic or just "good"- I have yet to distinguish these two. Within the next day or two I crash and burn and go back to my mild to moderate depressed state.
>
> Anybody ever experienced this? Is this kind of dissociation associated with hypomanic episodes. Lamictal has been the best thing for me- it has really helped, but now that I've increased my dose as it has petered out, I'm getting these experiences.
>
> Any help would be most appreciated!
>
> PeterHi Peter,
I got that with higher doses of Neurontin and Gabitril. It felt like my arms and hands were connected to someone else (very odd). Have you been OK on the 900mg/day of Neurontin for quite some time before you bumped the Lamictal dose? Six hundred mg of Lamictal is actually quite high. You may have to reduce your Lamictal dose.
Mitch
Posted by Peter S. on July 30, 2002, at 1:15:52
In reply to Re: Lamictal and Neurontin Strange effects » Peter S., posted by Ritch on July 29, 2002, at 22:52:11
> > Help!
> >
> > OK here's the regimen:
> > 600 mg Lamictal/day
> > 900 mg Neurontin/day
> >
> > I have had experiences of "dissociation" where I seem to have disconnected from my body- like my brain is somewhere else. Kind of feeling spacy but not really- it makes it very difficult to drive because it takes a great deal of concentration to keep the reflexes going. Before, during, and after these episodes my mood is extremely good- I don't know if it's hypomanic or just "good"- I have yet to distinguish these two. Within the next day or two I crash and burn and go back to my mild to moderate depressed state.
> >
> > Anybody ever experienced this? Is this kind of dissociation associated with hypomanic episodes. Lamictal has been the best thing for me- it has really helped, but now that I've increased my dose as it has petered out, I'm getting these experiences.
> >
> > Any help would be most appreciated!
> >
> > Peter
>
> Hi Peter,
>
> I got that with higher doses of Neurontin and Gabitril. It felt like my arms and hands were connected to someone else (very odd). Have you been OK on the 900mg/day of Neurontin for quite some time before you bumped the Lamictal dose? Six hundred mg of Lamictal is actually quite high. You may have to reduce your Lamictal dose.
>
> Mitch
>Mitch,
Thanks for recounting your experience. Actually I started bumping up the Lamictal first and then added the Neurontin. At first it seemed to really work and then of course the rolling of moods started. Good for 4 to 5 days and then crash. I also have a pattern where if I take a nap in the afternoon it kills me and causes extreme depression. This has always been the way with sleep- getting a good night sleep can really cause depression.
I might do as you say and decrease the dosage of Lamictal, but I really thought that going up to such a high dosage would help- and it does to some extent. I have'nt noticed any side effects at all except for that dissociation feeling that happens occasionally. I'm seeing my Pdoc soon so we will talk about it.
Thanx for the input.
Peter
Posted by Ritch on July 30, 2002, at 8:18:56
In reply to Re: Lamictal and Neurontin Strange effects, posted by Peter S. on July 30, 2002, at 1:15:52
> > > Help!
> > >
> > > OK here's the regimen:
> > > 600 mg Lamictal/day
> > > 900 mg Neurontin/day
> > >
> > > I have had experiences of "dissociation" where I seem to have disconnected from my body- like my brain is somewhere else. Kind of feeling spacy but not really- it makes it very difficult to drive because it takes a great deal of concentration to keep the reflexes going. Before, during, and after these episodes my mood is extremely good- I don't know if it's hypomanic or just "good"- I have yet to distinguish these two. Within the next day or two I crash and burn and go back to my mild to moderate depressed state.
> > >
> > > Anybody ever experienced this? Is this kind of dissociation associated with hypomanic episodes. Lamictal has been the best thing for me- it has really helped, but now that I've increased my dose as it has petered out, I'm getting these experiences.
> > >
> > > Any help would be most appreciated!
> > >
> > > Peter
> >
> > Hi Peter,
> >
> > I got that with higher doses of Neurontin and Gabitril. It felt like my arms and hands were connected to someone else (very odd). Have you been OK on the 900mg/day of Neurontin for quite some time before you bumped the Lamictal dose? Six hundred mg of Lamictal is actually quite high. You may have to reduce your Lamictal dose.
> >
> > Mitch
> >
>
> Mitch,
>
> Thanks for recounting your experience. Actually I started bumping up the Lamictal first and then added the Neurontin. At first it seemed to really work and then of course the rolling of moods started. Good for 4 to 5 days and then crash. I also have a pattern where if I take a nap in the afternoon it kills me and causes extreme depression. This has always been the way with sleep- getting a good night sleep can really cause depression.
>
> I might do as you say and decrease the dosage of Lamictal, but I really thought that going up to such a high dosage would help- and it does to some extent. I have'nt noticed any side effects at all except for that dissociation feeling that happens occasionally. I'm seeing my Pdoc soon so we will talk about it.
>
> Thanx for the input.
>
> Peter
>Peter,
So you added the Neurontin lastly? It's probably the Neurontin. I noticed the depersonalization the most at doses above 900mg/day of N. Neurontin has a very short half-life. If you notice it the most about a couple of hours after a Neurontin dose-that's probably your culprit. Also, I found 300mg doses just to be a little much when combined with other meds that can cause drowsiness. I was on Topamax with Neurontin and nearly wrecked my car a couple of times and found myself being waked up at friend's house for snoring on their couch!
Mitch
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