Posted by Collete on October 9, 2001, at 5:21:13
In reply to YAY! I'm going back on Paxil (Chloe - pls. read) !, posted by Janelle on October 8, 2001, at 23:10:18
> Hi all,
>
> Well, I got a hold of my pdoc, told her how after about three weeks off an SSRI a-d, I have been spiraling downhill (my symptoms are all over the map), and she agreed with my assessment that I need to AUGMENT the Lamictal by going back on Paxil.
>
> I'm going to start taking 20mg (while maintaining my other meds) tomorrow and I can't wait. I have an appointment to see the pdoc at the end of the week and we can assess from there.
>
> It has been my "gut" feeling all along, although I did not want it to become a *self-fulfilling prophecy,* that Lamictal would not fully address my depression, anxiety and social phobia (the extent to which I've NEVER had before) and ruminating, obssesive-compulsive type thoughts and instead of suggesting that I was *obsessing* about my meds and continuing to just increase the Lamictal, my pdoc agreed with me that I probably do need whatever an SSRI does for serotonin that Lamictal doesn't quite do.
>
> If Chloe reads this - I have the SAME basic experience as you do - the BP2 diagnosis is fuzzy, and I've thought that a small amount of an effective AD can be helpful.
>
> Since Paxil was very effective for me before, I am hoping it will be again, and that any hypomania it MIGHT start to induce (we don't even know if Paxil was the culprit that one time) should be counter-acted by the Lamictal.
>
> Chloe, it is very encouraging to hear that your taking just 1 mg of Celexa (how on earth do you get it down to 1mg?!!) is putting the SPARK back in you (I know the starting Celexa dose is usually 20mgs, since I was on Celexa - up to 40mgs for awhile!)
>
> I truly believe that at least 20mgs of Paxil will alleviate a lot of my horrible symptoms that have resurfaced and will give me my lost spark back. Just like you, without Paxil, I drag (big time) and have no VERVE (perfect word!) for life.
>
> Lamictal *is* having somewhat of an A-D and in my case a good *anti-mania* effect, but the A-D effect is definitely NOT like an SSRI. Comments, feedback welcomed!Janelle, I have been following your posts but haven't responded because I didn't feel that I had enough knowledge to contribute constructively. All that I read indicated to me too that you should revisit your Paxil and I am glad to hear your pdoc is responsive. We worry so much about placebo and halo effects that sometimes it is hard to believe that our own instincts are right on! Good luck to you and I hope to be reading about good improvement for you soon. Collette
poster:Collete
thread:80715
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011007/msgs/80728.html