Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 1094675

Shown: posts 1 to 21 of 21. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Lamictal

Posted by Markwell on August 28, 2017, at 6:56:39

So, I'm currently taking 25mgs of lamictal and about to go to 50 mgs. I find the lamictal even at 25mgs to be very stimulating. Increasing my racing thoughts and just not allowing me to relax. Does this get better at higher doses? Any thoughts anyone?
Mark

 

Re: Lamictal

Posted by Lamdage22 on August 28, 2017, at 9:18:20

In reply to Lamictal, posted by Markwell on August 28, 2017, at 6:56:39

i wouldnt force it if you have the feeling that its not helpful.

 

Re: Lamictal » Markwell

Posted by SLS on August 28, 2017, at 9:41:01

In reply to Lamictal, posted by Markwell on August 28, 2017, at 6:56:39

> So, I'm currently taking 25mgs of lamictal and about to go to 50 mgs. I find the lamictal even at 25mgs to be very stimulating. Increasing my racing thoughts and just not allowing me to relax. Does this get better at higher doses? Any thoughts anyone?
> Mark

You are bipolar?

When was the last time you experienced depression? Mania? Mixed state?

What symptoms are you trying to treat?

Lamictal is not appropriate for treating mania as far as I'm concerned. Some people do find Lamictal to be stimulating and causing insomnia. I don't know what percentage of these people go on to have theses things subside. My initial stimulation produced by Lamictal disappeared - unfortunately. Still, it has proven itself to be a critical component of my treatment of bipolar depression.


- Scott

 

Re: Lamictal

Posted by Markwell on August 28, 2017, at 10:04:25

In reply to Re: Lamictal » Markwell, posted by SLS on August 28, 2017, at 9:41:01

I'm bipolar. One of my issues is agitated anxiety. I'm also taking lithium. I just don't know if this stimulation lessens.
Mark

 

Re: Lamictal » Markwell

Posted by beckett2 on August 28, 2017, at 13:24:47

In reply to Re: Lamictal, posted by Markwell on August 28, 2017, at 10:04:25

It lessened for me. The first 25mg, I thought I'd lose my mind. Do you have BP i or ii?

 

Re: Lamictal

Posted by Markwell on August 28, 2017, at 13:37:06

In reply to Re: Lamictal » Markwell, posted by beckett2 on August 28, 2017, at 13:24:47

Bp1...so it got better?
Mark

 

Re: Lamictal » Markwell

Posted by beckett2 on August 28, 2017, at 18:49:41

In reply to Re: Lamictal, posted by Markwell on August 28, 2017, at 13:37:06

Yes, I'm on 250mgs and I really like it for rapid cycling. But I don't know much about BPI and what precipitates an episode. At the time I took extra xanax which sorta helped. In my experience it was the very first 25 mgs. If the agitation doesn't subside soon, call your doctor?

 

Re: Lamictal

Posted by Markwell on August 28, 2017, at 18:54:11

In reply to Re: Lamictal » Markwell, posted by beckett2 on August 28, 2017, at 18:49:41

That was so helpful! I'll go to 50mg on Monday and I'll see if it gets better.
Mark

 

Re: Lamictal

Posted by SLS on August 28, 2017, at 22:25:37

In reply to Re: Lamictal » Markwell, posted by beckett2 on August 28, 2017, at 18:49:41

> Yes, I'm on 250mgs and I really like it for rapid cycling. But I don't know much about BPI and what precipitates an episode. At the time I took extra xanax which sorta helped. In my experience it was the very first 25 mgs. If the agitation doesn't subside soon, call your doctor?

How long did it take for Lamictal to "penetrate" your rapid cycling? The NIH claims that it can take as long as 6 months for this to happen. Are you taking lithium, too?


- Scott

 

Re: Lamictal

Posted by rjlockhart37 on August 28, 2017, at 23:27:57

In reply to Re: Lamictal » Markwell, posted by SLS on August 28, 2017, at 9:41:01

i've read lamotragine can be stimulating for depression, but mainly it only does that to bring you back to baseline, lamotragine generally would not cause any mania, or racing thoughts. I was on 400mg its was calming, but it dulled me out, i would do regular activies but i wouldn't get that euphoria of getting hyped up about doing fun things, if you still have problems, then i guess stop taking, but lamotragine take a while to work, generally a week or 2, 25mg is a very low dose, i take 200 and it just helps with keeping me from going into dark depression.....

the only main thing that would cause you to manadtory get off lamitcal is the rash condition, lamotragine has a small effect on population that causes a rash on your skin that is serious and you have discontinue it if it happens

tell your doctor, but im just saying standard dose like 100-200mg is good dose for depression and mood stablization, its not an anti-depressant so it does not cause mania, but it has antidepressant like properties that keep depression away

 

Re: Lamictal

Posted by Markwell on August 29, 2017, at 9:41:11

In reply to Re: Lamictal, posted by rjlockhart37 on August 28, 2017, at 23:27:57

So do you think it would be worthwhile to continue with lithium and lamictal? It's been 3 weeks of lithium and I'm on my 2nd week of lamictal. How long should I give it? I feel crappy but I want to give it a fair shot.
Mark

 

Re: Lamictal

Posted by linkadge on August 29, 2017, at 14:21:23

In reply to Re: Lamictal, posted by Markwell on August 29, 2017, at 9:41:11

It works well for some, but it didn't agree with me. Perhaps I didn't give it long enough.

It didn't do much to help my sensory overload and it kind of made my brain feel more 'raw'. I preferred valproate for toning things down.

However, I don't take any anticonvulsants at the moment.

Linkadge

 

Re: Lamictal » Markwell

Posted by rjlockhart37 on August 29, 2017, at 19:47:47

In reply to Re: Lamictal, posted by Markwell on August 29, 2017, at 9:41:11

lamotragine should be working after 2 weeks, but what im trying to say is 25mg is low low dose, the standard dose is usally 100-200mg for mood stablization and depression, 400mg is more for reinforcing mood stabilization, and 600mg is for siezure conditions because it's an anti-convultant but not as strong as others. It's known to be good for depressive phases of bipolar symptoms, but discontinue if you really think it does work well

this is how it works for me: ill take it sometimes in the morning, but sometimes i wait till later in the day, around night, because i go into a slump mood sometimes, it just brings me back to baseline, i can think a little clearly, but some people don't like lamotragine, but it's widely used.

the only thing else that is effective, linkage said is depakote (valproate) but i read its not very effective for depression, its older medication too, but it does treat bi-polar issues, but not so sure about depressive states

only thing that seems to treat depression with bipolar is topamax, its not a bad med but you will have to ask your doctor
https://www.psycom.net/depression.central.topiramate.html

 

Re: Lamictal

Posted by Markwell on August 30, 2017, at 6:30:17

In reply to Re: Lamictal » Markwell, posted by rjlockhart37 on August 29, 2017, at 19:47:47

Is there anything that will counter the anxiety from lamictal? I'm afraid of benzodiazepines. Tons of anxiety and racing thoughts.
Mark

 

Re: Lamictal » Markwell

Posted by SLS on August 30, 2017, at 6:54:48

In reply to Re: Lamictal, posted by Markwell on August 30, 2017, at 6:30:17

> Is there anything that will counter the anxiety from lamictal? I'm afraid of benzodiazepines. Tons of anxiety and racing thoughts.
> Mark

Perhaps increasing the dosage of Lamictal will help. If not, and the anxiety persists, you might have to declare your experiment a failure. However, low dosages of Ativan or Seroquel to be used temporarily could help get you through an anxiety phase, if one exists. I found that the higher dosages of Lamictal were more calming than the lower ones. If the anxiety eventually resolves, and depression persists, you can then try adding Abilify. The two drugs together can help when neither drug alone is sufficient - even in the absence of a standard antidepressant.

Good luck. Tell us how you progress.


- Scott

 

Re: Lamictal

Posted by Markwell on August 30, 2017, at 7:59:39

In reply to Re: Lamictal » Markwell, posted by SLS on August 30, 2017, at 6:54:48

Thanks Scott! Racing thoughts have always tortured me and I've never found anything helpful. I'll try to move to a higher dose of lamictal.
Mark

 

Re: Lamictal

Posted by linkadge on September 1, 2017, at 11:41:01

In reply to Re: Lamictal, posted by Markwell on August 30, 2017, at 7:59:39

Magnesium can be great for racing thoughts.

Linkadge

 

Re: Lamictal

Posted by beckett2 on September 1, 2017, at 16:51:27

In reply to Re: Lamictal, posted by Markwell on August 30, 2017, at 7:59:39

> Thanks Scott! Racing thoughts have always tortured me and I've never found anything helpful. I'll try to move to a higher dose of simultaneously.
> Mark

They were my bane too. I can't say for sure why that's subsided. I agree w/Scott about higher doses being more calming-- at least for me.

Trialling two meds simultaneously is difficult. Good luck with this. Are you still amped up?

 

Re: Lamictal

Posted by Markwell on September 1, 2017, at 21:05:21

In reply to Re: Lamictal, posted by beckett2 on September 1, 2017, at 16:51:27

I'm not as amped up...my mood is so dark in the morning.
Mark

 

Re: Lamictal

Posted by PeterMartin on September 2, 2017, at 12:27:44

In reply to Re: Lamictal, posted by Markwell on August 30, 2017, at 6:30:17

Do you know which generic brand of Lamictal you're taking?

 

Re: Lamictal » Markwell

Posted by beckett2 on September 2, 2017, at 13:02:17

In reply to Re: Lamictal, posted by Markwell on September 1, 2017, at 21:05:21

> I'm not as amped up...my mood is so dark in the morning.
> Mark

I'm sorry. When my depression is heavy, that's how I could describe it.

Have you tried Wellbutrin? With enough stabilizer.


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