Posted by Viridis on June 12, 2004, at 2:34:04
In reply to Re: Does anybody with SPhobia have similar thought » Viridis, posted by tepiaca on June 11, 2004, at 14:55:28
Hi Tepiaca,
Lamictal was originally used for epilepsy, but then turned out to be useful as a mood stabilizer too. So, doctors started to use it for bipolar disorder. Now they're finding that it works as an antidepressant for some people, and it seems to be of benefit in a pretty wide range of disorders, apparently by "calming" certain overactive parts of the brain.
I don't think it's specifically used for anxiety (and a few people say it actually makes them more anxious), but for me it has a mild, general "evening out" effect. I take it along with Klonopin (1 mg Klonopin/day, 150 mg Lamictal; I also take Adderall, plus Xanax very occasionally). It seems to help shake off the obsessive worries for me. I don't have SP, but without medications I do become severely anxious and sometimes worry endlessly about things that might happen (but probably won't). Klonopin has helped a lot, and Lamictal seems to accentuate the positive effects of the Klonopin (so does Adderall, but I take that for ADD, and it could be too much for someone with an anxiety disorder but not ADD).
Lamictal has some very rare but serious side effects, usually only if the starting dose is too high, so the dosage has to be increased very gradually. This is actually good, in the sense that if it doesn't make you feel better or makes you more nervous at least you won't be taking much at the beginning. I found it slightly activating at first, but this went away very quickly and I have no side effects at all now.
It's just an idea, but since most people seem to find Lamictal quite tolerable, it's generally very safe, and some of us notice a calming effect, it could be worth a try. And again, it goes very well with Klonopin for me.
I had a few sessions with a cognitive behavioral therapist, and he was very good. Ultimately, though, he told me that he was sure that I had ADD and should see someone who could prescribe medications. So, I went that route, with pretty good results (eventually), and didn't follow up with the therapy. I have thought of going back to it though.
A close relative has had severe, recurring problems with anxiety for decades, including obsessive worries about how other people might think or act. She's scared of medications, and resisted going for treatment for years. Finally (at the urging of me and other family members), she decided to at least try therapy, and started CBT. The change after a few weeks was remarkable, and she is much calmer and more focused than I've ever seen her.
There's no guarantee that any one treatment will work, and so much depends on finding the right doctor or therapist. But with so many treatments out there, the chances of success are excellent, as long as you persist.
Good luck!
poster:Viridis
thread:354987
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040608/msgs/355957.html