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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by madeline on May 23, 2006, at 15:28:15
My doc has suggested that lamictal may help me. However, I find myself in quite a quandry over it. I'm not sure if I need a mood stabilizer.
Yes, I have times when the bottom just falls out and I get "psychotic", but I can function, so far it hasn't landed me in the hospital. I think I am just more frightened by these episodes than anything else.
I've been on Prozac for 8 years, and he wants to taper me off that and switch to lamictal. I will admit, being off Prozac scares me. I remember how I felt before I started and I NEVER want to go back to that.
Does anyone have any thoughts on this that they would like to share? Has anyone gotten Stevens-Johnsons syndrome? Did you get relief?
I really really just don't know what to tell him I want.
Maddie
Posted by blueberry on May 23, 2006, at 17:53:20
In reply to Really unsure about Lamictal, posted by madeline on May 23, 2006, at 15:28:15
I agree with you about the prozac. After 8 years you are asking for a lot of trouble in just stopping it. If you were to stop it, I would take a year of slow tapering to avoid any frieking out of the body and mind. From personal experience in also taking it for 8 years, it is hell to get off of and hell to be off of, despite its long halflife. 8 years and your body pretty much relies on that molecule being there. Now that I am off and tried going back on, my body totally rejects it and it makes me suicidal. Sometimes you can't go back to where you were, and then you're in a mess.
Lamictal is nothing to be afraid of. In terms of psych meds, it is overall effective for a whole wide range of things and has a much milder side effect profile than most meds. It treats anxiety, schizophrenia, unipolar depression and bipolar depression.
To avoid the rash, start with 12.5mg for 4 - 7 days, and then increase the dose by the same amount every 7 days. If you get to a point where you think you are feeling good, stop at that dose, whatever it is. If you get side effects that bother you, stop at that dose, wait it out, and then move up when you're comfortable. To make a long story short, just go slow in small steps. Except for the rash, which is almost always a result of going up in dose to fast or in too big of steps, lamictal is safer than most meds you could take.
Posted by Phillipa on May 23, 2006, at 18:11:45
In reply to Re: Really unsure about Lamictal » madeline, posted by blueberry on May 23, 2006, at 17:53:20
My pdoc prescribed for me today too. But he wants me to start at 25mg and keep going up there's a starter pack. He precribed some other things too. Blueberry we need to talk and your babblemail light is off mine is on would babblemail me please.Love Phillipa
Posted by Phillipa on May 23, 2006, at 18:13:42
In reply to Really unsure about Lamictal, posted by madeline on May 23, 2006, at 15:28:15
Madeline you're lucky you can tell him what you want. Mine just prescribes is he putting you on another antidepressant what is your diagnosis Thank Phillipa
Posted by fiftylager on May 23, 2006, at 18:35:35
In reply to Re: Really unsure about Lamictal » madeline, posted by Phillipa on May 23, 2006, at 18:13:42
I am very med sensitive and lamictal has been very mild. I had a headache for a few days and a little spaciness but that has subsided. I'd give it a go if I were you. It's been good for me so far.
Crissi
Posted by blueberry on May 23, 2006, at 18:54:35
In reply to Re: Really unsure about Lamictal » blueberry, posted by Phillipa on May 23, 2006, at 18:11:45
Phillipa, you've told me how to do babblemail before but I still don't understand it. You said something about your name being in blue, but it isn't blue, it's black. What is babblemail? Is it something that goes to your home mailbox or is it a mailbox at pbabble or how does it work? I do not know how to turn it on and I guess I'm kind of dumb at that and need really detailed instructions if I am going to figure it out.
> My pdoc prescribed for me today too. But he wants me to start at 25mg and keep going up there's a starter pack. He precribed some other things too. Blueberry we need to talk and your babblemail light is off mine is on would babblemail me please.Love Phillipa
Posted by Phillipa on May 23, 2006, at 19:13:58
In reply to Re: Really unsure about Lamictal » Phillipa, posted by blueberry on May 23, 2006, at 18:54:35
Blueberry see where it says posted by my name is blue there. You click that on and babblemail appears. And you type a message. It's like an E=mail. Go to the registration page and you can turn your on. It asks if you want to receive babblemail click yes. Love Phillipa
Posted by madeline on May 23, 2006, at 19:20:23
In reply to Re: Really unsure about Lamictal » madeline, posted by Phillipa on May 23, 2006, at 18:13:42
I never let a doctor tell me which meds to take without thinking about it myself first - especially if it is a drug that I will be taking chronically. I get info on all of the appropriate meds and make my own decision.
I always ask my docs the following questions:
How many patients do you have on this drug?
How many of them (approximately) stopped taking it and why?
How long have you been prescribing this drug?
What steps do you take to recognize side effects?
Will the side effects resolve after stopping the drug?
Would YOU take this drug?
Would you prescribe it for one of your children?For lamictal I asked the following specific questions:
Have you ever had a patient develop a rash?
Could you recognize a lamictal associated rash?
If you stop taking lamictal, is it reversible?My T hates to even mention a new drug to me I'm sure.
However, just because a physician thinks it is indicated it might not be. I trust my own judgment.
What kind of pdoc do you have that just prescribes w/o discussing it with you first? I wouldn't take ANYTHING under those conditions.
And I don't have a diagnosis and lamictal has anti-depressant properties, so he thinks the prozac will be unnecessary.
Posted by Phillipa on May 23, 2006, at 19:36:31
In reply to Re: Really unsure about Lamictal » Phillipa, posted by madeline on May 23, 2006, at 19:20:23
Madeline I only have Medicare and a lot of pdocs dont take it. And even if you offer to pay out of pocket they won't take you. And the group I see is the one most doctors send their pts to. I thought moving to a big city would mean better care. It does for medical things but not psych. He just writed prescriptions his nurse said But I did mention the rash and he said they never use a dose high enough to cause it. And I asked if you had ever taken any meds. He did say yes. But l0minutes is all you get. I need a new doc . Wish I had my old one back. See my Thread below to see what else he prescribed. Love Phillipa ps everything you suggested I used to do.
Posted by madeline on May 24, 2006, at 18:35:12
In reply to Really unsure about Lamictal, posted by madeline on May 23, 2006, at 15:28:15
I talked to my T about it today and we are going to hold off. If my symptoms are progressing then he said he would be more aggressive is trying to get me to take it, but for now we are just leave it as is.
I told him that he could have my prozac when he pried it out of my cold dead hand.
We both had a good laugh about that.
Posted by theo on May 25, 2006, at 12:31:23
In reply to Re: Really unsure about Lamictal » blueberry, posted by Phillipa on May 23, 2006, at 18:11:45
Did your doc have you take the Lamictal morning or bedtime?
Posted by Phillipa on May 25, 2006, at 18:33:01
In reply to Re: Really unsure about Lamictal » Phillipa, posted by theo on May 25, 2006, at 12:31:23
Theo that's the problem he didn't say. That's why I need to know if it's activating or relaxing. Love Phillipa ps what is your suggestion? I can't call away for the long weekend
Posted by psychosage on May 26, 2006, at 19:23:09
In reply to Re: Really unsure about Lamictal » theo, posted by Phillipa on May 25, 2006, at 18:33:01
> Theo that's the problem he didn't say. That's why I need to know if it's activating or relaxing. Love Phillipa ps what is your suggestion? I can't call away for the long weekend
It's a mood stabilizer "from below." It is on the activating side for many.
Posted by helpme on July 9, 2006, at 13:04:28
In reply to Really unsure about Lamictal, posted by madeline on May 23, 2006, at 15:28:15
I was on lamictal for a year or two and hated it. I feel that it dampened my mood- I think "stabilized" turned into "no more up", just "down". I felt as if it prevented any improvement of my depression-but that is only my personal impression, and my doc was a tad skeptical about it.I also noticed myself getting "dumb" and confused while on it- even speculated I was developing early alzheimers, at age 33!! My creativity shrivelled, motivation out, etc. I also got a lot of nausea and headache.
Eventually the doctor agreed it wasn't helping me, and we tapered it away. I actually DO feel much clearer now and no longer feel that I am turning stupid. My creativity is returning also.
I should add, I have unipolar depression problem- no manic episodes at all, ever.
I hear lamictal has helped many people- but not me.
If prozac is still working for you, why on earth would you mess with it???? I find this pharmacology thing to be maddening, so if you have something that works, I just can't understand why you'd mess around. I took prozac for a decade- it was fantastic at first, but gradually "pooped out", and now no seratonin drug works for me, and most everything else is dicey or ineffective as well. It's gotten awfully tricky.
> My doc has suggested that lamictal may help me. However, I find myself in quite a quandry over it. I'm not sure if I need a mood stabilizer.
>
> Yes, I have times when the bottom just falls out and I get "psychotic", but I can function, so far it hasn't landed me in the hospital. I think I am just more frightened by these episodes than anything else.
>
> I've been on Prozac for 8 years, and he wants to taper me off that and switch to lamictal. I will admit, being off Prozac scares me. I remember how I felt before I started and I NEVER want to go back to that.
>
> Does anyone have any thoughts on this that they would like to share? Has anyone gotten Stevens-Johnsons syndrome? Did you get relief?
>
> I really really just don't know what to tell him I want.
>
> Maddie
This is the end of the thread.
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