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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 CynthiaM. on September 12, 2000, at 10:57:44
It looks like my next drug challenge will involve either Lithium or Lamictal or both?? I have a vague understanding of Lithium (was on it once about 2 years ago but kept od'ing on Xanax ) but I have no idea what lamictal is....Any help would be appreciated; thanks - CynthiaM.
Posted by Cam W. on September 12, 2000, at 16:37:28
In reply to What is Lamictal????, posted by CynthiaM. on September 12, 2000, at 10:57:44
Cynthia - Lamictal™ (lamotrigine) is an anticonvulsant currently used in epilepsy. Like other anticonvulsants (Tegretol™-carbamazepine, Depakene™-valproic acid, Epival™/Depakote™-divalproex, Neurontin™-gabapentin, Topamax™-topiramate) Lamictal has been found to have mood stabilizing properties. You are not going to find much information on Lamictal's mood stabilizing properties as it has not been approved for that use, yet.
Lamictal is usually used in combination with another mood stabilizer (eg lithium) and seldom by itself when used in bipolar disorder.
It is important to raise the dose of Lamictal very slowly, to avoid getting a rash, which can sometimes become very severe. If the dose is raised slowly, a rash seldom appears. Talk to your doctor about this.
When Lamictal works as an adjunct (add-on), it works very well. It doesn't work for everyone, but many people who have been partial responders to other mood stabilizers become full responders when Lamictal is added.
Hope this helps - Cam
Posted by CynthiaM. on September 12, 2000, at 21:06:48
In reply to Re: What is Lamictal???? » CynthiaM., posted by Cam W. on September 12, 2000, at 16:37:28
Thanks Cam- You are always so helpful... I am concerned about the Lamictal being very effective due to my habitual "burning through" the others that are similar. I have been on and burned through Tegretol,Depakote, Carbatrol, Neurontin and Topomax. Hopefully I will obtain some level of stabilization on Lithium, this time, last time I had a real problem with equilibrium, which , inretrospect, may have been due to my Xanax habit at the time. I go in on Thursday, I hope they will give me a new start. I am coming down off of klonopin and then just found out that the restoril I have been taking for "sleep" is also a benzo....AAAAGHHHH! I am trying to escape the benzo's I get hooked almost instantaneously.... Creeepy.... thnaks again, wish me luck, this is day # 6 of mania with no sleep.......- CynthiaM.
Posted by Cam W. on September 12, 2000, at 21:18:16
In reply to Re: What is Lamictal???? » Cam W., posted by CynthiaM. on September 12, 2000, at 21:06:48
> Thanks Cam- You are always so helpful... I am concerned about the Lamictal being very effective due to my habitual "burning through" the others that are similar. I have been on and burned through Tegretol,Depakote, Carbatrol, Neurontin and Topomax. Hopefully I will obtain some level of stabilization on Lithium, this time, last time I had a real problem with equilibrium, which , inretrospect, may have been due to my Xanax habit at the time. I go in on Thursday, I hope they will give me a new start. I am coming down off of klonopin and then just found out that the restoril I have been taking for "sleep" is also a benzo....AAAAGHHHH! I am trying to escape the benzo's I get hooked almost instantaneously.... Creeepy.... thnaks again, wish me luck, this is day # 6 of mania with no sleep.......- CynthiaM.
Posted by Craig on September 13, 2000, at 1:54:41
In reply to What is Lamictal????, posted by CynthiaM. on September 12, 2000, at 10:57:44
I take Lamictal with lithium, so this combo has been tried by others. Cam's posts are always so informative that I don't know what else to add.
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> It looks like my next drug challenge will involve either Lithium or Lamictal or both?? I have a vague understanding of Lithium (was on it once about 2 years ago but kept od'ing on Xanax ) but I have no idea what lamictal is....Any help would be appreciated; thanks - CynthiaM.
Posted by shellie on September 14, 2000, at 0:02:10
In reply to What is Lamictal????, posted by CynthiaM. on September 12, 2000, at 10:57:44
Cynthia,
Look up http://www.psycom.net/depression.central.lamotrigine.html and you'll find a lot of information about lamictal. Shellie
Posted by SLS on September 14, 2000, at 9:41:26
In reply to What is Lamictal????, posted by CynthiaM. on September 12, 2000, at 10:57:44
> It looks like my next drug challenge will involve either Lithium or Lamictal or both?? I have a vague understanding of Lithium (was on it once about 2 years ago but kept od'ing on Xanax ) but I have no idea what lamictal is....Any help would be appreciated; thanks - CynthiaM.
Hi Cynthia.Along with its mood stabilizing qualities, Lamictal seems to possess true antidepressant properties. Many studies have been conducted using Lamictal by itself to treat bipolar depression (depression associated with bipolar disorder). It has consistently shown itself to be effective at dosages between 50 and 300mg; the average being 200mg.
As Cam has noted, Lamictal is often chosen to add to another mood-stabilizer like lithium. Recently, the NIMH published their successful use of the combination of Lamictal and Neurontin in a patient suffering from an extremely treatment-resistant bipolar depression. He had tried numerous drugs and drug combinations over the course of twenty years with only minimal success. When used by themselves, Lamictal was the more effective of the two. Neurontin produced very little improvement. However, when the two were combined, a dramatic improvement occurred within two weeks.
Good drug.
- Scott
Posted by CynthiaM. on September 14, 2000, at 10:33:26
In reply to Re: What is Lamictal???? » CynthiaM., posted by shellie on September 14, 2000, at 0:02:10
>
Posted by CynthiaM. on September 14, 2000, at 10:37:49
In reply to Re: What is Lamictal????, posted by SLS on September 14, 2000, at 9:41:26
> As Cam has noted, Lamictal is often chosen to add to another mood-stabilizer like lithium. Recently, the NIMH published their successful use of the combination of Lamictal and Neurontin in a patient suffering from an extremely treatment-resistant bipolar depression. He had tried numerous drugs and drug combinations over the course of twenty years with only minimal success. When used by themselves, Lamictal was the more effective of the two. Neurontin produced very little improvement. However, when the two were combined, a dramatic improvement occurred within two weeks.
>
> Good drug.
>
>
> - Scott
Thanks Scott- I have been on neurontin with good results and then began a horrendous journey into the worst edema I could ever encounter. Gaines 45 lbs. in 4 months and then began to have pericardial edema and compromised kidney funtioning..... I am hoping that we will find some thing today- either that or I get admitted.... we shall see, thanks again-CynthiaM.
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