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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 17 of 17. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by becksA on October 30, 2004, at 12:22:44
Just been diagnosed with Bipolar II....starting Lamictal slowly starting today. I have only the depressive symptoms....anybody had any success with this drug? Responses please. Thanks
Posted by Sebastian on October 30, 2004, at 16:23:28
In reply to Lamictal Users?, posted by becksA on October 30, 2004, at 12:22:44
Seems to be doing a good job of improving my moods. I had a lot of anger 2-3 weeks ago, seems to be going away.
Posted by Clarinette on October 30, 2004, at 18:47:21
In reply to Re: Lamictal Users?, posted by Sebastian on October 30, 2004, at 16:23:28
I've been taking Lamictal for a couple of weeks now. It's being introduced gradualy to replace Depamide (Valpromide, same family as Depakote, don't know if you have it over there) .
I've been pretty high this last week but I'm not sure that's only because of the Lamictal. In fact I think it has more to do with :
- reducing the Depamide
- running out of grass to smokeHowever I wonder about the high as Lamictal does maintain mood a little above the norm.
I'd be glad to hear how you get along with it too!
A bientôt,
Clara
Posted by SLS on October 30, 2004, at 19:22:10
In reply to Re: Lamictal Users?, posted by Clarinette on October 30, 2004, at 18:47:21
Hi Clara.
Lamictal has been known on occasion to precipitate mania.
- Scott> I've been taking Lamictal for a couple of weeks now. It's being introduced gradualy to replace Depamide (Valpromide, same family as Depakote, don't know if you have it over there) .
>
> I've been pretty high this last week but I'm not sure that's only because of the Lamictal. In fact I think it has more to do with :
> - reducing the Depamide
> - running out of grass to smoke
>
> However I wonder about the high as Lamictal does maintain mood a little above the norm.
>
> I'd be glad to hear how you get along with it too!
>
> A bientôt,
> Clara
>
Posted by CareBear04 on October 31, 2004, at 0:14:03
In reply to Re: Lamictal Users?, posted by SLS on October 30, 2004, at 19:22:10
hey-- i started lamictal a little over a month ago, and it's really slow going. i started at 25mg, and i'm only now increasing to 100mg. i haven't noticed any side effects, but i'm on a ton of other drugs that are constantly changing, so i wouldn't know something was from lamictal, anyway. i'm hopeful about lamictal, but i really need a therapeutic dose of a mood stabilizer right now, and it will likely take a month to two months more to reach a high enough dose of lamictal because of the need to avoid the rash and steven johnsons. i hope it goes well for you. let us know how things are going. -cb
Posted by corafree on October 31, 2004, at 1:16:18
In reply to Re: Lamictal Users?, posted by CareBear04 on October 31, 2004, at 0:14:03
Hi. It's corafree, not feeling free this eve, still 10-30 in mountain time zone. I was tried on Lamictal. I noticed absolutely nothing in improvement or bad symptoms, so just discontinued it. I'm currently going through horrible panic attacks in the a.m. and worst of all, about this time 11:30 mountain time. DOES ANYONE LIVE WESTERN, MOUNTAIN, CENTRAL time? I really would like to talk with some one, one-on-one. I have nothing effective to take for the panic attacks, talking is all that seems to help. I also have a whole bottle of Seroquel which did not improve me or have bad symptoms. Are these both mood stabilizers, and wonder why they did nothing for me? IF ANYBODY IS OUT THERE, PLEASE BABBLE ME!!!! I DON'T WANT TO CALL A BAD' BOY to use them or to let them use me. I don't have any girlfriends that don't have SOs they spend their weekends with. Corafree
> hey-- i started lamictal a little over a month ago, and it's really slow going. i started at 25mg, and i'm only now increasing to 100mg. i haven't noticed any side effects, but i'm on a ton of other drugs that are constantly changing, so i wouldn't know something was from lamictal, anyway. i'm hopeful about lamictal, but i really need a therapeutic dose of a mood stabilizer right now, and it will likely take a month to two months more to reach a high enough dose of lamictal because of the need to avoid the rash and steven johnsons. i hope it goes well for you. let us know how things are going. -cb
Posted by Clarinette on October 31, 2004, at 4:01:11
In reply to Re: Lamictal Users?, posted by SLS on October 30, 2004, at 19:22:10
Hello, is it Scott or SLS, or is that the same person?
I have read that somewhere, but can't find it, do you have a source,a reference? I'd like to know more.
Thanks,
Clara
> Hi Clara.
>
> Lamictal has been known on occasion to precipitate mania.
>
>
> - Scott
>
> > I've been taking Lamictal for a couple of weeks now. It's being introduced gradualy to replace Depamide (Valpromide, same family as Depakote, don't know if you have it over there) .
> >
> > I've been pretty high this last week but I'm not sure that's only because of the Lamictal. In fact I think it has more to do with :
> > - reducing the Depamide
> > - running out of grass to smoke
> >
> > However I wonder about the high as Lamictal does maintain mood a little above the norm.
> >
> > I'd be glad to hear how you get along with it too!
> >
> > A bientôt,
> > Clara
> >
>
>
Posted by woolav on October 31, 2004, at 8:39:03
In reply to Re: Lamictal Users? Sources?, posted by Clarinette on October 31, 2004, at 4:01:11
Hey, I am now up to 250mg daily of lamictal. And it has helped even out some of my BP2 type symptoms. I was cycling, (not having the hypo-manic side) only the major depressive side. And about once a week I would go into this horrible depression, where i thought of suicide and i would have uncontrollable crying. But that was on 200mg and my pdoc has increased me to 250 and i am starting to believe the higher dose is helping, because i havent had one of those episodes lately...thank goodness.
Good Luck
S
Posted by sedona on October 31, 2004, at 17:01:53
In reply to Re: Lamictal Users?, posted by woolav on October 31, 2004, at 8:39:03
Hi- I would be interested in hearing an update about your progress with Lamictal. My doctor and I think I might be cyclothymic, or at least somewhere in the bipolar spectrum. I also don't get hypomanic. I have a week or two of feeling pretty good (which I think is probably just feeling normal for most people), then I slide into depression which sometimes is mild and sometimes severe with suicidal ideation. I have tried several things for stabilization and they seem to make me more depressed. I tried Lamictal twice and both times I thought it worked for a while then it seemed to stop. The first time I got up to 200 mg and the second time I only went to 100 mg. I feel like I am running out of options and was considering giving it another try at a higher dose. Please let me know how you think the higher dose is doing?
Thank you
> Hey, I am now up to 250mg daily of lamictal. And it has helped even out some of my BP2 type symptoms. I was cycling, (not having the hypo-manic side) only the major depressive side. And about once a week I would go into this horrible depression, where i thought of suicide and i would have uncontrollable crying. But that was on 200mg and my pdoc has increased me to 250 and i am starting to believe the higher dose is helping, because i havent had one of those episodes lately...thank goodness.
> Good Luck
> S
Posted by woolav on October 31, 2004, at 19:28:21
In reply to Re: Lamictal Users? » woolav, posted by sedona on October 31, 2004, at 17:01:53
Hey, I will try to keep you posted. Like i said, the 250mg seems to be working well right now. I havent had an "episode" since my pdoc raised me. She said to give it 3-4 wks and with my prozac and klonopin i should be feeling alot better. And, so far so good...I really feel better than i have in a long time....
take care and keep me posted on what you try...
Sandy
Posted by corafree on November 1, 2004, at 1:44:57
In reply to Re: Lamictal Users?, posted by woolav on October 31, 2004, at 8:39:03
I'm confused here. Hypomania is experiencing more depression. Hypermania is experiencing more highs. Want to follow you all as you continue Lamictal discussion. If what I say here is true, is Lamictal more effective for treating hypomania (low mania) or hypermania (high mania)? Does it seem to be making you feel more positive or more negative, more up or just evened out? tks, be well cf
Posted by woolav on November 1, 2004, at 10:10:17
In reply to Re: Lamictal Users? » woolav, posted by corafree on November 1, 2004, at 1:44:57
Hi, I may have used the wrong word there. I have never had the kind of mania where i have grandious thoughts or go crazy spending money etc..i have just had the very low serious depression episodes. But my pdoc thought that raising the lamictal will even out those mood swings, which so far it has. I dont feel engergized on it nor do i feel depressed. I just feel evened out more with my mood swings...
S
Posted by dra on November 1, 2004, at 13:23:35
In reply to Re: Lamictal Users? » woolav, posted by corafree on November 1, 2004, at 1:44:57
Actually hypomania is not depression at all. It is simply a mild mania. It is actually rather pleasant as it doesn't carry with it the crazy, racing thoughts, the risk taking, the overspending, grandiose thoughts, etc. that true mania or hypermania does.
ALSO: I've just started weening off of lamictal as it did absoultely nothing for my depression (mild, but long lasting depression). Started at 25, went up to 250 slowly and then kept at that dosage for about a week and nada. Now hoping to try something else. Very dissapointed as lamictal carries no side effects so long as you avoid The Rash.
Posted by JohnDoenut on November 1, 2004, at 18:03:23
In reply to Re: Lamictal Users?, posted by Clarinette on October 30, 2004, at 18:47:21
> I've been pretty high this last week but I'm not sure that's only because of the Lamictal. In fact I think it has more to do with :
> - reducing the Depamide
> - running out of grass to smokeInteresting.
Ive been reducing my intake of lamictal as Straterra seems to be having a good effect with me. I have been increasing use of grass to improv e moodd which works to some extent but has some other negative side effects so I dont do too much.
Posted by gromit on November 2, 2004, at 2:57:26
In reply to Re: Lamictal Users? Sources?, posted by Clarinette on October 31, 2004, at 4:01:11
Is this what you are looking for? http://sl.schofield3.home.att.net/medicine/psychiatric_drugs_chart.html
Posted by corafree on November 2, 2004, at 5:15:42
In reply to Re: Lamictal Users? - corafree, posted by dra on November 1, 2004, at 13:23:35
Someone posted here an alternative to Lamictal that they may try. I stand corrected, I guess. I was just always told that hypomania was the depressive side of a bipolar dx, and hypermania was the excited side of a bipolar dx. cf
Posted by Clarinette on November 2, 2004, at 19:03:20
In reply to Re: Lamictal Users? Sources? » Clarinette, posted by gromit on November 2, 2004, at 2:57:26
> Is this what you are looking for? http://sl.schofield3.home.att.net/medicine/psychiatric_drugs_chart.html
Hello gromit,
Thanks for your reply, but no, it's not really what I'm after. I have already read somewhere that Lamictal can induce mania, to a greater or lesser degree. I'd like to get my hands on a source of this information.
For the record, I'm still on 25mg a day, every day after introducing it every 2 days for a fortnight. I see the specialist in a couple of weeks and expect that he will continue to increase the dose, very gradually. The overall effect seems to be positive. I had a couple of pretty manic days last week, but I can't say to what extent that was due to treatment or not, a lot of things were going on, notably, no grass left!
A bientôt,
Clara
This is the end of the thread.
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