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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Christ_empowered on August 29, 2011, at 20:35:24
I'm on 50mgs/day of Lamictal, step 2 in a slow titration up to 200mgs/day. My anxiety and mood have already improved. The 1 problem: when I sleep, I sleep more heavily. I also sleep longer and my dreams are ridiculously vivid. I mean, the vivid dreams are kind of cool, but I just don't know what's going on here. Is this an adjustment to medication that will pass, or is this how Lamictal is going to make me feel during the duration of treatment?
Posted by morgan miller on August 29, 2011, at 21:06:38
In reply to Lamictal=heavy sleep?, posted by Christ_empowered on August 29, 2011, at 20:35:24
I think this could be transient. I went through many phases going up to 125, but never felt that great on any dose.
Why 200? What if you do really well on 100? I know it's because of your specific illness, just sayin.
Morgan
Posted by Christ_empowered on August 29, 2011, at 21:09:31
In reply to Re: Lamictal=heavy sleep?, posted by morgan miller on August 29, 2011, at 21:06:38
I have no idea why its 200. I think part of it is that its Public Mental Health and they tend to emphasize higher doses of antipsychotics and mood-stabilizers. The other thing is that now the plan is to lower the Abilify from 30 to 15, so I guess the idea is that 200 would be a mood stabilizer in addition to acting against depression. I don't know, it all seems like a guessing game.
Posted by Phillipa on August 29, 2011, at 22:21:19
In reply to Re: Lamictal=heavy sleep?, posted by Christ_empowered on August 29, 2011, at 21:09:31
I did get to 50mg of lamictal but it didn't effect my sleep at all. Phillipa
Posted by floatingbridge on August 30, 2011, at 2:34:03
In reply to Lamictal=heavy sleep?, posted by Christ_empowered on August 29, 2011, at 20:35:24
CE, that heavy sleep sure looks good to me :-) from where I am.
I started lamictal today at 25mg. I didn't realize it would work on anxiety.
I hope hope hope I tolerate it.
Do you feel rested on it, or a bit heavy-headed?
Posted by Christ_empowered on August 30, 2011, at 11:51:41
In reply to Re: Lamictal=heavy sleep? » Christ_empowered, posted by floatingbridge on August 30, 2011, at 2:34:03
I feel rested. I drink more coffee (without getting coffee jitters, might I add) that I did before, but I'm feeling good. I don't know if it worked on my anxiety, or if my anxiety was "really" the result of low-mood and that's now being brought up to a brighter mood level (I say "really" because in psychiatry, nobody knows what's really going on).
What's your target dose?
Posted by floatingbridge on August 30, 2011, at 12:05:11
In reply to Re: Lamictal=heavy sleep?, posted by Christ_empowered on August 30, 2011, at 11:51:41
Hi CE
>
> What's your target dose?It hasn't been discussed. It's five weeks to 100. I now undertsand your initial impatience with start up firstnhand :-/
Though I am liking your reports so far.
I'll post anything new. Would you, too? I find your updates helpful.
I would love it to possitively effect anxiety....
How often do you look for a rash?
Posted by Christ_empowered on August 30, 2011, at 12:37:19
In reply to Re: Lamictal=heavy sleep? » Christ_empowered, posted by floatingbridge on August 30, 2011, at 12:05:11
I never check for a rash. I did get somewhat dry and itchy skin, which is unusual, but there's no rash.
Now that the Lamictal seems to be helping, I'm not quite as impatient as I was before. I think I assumed that since my target was 200, I'd have to be at or near there to feel anything. As it turns out 50 is doing quite nicely.
Posted by mellow on August 30, 2011, at 18:03:29
In reply to Lamictal=heavy sleep?, posted by Christ_empowered on August 29, 2011, at 20:35:24
I have problems with sleeping way too much. I have always been a sleepy head. It was worse when I had untreated sleep apnea. It is probably worse in the last 5 years since being heavily medicated. It seems to be way worse when I'm a little depressed, but I don't know if it is necessarily related to Lamictal. I'm on 150mg at breakfast. I think it probably has more to do with my antipsychotic. Until last week I was on 2mg risperdal. Just tapered down to 1.5 about 5 days ago.
Anyhow CE it may just be a combo of your Lamictal and Abilify. Are you still taking 30 Abilify? Plus you take healthy doses of Niacin if I recall. If that is in the afternoon or at bed that may play into it a little as well.
Both of you keep me posted on your progress. I'm kind of a Lamictal cheerleader on Babble despite people trashing it. It saved my life. My goal is monotherapy hopefully. We can all dream right?
peace
Posted by floatingbridge on August 30, 2011, at 20:23:47
In reply to Re: Lamictal=heavy sleep?, posted by mellow on August 30, 2011, at 18:03:29
Lamictal gets trashed sometimes? I wonder why. I've only seen positive comments-- or those who need to quit because of a rash or headache.
Is there a downside to lamictal?
Posted by Phillipa on August 30, 2011, at 23:46:39
In reply to Re: Lamictal=heavy sleep? » mellow, posted by floatingbridge on August 30, 2011, at 20:23:47
Not that I'm aware of my wierd side effect was only I saw and it didn't make me either tired or wired. Nothing really. Did get to 50mg. Phillipa
This is the end of the thread.
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