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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by MM on October 27, 2005, at 17:43:23
I wrote this really long post and babbled about how I'm feeling but I can't bring myself to post it so I'm just gonna ask my questions.....Could Trileptal alone help depression? (especially since AD's seem to make me worse)......I'm currently on Welbutrin, Trileptal, and Klonopin and Pdoc wants me to add Lamictal (and lower the dose of Trileptal from 1200 to 900mg) because he thinks the welbutrin is making me cycle. I'm not sure if I want to try the Lamictal or just go off meds altogether, and I'm wondering what the best way to go off of those would be, like in what order (I would taper off). Or I could try lowering the welbutrin myself (from 100 to 75 because I have some extra 75's). I'm wondering if maybe the Klonopin is making me depressed and I'm also concerned about how much Lamictal costs, plus I'm just so fed up with side effects and things not really working.
Posted by Phillipa on October 27, 2005, at 21:14:03
In reply to Add Lamictal? Go off meds?Trileptal 4 Depression?, posted by MM on October 27, 2005, at 17:43:23
I know klonopin can make you depressed. It did to me. And I've read that lamictal can help with depression and anxiety. Your doctor would be the best one to recommend your taper. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Emily Elizabeth on October 27, 2005, at 21:51:00
In reply to Add Lamictal? Go off meds?Trileptal 4 Depression?, posted by MM on October 27, 2005, at 17:43:23
Do you have bipolar or unipolar depression? Either way, have you tried Lithium? It is way cheaper than Lamictal.
I have unipolar depression, so it might be a totally different situation, but adding Lamictal didn't work for me, but adding Li did.
Best,
EE
Posted by MM on October 28, 2005, at 11:30:41
In reply to Re: Add Lamictal? Go off meds?Trileptal 4 Depression?, posted by Emily Elizabeth on October 27, 2005, at 21:51:00
I'm not sure what I have. My dx is BPII, so I might be in the Bipolar spectrum, but then again atypical depression might be a better fit even though the label might not matter. I'm EXTREMELY sensitive to interpersonal rejection or what I perceive as rejection or what I think might be rejection, and I don't have any hypo or manic symptoms, except for having a rough time on SSRI's but I don't think that can automatically be classified as hypomania or BP just because they didn't work (they made me very suicidal and I was young when I was on them so I dunno). I think maybe Welbutrin above 75mg makes me anxious possibly because it hits norepinephrine?? Oops, sorry for babbling. I haven't tried Lithium.
Thanks.
Posted by Emily Elizabeth on October 28, 2005, at 13:58:11
In reply to Re: Add Lamictal? Go off meds?Trileptal 4 Depression? » Emily Elizabeth, posted by MM on October 28, 2005, at 11:30:41
That's interesting, well, interesting and frustrating. :( You do have some simlarities with me, I think, although BP has never been a conisderation for me--it's pretty clear that I am MDD w/ GAD. I have been having a very hard time finding the right thing for me to treat my depression.
My pdoc (who is wonderful, thank goodness) has been adding med after med on top of each other, so I take quite a combo. It seems like everything works for me a little, but not enough. So we don't want to lose the positive part by taking it out. This is what I take:
lexapro (40mg)
neurontin (300mg, 600mg, 300mg)
ambien (5mg)
dexedrine (15mg)
desipramine (125mg)
lithium (600mg)You really might consider Li. It made a pretty dramatic change for me (although I should note that I tried to go up to 900mg and that was a disaster).
Oh, I also can relate to the anxiety w/ 75 mg WB. That happened to me too. Prozac also was bad for me, but other SSRI's have been okay. Who knows.
I don't know if that is helpful, but I hope it is. Good luck finding the right meds.
Best,
EE
Posted by MM on October 28, 2005, at 16:05:36
In reply to Re: Add Lamictal? Go off meds?Trileptal 4 Depression? » MM, posted by Emily Elizabeth on October 28, 2005, at 13:58:11
One of these days I'm going to find one of those wonderful psychiatrists, forking darnit. Thanks Emily. Maybe I'll consider lithium some day...right now it's kind of down the list as my weight is a big thing for me and being overweight makes me depressed no matter what I'm on. I'm down to my normal weight now and anything that isn't weight neutral is something I'm really reluctant to try. I took 75mg welbutrin instead of 100mg today and I already feel more stable so that's good. Now it's back to worrying about side effects. Babbling again. Anyway, thanks.
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