Posted by Tony P on February 19, 2004, at 2:14:12
In reply to Re: Bipolar wanting to try new medication, posted by jdgjdg on February 18, 2004, at 0:44:58
I agree with several previous posts that Lamictal is a really good one to try. I am (probably) Bipolar 2 or 3, definitely not classic BP 1, but my pdoc says he has had good experience with Lamictal and the whole spectrum of bipolar disorder. Very low side effect profile so long as you follow manufacturer's suggested S-L-O-W initial titration up. Once you get to 100-300 mg a day, the effects kick in very fast - a few days, not months.
Good antidepressant AND mood stabilizer, with some anti-anxiety properties in one pill - hard to beat! I had one hypomanic episode two days after I went from 50 to 100 mg/day, but a hefty dose of clonazepam and a small dose of Seroquel brought me down to earth in under 24 hrs.
I have been on 200 mg/day - the commonest dose - for about a month, with good though not spectacular results; just went up to 250mg/day this week and already feel more positive. I suspect (and hope) that as I gradually cut out the cocktail of other meds (benzos, Buspar, Imovane, OTC Robaxin) I have been on, that things will only get better.
I also have read here and elsewhere that for those who don't get adequate A/D response from Lamictal alone, it can be safely combined with almost any other A/D. I wonder in particular for myself about Wellbutrin, which by itself made me feel great but drove me manic at the full dose. Maybe it might be safe for me with the stabilizing effect of Lamictal. But first I will go with the Lamictal alone for a while.
Tony P
poster:Tony P
thread:92840
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040218/msgs/315488.html