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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Jeroen on March 13, 2007, at 18:10:56
what about lamictal?
i read good stuff about it, even my schrink sais he heared good stuff about it..
i heared about a deadly rash u can get from it..
Posted by Sandra62 on March 13, 2007, at 18:37:15
In reply to what about lamictal?, posted by Jeroen on March 13, 2007, at 18:10:56
I take 100 mg of Lamictal for the depression side of my Bipolar. You need to start small, like 12.5 mg and work your way up slowly to a good dosage of 100 mg or more to avoid the rash.
When I first was put on it I only used a benzo in addition and I felt almost immediately better. Euphoric would be the word. I started writing songs again and felt 'high'. I unfortunately hit the hypomania wall with feelings of fear and anxiety. I had to be put on Zyprexa which I'm now going to go off of. I remained on the Lamictal and believe that it has kept me from sinking into the dark depression I used to have.
Posted by Phillipa on March 13, 2007, at 21:14:56
In reply to Re: what about lamictal?, posted by Sandra62 on March 13, 2007, at 18:37:15
Jeroen lamictal is a good mood stabalizer and what Sandra posted is true about the starting doses and how to increase it. The rash usally doesn't happen if it does there is pleanty of time to get it taken care of. Love Phillipa
Posted by TheMeanReds on March 14, 2007, at 11:24:48
In reply to what about lamictal?, posted by Jeroen on March 13, 2007, at 18:10:56
I'm on lamical 100mg. I was scared of the rash too at first. My doc said to call if I saw a rash. But I wasnt sure what the rash looked like or where it would appear. Then I spoke with some other lamictal users, and they said 'you'll KNOW if you get the rash'. I read on wiki that it is also less of a chance if you are younger. I'm 24 and I never got it. I think this rash talks' bark is bigger than the bite. I think it scares people because its a weird side effect that may or may not happen, and on top of it its a psych drug. Rash and psych drugs.....doesnt seem like they go together. Good luck.
> what about lamictal?
>
> i read good stuff about it, even my schrink sais he heared good stuff about it..
>
>
> i heared about a deadly rash u can get from it..
Posted by Jeroen on March 14, 2007, at 11:41:00
In reply to Re: what about lamictal? » Jeroen, posted by TheMeanReds on March 14, 2007, at 11:24:48
the rash stuff is true.... i did some research
Posted by Quintal on March 14, 2007, at 11:46:32
In reply to Re: what about lamictal?, posted by Jeroen on March 14, 2007, at 11:41:00
I got the rash each time I started Lamictal. The first time it went away after about two weeks and I had a good response to it as a mood stabilizer for two years, the second time my doctor seemed to think I invented the rash as some sort of self-harm to get off it. I decided it was unsafe to keep taking Lamictal when the doctor wasn't monitoring me properly in those circumstances.
If you are suffering I would advise you try it, it's unlikely you will get the rash, but even if you do it's easy to treat.
Q
Posted by notfred on March 14, 2007, at 19:12:35
In reply to Re: what about lamictal? » Jeroen, posted by TheMeanReds on March 14, 2007, at 11:24:48
"Rash and psych drugs.....doesnt seem like they go together."
Rashes are not uncommon side effects in many AED's. So lies the problem with Lamictal, you may get a rash but it most likely will not be THE rash. Getting a rash checked out is key as not all rashes mean you have to stop lamictal. Nor should you ever let a rash go to see if it is THE rash. The serious rash (THE rash) only becomes dangerous if not treated as soon as it appears.
Once you are on a stable dose rashes, generally, do not happen. I find this board a good source of info on Lamictal:
http://www.crazymeds.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?board=lamictal
Posted by polarbear206 on March 14, 2007, at 22:13:39
In reply to Re: what about lamictal?, posted by notfred on March 14, 2007, at 19:12:35
There is only a 1% chance of getting the severe life threatening rash aka "Steven Johnson Syndrome". Some docs are too conservative and discontinue it at the first sight of a rash. I got a diffuse rash on my legs and arms, and it went away.
Posted by Jeroen on March 14, 2007, at 22:53:01
In reply to Re: what about lamictal?, posted by polarbear206 on March 14, 2007, at 22:13:39
just went outside
i feel zombie and drugged on seroquel, how can someone function on such a nightmare drugs?
Posted by Joe Bloe on March 15, 2007, at 1:26:00
In reply to what about lamictal?, posted by Jeroen on March 13, 2007, at 18:10:56
I've said this a lot of times recently on this board, but so far, I just can't say enough good things about Lamctal at 25 mgs a day.
Firstly, I've been off Prozac now for almost a week after a 1 month taper from 20 mgs and feel zero SSRI withdrawal. I tried to withdraw twice before and failed, both times never making it below 5 mgs in 4 weeks. I have my fingers crossed that this could be the time to get off of the P. I think it will be because in comparison to my other 2 attempts, I feel no craving, no desire whatsoever to start taking it. After more than 4 years on Prozac, I am feeling so much better off of it. I am even finding interest in sex once more.
Secondly, I even think I would be able to withdraw from Adderall with no problems. I usually take 20 mgs XR but today, I took only 5 mgs IR and felt fine all day. No fatigue. No bounce back.
Thirdly, my earlier side effects of feeling braindead and fatigued have almost totally disappeared. One possibility is that because it seemed to increase the efficacy of the prozac by 2 times plus, it increased the unbearable Prozac side effects of increased fatigue, loss of memory, etc. Since starting my withdrawal from Prozac, logically, the sensation of an increased Prozac dose is gone as the med is washed out of my system. Another more commonplace explanation would be that the side effects were just at initial startup. I think it may be some combo of the two.
A few negatives: Lamictal switched from totally sedating to stimulating sometime in the past week or so. This reached a point where I was unable to sleep 2 or 3 nights ago. I had to take a benadryl to finally fall asleep by 4 am. I had to switch from taking it in the morning to taking it at night. Let's see how this works. Also, I have not had a rash but have felt kinda itchy a couple of times. I also have had some headaches, one day when I first started was really bad. I also crave cigarettes and have been smoking a few a day for the past 3 weeks or so.
I am very hopeful (but wary) that this will continue to go so successfully, at least long enough for the SSRI to be out of my system so that I can attempt to start a life without it.
I have read about a lot of bad experiences by people on Lamictal. But naturally, given my experience so far, I would say to give it a shot for a month if it may help you.
Posted by SistrMaggie on March 18, 2007, at 0:21:30
In reply to Re: what about lamictal?, posted by Joe Bloe on March 15, 2007, at 1:26:00
Hi, I'm new. Sort of. I was a member quite a few years back and just rejoined. My new p-doc started me on Lamictal a few days ago (I've been off meds and out of therapy for years). She asked me to let her know if I got a rash, and we have a follow-up appointment in about a week and a half. No rash so far. I don't feel any different, though I realize these things take time to kick in.
I have Bipolar I and OCD, with a side order of psychosis, all things I've been pretending not to have for years. The only reason I even went to the new psychiatrist is because I promised my best friend and my husband I'd go. I've been experiencing insomnia, rapid cycling (terrible ups and downs), and hallucinations--aural, visual, tactile. In short, I'm a mess. I'm also on something called Abilify, which the doc says is temporary. Both are new meds for me, and I've been on quite a few. My worst concern is always side effects because I haven't been able to tolerate any meds yet. Fingers crossed this time will be better.
Posted by TheMeanReds on March 21, 2007, at 15:27:46
In reply to Re: what about lamictal?, posted by SistrMaggie on March 18, 2007, at 0:21:30
A splash of abilify for you? I did that too. I was on abilify to augment w/ Lamictal, to stop the blues I was having from time to time. I like to compare it to smoking grass. Wether that is good or bad for you depending on your preference. It made me get the 'ums', that is I'd forget my point in mid conversation. It annoyed me alittle too much, as it did when I used to use grass. Good Luck
Posted by SistrMaggie on March 21, 2007, at 23:46:32
In reply to Re: Abilify » SistrMaggie, posted by TheMeanReds on March 21, 2007, at 15:27:46
Re: A splash of abilify for you? I did that too. I was on abilify to augment w/ Lamictal, to stop the blues I was having from time to time. I like to compare it to smoking grass. Wether that is good or bad for you depending on your preference. It made me get the 'ums', that is I'd forget my point in mid conversation. It annoyed me alittle too much, as it did when I used to use grass. Good Luck
**
Thanks! So far, so good. No side effects yet (besides a slight headache, but that I can handle and I'm expecting it to go away). I'm just hoping not to get the "duh" factor (that happened to me big time on neurontin. I still think of that and a few other meds as "stupid pills"). I teach, so my mind's got to stay sharp.
This is the end of the thread.
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