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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 10 to 34 of 34. Go back in thread:
Posted by detroitpistons on May 31, 2006, at 14:23:00
In reply to Re: Lamictal and thinking, posted by urizenbrooklyn on May 31, 2006, at 13:57:58
When I went to 300 mg, I did feel a positive effect. From what I understand, Lamictal's antidepressant effects don't get any better after 200 mg. However, the mood stabilization effects can continue to get better with increased doses, sometimes as high as 500 or 600 mg.
If you feel OK on 100 mg, then just stick with that. When I was on 200 mg, I was still not well so that's why I went up. But if you're OK, then what's the point of going up?
By the way, if your doctor asks why you don't want to go up and you tell him it's because you fear cognitive difficulties, he may not know what you're talking about. This isn't something that's talked about much as a side effect by anybody but the people who take it, like the people on this board. Not everyone may experience this side effect though, especially at a relatively low dose like 200 mg. People with epilepsy take much higher doses. I don't think I had this problem when I was at 200 mg. Again, only go up if you think you need to...Just my 2 pennies.
> I'm on 100mg, and though I felt a significant change when I initially started I haven't felt any changes with subsequent dosage increases. I'm suppossed to start on 200mg tonight, but after reading this post I almost don't see the point. It's not that the Lamictal isn't working, it definetly has. All of my close friends and family have told me I seem more relaxed and in control. I still have swings, but they're not as severe and I'm far less anxious. Should I talk to my doctor about sticking with 100mg? I only have a two week prescription for the 200mg, should I just stick it out? These drugs are not a silver bullet; with psychotherapy and exercise I think I'll keep this disease at bay. I didn't expect the Lamictal to cure me, it's done enough already.
>
>
Posted by urizenbrooklyn on May 31, 2006, at 14:38:44
In reply to Re: Lamictal and thinking » urizenbrooklyn, posted by detroitpistons on May 31, 2006, at 14:23:00
Thank You for your thoughtful and helpful response.
I think I can still benefit from the increased antidepressant aspects of the drug. I'm at a stressful point in my life. I'm about to travel around the world (literaly) in a month, and then I'm starting graduate school in September. Though this is exceedingly postive, it's stressful and my anxiety level has been high. What I'm hoping is that if I go up to 200mg now it doesn't mean I can't come back down to a lower dose later on in my life. This if my first experience with medication. Though I've exhibited bi-polar symptoms most of my life, in the past I've treated it with exercise and psychotherapy alone. The past few years have been especially tough, as I've had a string of personal and professional losses, and I've stopped exercising regularly. I needed something else, the manic periods stopped being fun, and intense anxiety emerged as a new symptom. I'm still young, I turn 25 in a week, and hope that with healthy living and self-monitoring I can use the meds as one tool amongst many. From what you say I could still benefit from this dose increase. I'll see how it goes for the next 2 weeks.
> When I went to 300 mg, I did feel a positive effect. From what I understand, Lamictal's antidepressant effects don't get any better after 200 mg. However, the mood stabilization effects can continue to get better with increased doses, sometimes as high as 500 or 600 mg.
>
> If you feel OK on 100 mg, then just stick with that. When I was on 200 mg, I was still not well so that's why I went up. But if you're OK, then what's the point of going up?
>
> By the way, if your doctor asks why you don't want to go up and you tell him it's because you fear cognitive difficulties, he may not know what you're talking about. This isn't something that's talked about much as a side effect by anybody but the people who take it, like the people on this board. Not everyone may experience this side effect though, especially at a relatively low dose like 200 mg. People with epilepsy take much higher doses. I don't think I had this problem when I was at 200 mg. Again, only go up if you think you need to...Just my 2 pennies.
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> > I'm on 100mg, and though I felt a significant change when I initially started I haven't felt any changes with subsequent dosage increases. I'm suppossed to start on 200mg tonight, but after reading this post I almost don't see the point. It's not that the Lamictal isn't working, it definetly has. All of my close friends and family have told me I seem more relaxed and in control. I still have swings, but they're not as severe and I'm far less anxious. Should I talk to my doctor about sticking with 100mg? I only have a two week prescription for the 200mg, should I just stick it out? These drugs are not a silver bullet; with psychotherapy and exercise I think I'll keep this disease at bay. I didn't expect the Lamictal to cure me, it's done enough already.
> >
> >
>
>
Posted by detroitpistons on May 31, 2006, at 16:11:58
In reply to Re: Lamictal and thinking, posted by urizenbrooklyn on May 31, 2006, at 14:38:44
I am truly happy any time I can help someone with some of the knowledge that I've gained through my hours upon hours of layman's research. There are people on this board that know more than I'll ever be able to comprehend.
Anyways, I forgot that you said this:
"I still have swings, but they're not as severe and I'm far less anxious."
Are you having normal day to day mood swings, or are you rapid cycling?
The reason I increased from 200 to 300 mg of Lamictal is because I still wasn't settled yet. I'd be depressed for a day, then up for a day. A better way to put it is that it was sort of a mixed state that would cycle between better and worse. That's why I went up to 300 mg and also raised my Effexor dose. I don't know if it was the Effexor or the Lamictal, but I felt a little better. I'm still feeling pretty hypomanic/anxious though, so it's not perfect.
Lamictal is supposedly good for rapid cycling and mixed states. However, Lamictal isn't considered a really good antimanic...That's why I think I'm still hypomanic. I should probably be adding something like Depakote or Seroquel.
Be prepared for the fact that you will probably have to tweak medications. Don't get discouraged if a medication stops working or doesn't work as well as it once did. For example, mood stabilizers will increase the time between episodes, but they won't eliminate episodes altogether. When you finally do start getting an episode, you'll have to switch meds. You want to be able to recognize the early warning signs of an episode so that it rarely becomes full blown.
You said you are 25. I'm 27. Every year I learn more and more about this illness(es) and I think that over time I'll be able to manage it better and better. I've learned a lot about myself. You should read "The Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide: What You and Your Family Need to Know."
Keep us posted about the Lamictal increase.
Take care,
Marc
> Thank You for your thoughtful and helpful response.
>
> I think I can still benefit from the increased antidepressant aspects of the drug. I'm at a stressful point in my life. I'm about to travel around the world (literaly) in a month, and then I'm starting graduate school in September. Though this is exceedingly postive, it's stressful and my anxiety level has been high. What I'm hoping is that if I go up to 200mg now it doesn't mean I can't come back down to a lower dose later on in my life. This if my first experience with medication. Though I've exhibited bi-polar symptoms most of my life, in the past I've treated it with exercise and psychotherapy alone. The past few years have been especially tough, as I've had a string of personal and professional losses, and I've stopped exercising regularly. I needed something else, the manic periods stopped being fun, and intense anxiety emerged as a new symptom. I'm still young, I turn 25 in a week, and hope that with healthy living and self-monitoring I can use the meds as one tool amongst many. From what you say I could still benefit from this dose increase. I'll see how it goes for the next 2 weeks.
>
> > When I went to 300 mg, I did feel a positive effect. From what I understand, Lamictal's antidepressant effects don't get any better after 200 mg. However, the mood stabilization effects can continue to get better with increased doses, sometimes as high as 500 or 600 mg.
> >
> > If you feel OK on 100 mg, then just stick with that. When I was on 200 mg, I was still not well so that's why I went up. But if you're OK, then what's the point of going up?
> >
> > By the way, if your doctor asks why you don't want to go up and you tell him it's because you fear cognitive difficulties, he may not know what you're talking about. This isn't something that's talked about much as a side effect by anybody but the people who take it, like the people on this board. Not everyone may experience this side effect though, especially at a relatively low dose like 200 mg. People with epilepsy take much higher doses. I don't think I had this problem when I was at 200 mg. Again, only go up if you think you need to...Just my 2 pennies.
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> > > I'm on 100mg, and though I felt a significant change when I initially started I haven't felt any changes with subsequent dosage increases. I'm suppossed to start on 200mg tonight, but after reading this post I almost don't see the point. It's not that the Lamictal isn't working, it definetly has. All of my close friends and family have told me I seem more relaxed and in control. I still have swings, but they're not as severe and I'm far less anxious. Should I talk to my doctor about sticking with 100mg? I only have a two week prescription for the 200mg, should I just stick it out? These drugs are not a silver bullet; with psychotherapy and exercise I think I'll keep this disease at bay. I didn't expect the Lamictal to cure me, it's done enough already.
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>
Posted by collegegal on June 5, 2006, at 10:23:26
In reply to Re: Lamictal and thinking » urizenbrooklyn, posted by detroitpistons on May 31, 2006, at 16:11:58
OK, I am taking 200 mg of Lamictil a day. I was on antidepressants for a while, and this is all for an eating disorder that has some suspected comorbid disorders like a mood disorder and anxiety. I am pre-med and entering my senior year of college. My courses are extrememly difficult, and in the past, even in relatively difficult courses, I have never received below an A. I am afraid that the Lamactil is affecting me at a crucial time. Do any of you think that it would decrease academic performance? That scares me very much because GPA is important, and I have always wanted to go into medicine. I guess it is quite possible now that the eating disorder could indirecty ruin my life-long aspiration. I am very scared. Any thoughts? I suppose reverting back to SSRI's is a possibility, but I hate that idea because I absolutely CANNOT acheive an orgasm if I take more than 25 mg (of Effexor), which is a worthless dose. I am thinking of asking my psychiatrist on Thursday if she will consider starting me on adderall. Did that help you "detroitpistons?"
Thanks everyone,
Amanda
Posted by urizenbrooklyn on June 5, 2006, at 11:12:28
In reply to Re: Lamictal and thinking, adderall, school, SSRIs, posted by collegegal on June 5, 2006, at 10:23:26
I'm on 200mg of Lamictal currently and it's done well for me thus far, though I've only been taking it for a little over a month. After 25mg I felt a drastic decrease in my anxiety level and my depressive tendencies. Recently despite the upped dose, my anxiety has returned in dribs and drabs, when next I see my doctor I'm going to discuss this issue with her. This may also have to do with the fact that in a month I'll begin an around the world journey and this fall I'll be starting graduate school (and moving). I have a lot on my plate and thus some anxiety is to be expected. Though my manic symptoms are still persistent they're drastically decreased and have a lot to do with my recently erratic sleep schedule.
I'm a playwright and used to believe that my swings helped my art, b*llshit, it's a conveniently romantic idea but none so practical notion. Stabilizing your swings is only going to make getting great grades easier. I found that when I was in college (and consistently overloading) I did best when I kept to a regimented schedule and avoided all nighters. I was self medicating with exercise and cautious, controlled choices.
The reason I decided to start on meds was because my productivity and creative projects were at a standstill; racked with anxiety and serial depression, my racing thoughts only made everything worse. I’ve been in psychotherapy for two years, which has helped, but I reached a breaking point a few months ago, and since starting meds have been better able to work. The idea of starting graduate school with fluctuating moods was terrifying, which I’m sure compounded the problem. The only semester of college I received bellow an A(-) was my last semester, when I was racked with anxiety about finding a job, and my girlfriend (who I thought was the love of my life) dumped me suddenly. I wasn’t able to put it all in perspective, nor focus on my classes as my manic thoughts sent my depressive feeling spiraling out of control
As per Lamictal’s side effects, I've only heard of concentration problems at much higher doses. My libido is at an all time high (which isn't a good thing, as I was sexually frustrated to begin with). I've heard about the sexual side effects of SSRI’s from my friends and family in both positive and negative terms. It's easier on men then women, as a prolonged journey to orgasm can make your typical guy feel like a sex God. For woman, by virtue of the fact that most men are clueless in bed (myself included); this side effect is more problematic.
If you already have an eating disorder, I'd suggest staying away from Depakote. I've heard of many people gaining weight from this drug. Even if the effects are positive, the anxiety over the weight gain (it seems in your case) will only compound the problem
I’m not familiar with Adderall so I can’t offer any advice.
I hope all of this was helpful to you, and that this process goes well. I just turned 25, I wish I had started to deal with these issues when it really got bad, my senior year of college. Best of luck
-andrew
Posted by MARTY on June 5, 2006, at 23:39:31
In reply to Re: Lamictal and thinking, adderall, school, SSRIs, posted by collegegal on June 5, 2006, at 10:23:26
Hi -I'm taking 300mg of Lamictal and just by lowering the dose to 150 mg It was obvious, after only 2 days, that my memory and intellectual skills were very diminished on 300mg. If I was you I WOULD switch back to Effexor XR. Even knowing what it could temporary cost you..
And what if you could have an orgasm on effexor ? Maybe you could try adding something to your 'cocktail' that would help with the sexual side effects ?
You can find some info about those 'SSRI Sexual Side-effects Antidotes' on the web. Some of them should be OK with your eating disorder and comorbidities. Here's a list of agents who has been used in resolving the sexual side-effect of SRIs.. some of them may not be as good for anorsgamia as for other SSE like erection as an example :) or/and some of them doesn't help with anorgasmia at all. Sorry, I didn't have the time to check them ... BTW, be sure to bring a list of potential agent and some medical literature with you on your next Pdoc appointment: Most Pdoc doesn't have much knowledge in managing SSE with another agent.
So here is the list: Wellbutrin, mirtazapine, Cyproheptadine, BuSpar (Buspirone), amantadine, pemoline, d-amphetamine, Dextroamphetamine, Methyphenidate, yohimbine, Ginkgo biloba, Oriental ginseng, granisetron, nefazodone,pramipexole.
Some links:
http://sulcus.berkeley.edu/mcb/165_001/papers/manuscripts/_684.html
http://www.healthyplace.com/Communities/Depression/treatment/antidepressants/sexual_side_effects_2.asp
Feel free to babblemail me if you want to discuss about the different agents. Dont hesitate, I'm always ready to help a girl acheive orgasm :) lolMarty
> OK, I am taking 200 mg of Lamictil a day. I was on antidepressants for a while, and this is all for an eating disorder that has some suspected comorbid disorders like a mood disorder and anxiety. I am pre-med and entering my senior year of college. My courses are extrememly difficult, and in the past, even in relatively difficult courses, I have never received below an A. I am afraid that the Lamactil is affecting me at a crucial time. Do any of you think that it would decrease academic performance? That scares me very much because GPA is important, and I have always wanted to go into medicine. I guess it is quite possible now that the eating disorder could indirecty ruin my life-long aspiration. I am very scared. Any thoughts? I suppose reverting back to SSRI's is a possibility, but I hate that idea because I absolutely CANNOT acheive an orgasm if I take more than 25 mg (of Effexor), which is a worthless dose. I am thinking of asking my psychiatrist on Thursday if she will consider starting me on adderall. Did that help you "detroitpistons?"
>
> Thanks everyone,
>
> Amanda
Posted by leibniz on June 7, 2006, at 20:28:55
In reply to Lamictal and thinking, posted by detroitpistons on May 30, 2006, at 10:20:21
Hi--Try googling "Lamictal" and "Cognition" and you'll see a pretty favorable profile of it with respect to cognitive side effects, at least at lower doses (100mg).
Posted by Phillipa on June 7, 2006, at 20:44:44
In reply to Re: Lamictal and thinking, posted by leibniz on June 7, 2006, at 20:28:55
Thanks I'll do that . Put the two words together and google it that way? Love Phillipa
Posted by leibniz on June 7, 2006, at 20:51:54
In reply to Re: Lamictal and thinking » leibniz, posted by Phillipa on June 7, 2006, at 20:44:44
Yep, just type lamictal and then thinking and you'll get a bunch of relevant results.
Best,
Matt
Posted by detroitpistons on June 7, 2006, at 21:22:03
In reply to Re: Lamictal and thinking, posted by leibniz on June 7, 2006, at 20:28:55
Hi,
I don't doubt that Lamictal at a dose of 200 mg or lower does not have a significant effect on thinking. It was only after 200 mg that I started having these problems and it is very noticeable. I've never been like this and it's affecting me pretty significantly. I can't stand it. I can't figure out simple things at times, and my memory is bad to the extent that I embarass myself at work.
> Hi--Try googling "Lamictal" and "Cognition" and you'll see a pretty favorable profile of it with respect to cognitive side effects, at least at lower doses (100mg).
Posted by helpme on June 30, 2006, at 17:45:25
In reply to Re: Lamictal and thinking, posted by detroitpistons on June 7, 2006, at 21:22:03
Yikes, lamictal made me stupid on just 150 mg. I lost creativity, I couldn't remember the simplest things, names were out of the question, I couldn't come up with words, etc. I couldn't solve problems, deal with my checkbook, follow complex conversations, or comprehend reading tougher than the tv guide. I seriously thought I was developing premature alzheimers or something. I am also suspicious it dulled me into being more depressed. Thank god I'm off it! I'm so much clearer.
> Hi,
>
> I don't doubt that Lamictal at a dose of 200 mg or lower does not have a significant effect on thinking. It was only after 200 mg that I started having these problems and it is very noticeable. I've never been like this and it's affecting me pretty significantly. I can't stand it. I can't figure out simple things at times, and my memory is bad to the extent that I embarass myself at work.
>
>
> > Hi--Try googling "Lamictal" and "Cognition" and you'll see a pretty favorable profile of it with respect to cognitive side effects, at least at lower doses (100mg).
>
>
Posted by Donna Louise on July 1, 2006, at 22:40:40
In reply to Re: Lamictal and thinking, posted by detroitpistons on June 7, 2006, at 21:22:03
From what I understand, if you problem is depression and anxiety, 200mg is as high as you need to go and that anything higher doesn't help. But if you are taking if for bipolar, then doses higher than 200 are warranted. I guess that is pretty much what SLS said....
donna
Posted by octopusprime on July 7, 2006, at 16:28:33
In reply to Re: Lamictal and thinking, posted by Donna Louise on July 1, 2006, at 22:40:40
I guess I am both lucky and atypical, as I have been taking 300 mg lamictal for 4 months now and have had no negative cognitive effects. My work habits and concentration have improved (especially in the month of June). I am certainly not smarter than when I began, but I'm not dumber either.
Posted by Donna Louise on July 7, 2006, at 23:21:16
In reply to Re: Lamictal and thinking, posted by octopusprime on July 7, 2006, at 16:28:33
> I guess I am both lucky and atypical, as I have been taking 300 mg lamictal for 4 months now and have had no negative cognitive effects. My work habits and concentration have improved (especially in the month of June). I am certainly not smarter than when I began, but I'm not dumber either.
Well this is certainly good news. If I end up needing to go higher than 200, I will know that it is good thing for regular unipolars too.
Thanks for that info.donna
Posted by octopusprime on July 9, 2006, at 5:44:05
In reply to Re: Lamictal and thinking » octopusprime, posted by Donna Louise on July 7, 2006, at 23:21:16
hi donna, i'm being treated for bipolar 2 not unipolar depression
Posted by fuchsia on July 9, 2006, at 7:34:05
In reply to Re: Lamictal and thinking, posted by SLS on May 30, 2006, at 10:37:21
Scott, I have increased my dose of Lamictal over the course of a year in order to chase the improvement. Now I am up to 400mgs and I don't think I even improved much after I passed 300.
The only cognitive impairment that I can detect is a marked loss of dream recall. The fact that this has happened makes me slightly concerned that there could be other cognitive impairment I'm not aware of.
Anyway, I'd like to go back down to about 200mgs but I don't see how I could do this as I think it would have to be done gradually and thus the rebound depression could be prolonged. Do you think this would be the case? I'm not sure what I should do as I'm already getting severe patches at the moment.
fuchsia
> I echo your experience. Lamictal 300mg made me very stupid and greatly impaired my memory. I found that these cognitive side effects are greatly reduced at lower dosages. I am currently taking 150mg. I think that some people get trapped into taking higher dosages of Lamictal, as it seems necessary to keep raising the dosage in order to produce a persistent improvement. Ultimately, the degree of improvement plateaus, even at the higher dosages. Then, when one tries to reduce the dosage, a rebound depression appears, convincing them that the higher dosage is necessary. I found that this rebound depression dissipated within a few days and that I felt just as well on 100mg as I did on 300mg.
>
>
> - Scott
>
Posted by SLS on July 9, 2006, at 8:01:30
In reply to Re: Lamictal and thinking » SLS, posted by fuchsia on July 9, 2006, at 7:34:05
Hi Fuchsia.
> Scott, I have increased my dose of Lamictal over the course of a year in order to chase the improvement. Now I am up to 400mgs and I don't think I even improved much after I passed 300.
I experienced no further improvement upon raising the dosage from 300mg to 450mg.
> The only cognitive impairment that I can detect is a marked loss of dream recall.That's interesting. Did you experience an increase in dreaming when you first began taking Lamictal?
> The fact that this has happened makes me slightly concerned that there could be other cognitive impairment I'm not aware of.
This is a possibility. I found that the cognitive impairments crept up on me almost unnoticed. The other possibility is that the Lamictal has reduced the number of entries into REM sleep you experience in the morning, thus reducing your apparent memories of dreams. (Lamictal increases the total amount of time spent in REM, but reduces the number of episodes).
Do you feel like you are thinking while in a fog or talking to others as if you were standing behind a veil?
> Anyway, I'd like to go back down to about 200mgs but I don't see how I could do this as I think it would have to be done gradually and thus the rebound depression could be prolonged. Do you think this would be the case? I'm not sure what I should do as I'm already getting severe patches at the moment.
Gosh. I'm sorry things aren't so peachy for you at the moment. Perhaps this isn't the ideal time for you to make any changes. Is it a situational thing or a biological thing? If it is a biological thing, there might not be any better time than the present, you know? Maybe you can reduce the dosage of Lamictal by 25mg a week. From my experience, this would help to prevent a rebound depression. Any worsening should be mild and last a day or two at the most. I am betting that you will be OK with that.
- Scott
Posted by fuchsia on July 11, 2006, at 5:19:20
In reply to Re: Lamictal and thinking, posted by SLS on July 9, 2006, at 8:01:30
Hello Scott
>
> > The only cognitive impairment that I can detect is a marked loss of dream recall.
>
> That's interesting. Did you experience an increase in dreaming when you first began taking Lamictal?
I'm not sure I did but then again as I was getting up into the larger doses I had a series of terrifyingly vivid nightmares which I ascribed to my new mattress and its annoying overheating problem. I haven't had the nightmares for quite some time now despite the fact that I still wake in the night cursing the mattress.Did you think the Lamictal could down regulate something that stimulates dreaming?
>
> > The fact that this has happened makes me slightly concerned that there could be other cognitive impairment I'm not aware of.
>
> This is a possibility. I found that the cognitive impairments crept up on me almost unnoticed. The other possibility is that the Lamictal has reduced the number of entries into REM sleep you experience in the morning, thus reducing your apparent memories of dreams. (Lamictal increases the total amount of time spent in REM, but reduces the number of episodes).
As you suggest there are probably now more times when I wake from non-REM sleep. Quite often though I do wake from REM sleep and I can only catch a tiny fragment of a dream and the rest is frustratingly inaccessible. In the past I remembered a lot more and if I did remember only a fragment I could remember a lot more with persistence.>
> Do you feel like you are thinking while in a fog or talking to others as if you were standing behind a veil?
Not really. I'm generally better than I was before I started taking it. I notice worse social phobia now which can produce those effects (in me). I am getting out a lot more though so it might not be the Lamictal.>
> > Anyway, I'd like to go back down to about 200mgs but I don't see how I could do this as I think it would have to be done gradually and thus the rebound depression could be prolonged. Do you think this would be the case? I'm not sure what I should do as I'm already getting severe patches at the moment.
>
> Gosh. I'm sorry things aren't so peachy for you at the moment. Perhaps this isn't the ideal time for you to make any changes. Is it a situational thing or a biological thing?It's definitely biological.
If it is a biological thing, there might not be any better time than the present, you know? Maybe you can reduce the dosage of Lamictal by 25mg a week. From my experience, this would help to prevent a rebound depression. Any worsening should be mild and last a day or two at the most. I am betting that you will be OK with that.
>
I think when I do it I'll do it the way you suggest but maybe not right now. I don't think I can cope with the depression getting worse than it already is when it's bad. Maybe when the days get longer here will be a better time.fuchsia
Posted by SLS on July 11, 2006, at 6:07:29
In reply to Re: Lamictal and thinking » SLS, posted by fuchsia on July 11, 2006, at 5:19:20
Hi.
I think the appearance of the nightmares was very likely the result of the Lamictal. It is a common complaint.
> > Do you feel like you are thinking while in a fog or talking to others as if you were standing behind a veil?
> Not really. I'm generally better than I was before I started taking it. I notice worse social phobia now which can produce those effects (in me). I am getting out a lot more though so it might not be the Lamictal.
It doesn't sound as if you are experiencing any profound impairments in cognition. On the contrary, it appears that Lamictal has had a positive effect for you as it might be treating with some success the depression and the cognitive symptoms that are attendant to that disorder. If you want to experiment, I think you are justified in wanting to know what is the lowest effective dose. However, if you feel worse for more than a week after a dosage reduction, I would say that the higher dosage is probably optimal as long as you tolerate it well.
- Scott
Posted by fuchsia on July 12, 2006, at 5:56:14
In reply to Re: Lamictal and thinking, posted by SLS on July 11, 2006, at 6:07:29
Hi Scott
Thanks very much for that. I feel sort of better about my position now.
Can I just ask you, does the Lamictal cause the dreaming patterns to become more like the normal healthy situation or does it cause a different pattern to form?
fuchsia
Posted by SLS on July 12, 2006, at 6:32:34
In reply to Re: Lamictal and thinking » SLS, posted by fuchsia on July 12, 2006, at 5:56:14
> Hi Scott
>
> Thanks very much for that. I feel sort of better about my position now.
>
> Can I just ask you, does the Lamictal cause the dreaming patterns to become more like the normal healthy situation or does it cause a different pattern to form?When I took a look at the sleep studies published on Medline, the results were inconsistent. I was given the impression that Lamictal extended the time of each REM period, but reduced the total number of REM periods entered. With depression, the first REM period occurs earlier, and each REM period is extended, but the number of REM periods remain about the same.
- Scott
Posted by fuchsia on July 14, 2006, at 3:06:59
In reply to Re: Lamictal and thinking, posted by SLS on July 12, 2006, at 6:32:34
Posted by detroitpistons on July 28, 2006, at 10:37:38
In reply to Re: Lamictal and thinking, adderall, school, SSRIs, posted by collegegal on June 5, 2006, at 10:23:26
>>>I am thinking of asking my psychiatrist on Thursday if she will consider starting me on adderall. Did that help you "detroitpistons?"
Amanda,Sorry it took me so long to respond.
I tried Adderall and Ritalin, and was titrating Strattera and quit because of some sexual side effects. It turns out that these drugs really didn't help me very much. I'm going to go from 300 to 250 mg of Lamictal, and then hopefully down to 200 mg. Hope this helps.
Posted by detroitpistons on August 1, 2006, at 15:25:02
In reply to Re: Lamictal and thinking » SLS, posted by fuchsia on July 9, 2006, at 7:34:05
Scott or anybody with input,
Is it safe to go from 300 mg of Lamictal to 200 mg all at once? My doctor took me down from 300 to 250 in order to appease me. I still haven't received my mail order scrip, so I haven't actually gone down yet. I don't anticipate that a 50 mg reduction will make much of a difference. I think I'm going to do the 250 for a week and then go down to 200 without doctor approval. I can't take this anymore. I may be starting a new job and I can't afford to be in this fog any longer. I can't think or remember.
How long does it take to notice your cognition returning once you lower your dose? Days? Weeks?
Posted by SLS on August 1, 2006, at 15:38:47
In reply to Re: Lamictal and thinking, posted by detroitpistons on August 1, 2006, at 15:25:02
> Scott or anybody with input,
>
> Is it safe to go from 300 mg of Lamictal to 200 mg all at once? My doctor took me down from 300 to 250 in order to appease me. I still haven't received my mail order scrip, so I haven't actually gone down yet. I don't anticipate that a 50 mg reduction will make much of a difference. I think I'm going to do the 250 for a week and then go down to 200 without doctor approval. I can't take this anymore. I may be starting a new job and I can't afford to be in this fog any longer. I can't think or remember.
>
> How long does it take to notice your cognition returning once you lower your dose? Days? Weeks?I think it is reasonable to stay at 250mg for a week before decreasing to 200mg. It might help prevent a rebound depressive reaction. Actually, I would decrease by 25mg every 2-3 days. If there is any improvement in cognition to be gained, you should notice it within a few days of reaching the lower dosage. That has been my experience, anyway.
Good luck.
- Scott
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