Posted by missliz on May 23, 2001, at 0:59:57
In reply to ssri to Lamictal?, posted by chloe on May 22, 2001, at 18:53:02
> Can lamictal be used as an AD for unipolar depression?
>
> I don't think I am bipolar, but when I go on an SSRI, like prozac, zoloft, and now celexa, I get so revved up and pressured, irritable and at times "high", until the med poops out. I have also been on Wellbutrin and Serzone with no success.
>
> I get alot of relief from anger and mood swings with the mood stabilizers. But they never seem to address my depression. But when I add an AD I tend to get the hypomania thing.
>
> Does anyone know how Lamictal works as an AD? Does it work on Seratonin, or some other pathway? Any info would be appreciated. I really hate the edgy, rushed feeling I always have on these AD. But I do something to keep the negative thoughts away.
>
> TIA
> ChloeUhhh, everything you describe is pretty typical symptoms and drug reactions of bipolar. Lamictal is an anti-convulsant that's starting to be used as a mood stabilizer in bipolar illness, not an anti depressent. It may have anti depressant qualities as a function of the mood stabilization. You sound like you need a big chunk of mood stabilizer to me, Cloe, and then an anti depressent . The mood stabilizers will help with the irritable mania you describe and keep it from returning when the anti depressant starts to flip you. The symptoms you describe from anti depressants are all classic bipolar stuff. Have you tried lithium? (Depakote, Tegretol, Topomax?) Have you tried a not SSRI anti depressant? Lamictal is the latest thing but it's relatively unproven and not the first thing to try. I have support group friends with problems like yours that did ECT with lithium and are doing great. I take a cocktail of stuff including a neuraleptic, which keeps the franticness at bay. I also know that therapy does a lot for depression; all bipolar folks have a few issues, from the illness at least. We also don't handle a lot of stuff in general too well. Something to think about. You have a lot of options to try and you might want to see a psychopharmacologist if there's one in your area. You probably need more than one drug.
poster:missliz
thread:63935
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010522/msgs/63955.html