Posted by Peter S. on December 16, 2002, at 15:40:58
In reply to Re: Lamictal for BP2 ; does it work for you?, posted by Golf4 on December 14, 2002, at 4:59:40
Hi Golf,
I was taking 600mg because the effect kept wearing off and I kept raising the dose. 600 is the maximum dose recommended according to my pdoc. Now I'm taking 200mg and it works only slightly. To tell you the truth I'm not sure exactly what my diagnosis would be. I've had hypomanic responses to anti-depressants and throughout my childhood I was mostly depressed with spikes of feeling good (no hypomania). I've tried practically all the anti-depressants (except lexapro) and have had the best response from Prozac. But this pooped out. I've also tried Lithium and Depakote.
Anyway thanks for the good wishes! I think Lamictal is worth a try.
> Hi,Petter,
> first of all I am pleased to read that you have had at least a SHORT time success with Lamictal(presuming that it hasn't been just a placebo effect?!) and then,let me ask you about the reason for which your doc.suggested to increase the dose up to 600mg?!Practically there is no too much literature &experience regarding the "correct" dose limits for Lamictal as a mood stabilizer(on the other hand,there is quite a lot of info.regarding it for epilepsy :the doses being even higher than 600mg)
> From your rows it isn't clear(FOR ME) whether you are a recurrent Unipolar (suffering haven't tried,yet Effexor,you better think to(instead of Prozac).
> And a last word :Lamictal (at a certain,lower dose)COULD be a logical approach,though thewith major depr.reaching the deepest levels of suicidal),or a "genuine" BP2(probably you aren't a BP1,as you are not mentioning mania phases,too)
> The importance of the told above is for deciding whether or not you MUST be administered a good(for you)AD and I presume that if you re are other mood stabilizers which in YOUR case,YOUR specific structure,may work better ; as you know,it is somehow a "trial&error" process and therefore it is so difficult
> I wish you and all of us suffering with these awful maladies :GOOD LUCK and sooner the better.
>
> ======================
> > 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
>
poster:Peter S.
thread:131533
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021210/msgs/132049.html