Posted by Peter S. on December 13, 2002, at 14:57:46
In reply to Re: Lamictal for BP2 ; does it work for you?, posted by Golf4 on December 13, 2002, at 7:57:48
Scott and Paul,
Your observations fit exactly with my experience. I was doing the greatest I've ever done consistantly when I started Lamictal. I had to continue to up the dose to 600mg and then I started cycling again. I just started trileptal in addition but cannot tolerate much because of sleepiness. Today I'm feeling great. 2 days ago I was suicidal. I'm tired of this roller coaster!
I'm also re-starting prozac in the hope that this in combination with everything else will work.I'm curious to hear about continued progress in combining these meds. Because Bipolar II or III are new and controversial as diagnoses, there is very little knowledge of what kinds of combinations might work. The state of psychopharmacology is such a drag!
Cheers,
Peter
> > > Lamictal is one of the newest Mood Stabilizers being used for BP2,either as a monotherapy,or as an augmentation to an AD(effexor etc.).
> >
> > > Is this way of treatment a promising one?
> >
> >
> > Hi.
> >
> > Lamictal seems to be particularly well suited to treat rapid-cycling bipolar disorder when used with other mood-stabilizers and bipolar depression. However, it has been my observation that Lamictal is not sufficient by itself to treat depression (bipolar or unipolar). Many people feel great during the first few weeks at very low dosages. But the antidepressant effect usually plateaus and fades. This does not mean that Lamictal is not useful. It can be a critically important component in a combination treatment regime.
> >
> > I think it would be more worthwhile adding Lamictal to the antidepressants you might already be taking than to use it as monotherapy. Try using it in combination with antidepressants from which you received some benefit in the past.
> >
> > I hope this helps.
> >
> >
> > - Scott
> > ======================
> I 100% agree with you,since I have tested it and the issue is exactly as you describe : I am on 75mg Effexor (not XR)and 400mg Lamictal ; the lamictal being added to the already taken Effexor,BUT I could reduce the Effexor dose(from 200 to 75).Thanks again for your reaction
> Paul
>
>
poster:Peter S.
thread:131533
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021210/msgs/131690.html