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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Beckett on March 20, 2014, at 23:42:48
Last month I was put on lamictal and withdrawn from lithium. I have had a return it seems of dystopic bouts and I thought lithium might have been better. I don't understand lamictal. Lithium is just a salt, right?
Has anyone been helped by either?
Thanks.
Posted by Beckett on March 20, 2014, at 23:52:09
In reply to Lithium, lamictal, posted by Beckett on March 20, 2014, at 23:42:48
It might be rude to post to one's self. I was told that lamictal and lithium together were too much, but I am not so sure.
Anyone here take both?
Posted by SLS on March 21, 2014, at 5:07:22
In reply to Re: Lithium, lamictal » Beckett, posted by Beckett on March 20, 2014, at 23:52:09
> It might be rude to post to one's self. I was told that lamictal and lithium together were too much, but I am not so sure.
That's silly.
> Anyone here take both?
Me.
My depression worsens when I try to discontinue either one.
For bipolar depression in the absence of mania, I take:
Lamictal 200 mg/day
lithium 450 mg/day
- Scott
Posted by Phillipa on March 21, 2014, at 10:21:49
In reply to Re: Lithium, lamictal » Beckett, posted by SLS on March 21, 2014, at 5:07:22
I can't answer for bipolar. But when lamictal was thought to boost an ad I tried it. It made me spit uncontrollably. And got anger bouts. So only got to 50mg and doc pulled me off it. Phillipa
Posted by phidippus on March 21, 2014, at 14:41:54
In reply to Lithium, lamictal, posted by Beckett on March 20, 2014, at 23:42:48
They should have just added the LAmictal to the Lithium. The two work synergistically when together.
Lithium is a salt yes.
Lithiumm has kept me sane for nearly a decade.
Lamictal made me psycho.
Eric
Posted by tom2228 on March 21, 2014, at 19:45:55
In reply to Re: Lithium, lamictal » Beckett, posted by phidippus on March 21, 2014, at 14:41:54
I take Lamictal (XR) 125mg and 900mg lithium, both do for my mood, cycling, and other symptoms what neither can do alone. I also take 10mg Abilify as a 3rd bipolar med.
Lamictal really helps my borderline (so does lithium but not as dramatically as the Lamitcal).
> Lamictal made me psycho.
>Me too the first time ~7 years ago as my only and first bipolar med at 200mg, felt psycho until the very last was out of me.
This time around I built up very slowly and 125mg of the XR seems to be fine with me now. Far less psycho than without it actually
Posted by Beckett on March 21, 2014, at 21:28:12
In reply to Re: Lithium, lamictal, posted by tom2228 on March 21, 2014, at 19:45:55
Lamictal XR? I don't know about this.
Lithium vanquished suicidal ideation when I was put on it last year. Within days it seemed.
I really think I will add it back in--I see my new shrink soon.
900 mg. was my therapeutic limit, but I was comfortable at 600 mg. At 900 mg I had what I think is called fine tremor? I was unable to write (by hand), which embarrassed me greatly when writing a check. I hated it.
Thank you--all this input has helped me think this through.
Posted by tom2228 on March 22, 2014, at 22:52:16
In reply to Re: Lithium, lamictal, posted by Beckett on March 21, 2014, at 21:28:12
> Lamictal XR? I don't know about this.
>Yeah, the steady blood level has made a big difference --, instead have a steady level that I don't notice as much but has chronically made a bigger difference in my symptoms than the equivalent dose in instant release form.
On the IR I was getting peaks with side-effects at night/morning and what felt like an abrupt, crude, and uncomfortable lack of coverage towards the end of the day.
> Lithium vanquished suicidal ideation when I was put on it last year. Within days it seemed.
>I noticed about a year and a half after being on lower doses (350-750mg) that I hadn't felt suicidal for a long while. However got bumped up at the hospital to 1200mg last summer and counterintuitively I had for a couple months the worst of those thoughts I'd maybe ever had. Getting on Lamictal in the fall helped
Posted by Beckett on March 23, 2014, at 15:48:03
In reply to Re: Lithium, lamictal, posted by tom2228 on March 22, 2014, at 22:52:16
>I noticed about a year and a half after being on lower doses (350-750mg) that I hadn't felt suicidal for a long while. However got bumped up at the hospital to 1200mg last summer and counterintuitively I had for a couple months the worst of those thoughts I'd maybe ever had. Getting on Lamictal in the fall helped.
When I was at maximum lithium dose, it felt 'intense' in a full body way. I think I can see how your moods might increase in intensity. Since being off lithium, moods are vertiginous and. rapid again. Does this sound like how you were? Is this what you call borderline? I have wondered re: myself because I don't seem to fit a bipolar pattern except for a deeper fluctuation of depression dotted with hypomania. Oh well, maybe both. I am dx'd bipolar II. I am glad to hear that your moods have smoothed out and that you have found meds to work for you.
In January I was detoxed off Xanax after 15 years. I think it shaped my moodscape adversely, but being withdrawn might be contributing. Both Xanax and lithium were withdrawn at once, so it is difficult to say what's what.
This is the end of the thread.
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