Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 1015973

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How long to give lamictal to work?

Posted by jerseygal111 on April 19, 2012, at 17:01:35

I finally reached a therapeutic dose of lamictal at 300 mg. based on bloodwork. But I'm not feeling any better. How long should I give it before I stop the lamictal. My pdoc prescribed it for depression and possible bipolar.

 

Re: How long to give lamictal to work? » jerseygal111

Posted by phidippus on April 19, 2012, at 18:29:14

In reply to How long to give lamictal to work?, posted by jerseygal111 on April 19, 2012, at 17:01:35

Should take about a week to adjust to it.

Eric

 

Re: How long to give lamictal to work? » jerseygal111

Posted by herpills on April 19, 2012, at 21:59:38

In reply to How long to give lamictal to work?, posted by jerseygal111 on April 19, 2012, at 17:01:35

> I finally reached a therapeutic dose of lamictal at 300 mg. based on bloodwork. But I'm not feeling any better. How long should I give it before I stop the lamictal. My pdoc prescribed it for depression and possible bipolar.

I started feeling better as soon as I hit 100mg, and I think most people find that 200mg works, if the med is going to work at all. The fact that you're at 300 and still nothing? I say time to ditch the lamictal and move on...but that's just my opinion, talk to the doc first of course!

 

Re: How long to give lamictal to work? » jerseygal111

Posted by tensor on April 20, 2012, at 5:48:57

In reply to How long to give lamictal to work?, posted by jerseygal111 on April 19, 2012, at 17:01:35

> I finally reached a therapeutic dose of lamictal at 300 mg. based on bloodwork. But I'm not feeling any better. How long should I give it before I stop the lamictal. My pdoc prescribed it for depression and possible bipolar.

Monotherapy?

/t

 

Re: How long to give lamictal to work?

Posted by stewie on April 20, 2012, at 10:42:25

In reply to Re: How long to give lamictal to work? » jerseygal111, posted by tensor on April 20, 2012, at 5:48:57

I had a really good and long run with celexa and lamictal. People said I was appearing better about a week after I hit 100 mgs on the lamictal. I had already been on celexa for some time.

I noticed that I was feeling better soon after that--maybe another week or two.

 

Re: How long to give lamictal to work?

Posted by Phillipa on April 20, 2012, at 10:47:06

In reply to Re: How long to give lamictal to work?, posted by stewie on April 20, 2012, at 10:42:25

Didn't do a thing for me at 50mg when stopped due to severe spitting? Phillipa

 

Re: How long to give lamictal to work?

Posted by bleauberry on April 22, 2012, at 9:13:04

In reply to How long to give lamictal to work?, posted by jerseygal111 on April 19, 2012, at 17:01:35

If it were me I would already be starting the journey of weaning off it. It should have already given you a hint of something if it was going to do anything for you. it is not, I don't believe, just going to magically kick in with a few more days or weeks. I would like to be wrong on that.

The process of getting up to 300mg involves time....time enough to feel something if there is going to be anything to feel. It's not as if you have to reach some magical supposed therapeutic dose to feel anything....most people feel something even at 25mg. So if you aren't, that to me says....bummer this trial didn't go well but that's ok I have more wisdom now and I'm moving on....the mood stabilizer thing is probably not going to be a good route for me. But that's just my way of thinking.

I see too much "garden variety" treatment of depression. Much too common. Here...lexapro for you....lamictal for you....whatever. The true powerhorses for depression are not those. They are things like Zoloft+Nortriptyline, Prozac+TCA, Clomipramine, Parnate, Nardil, antidepressant+Ritalin. Sometimes antidepressant+antipsychotic but I prefer that not be a top choice save it for last.

Even in clinical trials, not sure your doc is aware, lamictal wasn't that great of an antidepressant....and when it was, it generally relapsed within 9 months. It is primarily, as stated in those trials, for "delaying" the onset of the next depressive episode. I think its use as monotherapy use or cocktail use as an antidepressant is more anecdotal, industry habit, general industry consensus, whatever, but not really based on any earth shaking evidence or fact.

Best first line mood stabilizer and antidepressant combo on the planet to try before any meds, after med failures, or added to meds, is rhodiola rosea. imo


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