Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 834778

Shown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Lamictal: can I use as needed?

Posted by NewHampshireGuy on June 15, 2008, at 19:44:47

Hello,

I actually got some kind of response to Lamictal on 25 mg where it curbed my mania quite a bit and the noise in my head

I am affraid to go up, as I think my already bad insomnia is made worse by it.

I was hoping it would somehow positivly affect my serotonin receptors as I have reason to believe my sleep problems also lie there

I am debating going up to 50 mg to see if the noise in the head and sleep problems completely go away/I feel re-balanced so to speak.

my question:

if that doesn't work and I am too stimulated at 50mg (I am very sensitive to medications), can I use lamicatal during episodes to bring me back down into remission?

is 50 mg too little of a dose to be thereputic? I honestly seemed to notice a good difference on 25 mg, but like it didn't QUITE get me exactely back to feeling normal, but close

recommendations? I am bipolar NOS. thanks

 

Re: Lamictal: can I use as needed?

Posted by dbc on June 15, 2008, at 20:30:56

In reply to Lamictal: can I use as needed?, posted by NewHampshireGuy on June 15, 2008, at 19:44:47

The stimulation will go away and no it needs to be at a constant state.

 

Re: Lamictal: can I use as needed?

Posted by NewHampshireGuy on June 15, 2008, at 21:34:22

In reply to Re: Lamictal: can I use as needed?, posted by dbc on June 15, 2008, at 20:30:56

thank you

do you think it has properties that can help with my "sleep imbalance/insominia/mania/anxiety/racing thoughts" in the long run? on the 3-4 it seemed songs/racing thoughts slowly started to zap away and get slower/less intrusive.

now on day 10 of 25 mg I have fewer racing thoughts/noise in head and mood seems more stable, not too much anxiety, just wondering if the whole sleep thing can fall into place at some point.

I think I have depleted serotonin, what I attribute to my sleep/depression/anxiety problems...and probably developed slightly bipolar NOS 5-6 years ago on top of that. fun stuff, quite a rollar coaster. luckily more up than down, but insomnia is no fun

any one else get a therepeutic response at low doses like 25mg or 50mg or do I eventually have to go up to 100mg?

thanks in advance

 

Re: Lamictal: can I use as needed?

Posted by elanor roosevelt on June 15, 2008, at 23:45:28

In reply to Re: Lamictal: can I use as needed?, posted by NewHampshireGuy on June 15, 2008, at 21:34:22

the sleep thing gets a bit better in time
but lamictal has to be consistent or it will make your life hellish

 

Re: Lamictal: can I use as needed?

Posted by Phillipa on June 16, 2008, at 0:39:08

In reply to Re: Lamictal: can I use as needed?, posted by elanor roosevelt on June 15, 2008, at 23:45:28

Seriously I'm sensitive to meds and at 50mg even I was doing okay with the med as far as moods and sleep go but I do take a benzo at bedtime. Phillipa

 

Re: Lamictal: can I use as needed?

Posted by elbee on June 16, 2008, at 14:09:38

In reply to Lamictal: can I use as needed?, posted by NewHampshireGuy on June 15, 2008, at 19:44:47

I don't know the answer to your question, but here is some info:

Lamictal gave me severe insomnia even at low doses I think. I currently take it--for BP1--but have to take a sleep inducing med with it (zyprexa) or I wouldn't be able to sleep.

Good luck finding the right combo!

 

Re: Lamictal: can I use as needed?

Posted by NewHampshireGuy on June 16, 2008, at 17:00:15

In reply to Re: Lamictal: can I use as needed?, posted by elbee on June 16, 2008, at 14:09:38

thank you elbee! yuk an antiphyscotic with it just to sleep? they gave me prescription benedryll (visteril??) and it worked ok for the first week, then insomnia again. they told me to take 3-4 Visteril if needed and it hasn't been "too" bad. but I am sure the tolerance to the Visertil on 3-4 of them will build too, also quickly. will see what happens!

 

Re: Lamictal: can I use as needed? » NewHampshireGuy

Posted by elbee on June 16, 2008, at 17:24:50

In reply to Re: Lamictal: can I use as needed?, posted by NewHampshireGuy on June 16, 2008, at 17:00:15

Yeah, I would probably have to take an antipsychotic anyway but as a result of lamictal I have to take a sedating one. I want to cut back on the zyprexa but can't because I need it to sleep. Damn. Lamictal puts me in this half awake half asleep state. It's not very restful!

Hope lamictal works for you! It's been a wonder drug for me. I was very suicidal and agitated and depressed before and now I'm just fine! It must be working because when I tried to take a lot less I was a mess (moody and upset) and that's when I realized it was really helping me. I'm the best I've been in years according to my family.

 

Re: Lamictal: can I use as needed?

Posted by blueboy on June 18, 2008, at 14:05:42

In reply to Lamictal: can I use as needed?, posted by NewHampshireGuy on June 15, 2008, at 19:44:47

> Hello,
>
> I actually got some kind of response to Lamictal on 25 mg where it curbed my mania quite a bit and the noise in my head
>
> I am affraid to go up, as I think my already bad insomnia is made worse by it.
>
> I was hoping it would somehow positivly affect my serotonin receptors as I have reason to believe my sleep problems also lie there
>
> I am debating going up to 50 mg to see if the noise in the head and sleep problems completely go away/I feel re-balanced so to speak.
>
> my question:
>
> if that doesn't work and I am too stimulated at 50mg (I am very sensitive to medications), can I use lamicatal during episodes to bring me back down into remission?
>

Okay, I am no expert and I'm just starting on Lamictal. That said, my understanding of it is that it is not considered useful to stop a depressive episode once it starts, but is generally used to prevent it from starting. I'm just guessing that the same holds true for a manic or hypomanic problem.

Also, at least in my case and also what I understand, it takes a number of days to become effective.

So, my thought would be "No, you can't use it as needed."

> is 50 mg too little of a dose to be thereputic? I honestly seemed to notice a good difference on 25 mg, but like it didn't QUITE get me exactely back to feeling normal, but close
>

No, my pdoc says that most of his patients are on 50mg/day. He has one patient who takes only 25mg per day and swears by it.

My layman's suggestion would be to consider trying 50mg and see if you can sleep. If not, drop back. Also, others have told me that some of the manic-inducing side effects lessen over time, so be sure you give it a couple of weeks before you decide the insomnia is too bad to take.


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