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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Bonnie_CA on April 25, 2007, at 16:56:08
I'm on 75mg of Lamictal now. I'm also taking 5mg of Lexapro (I don't see how that could be therapeutic at all) and taking .25mg of xanax as needed. I have noticed that I'm not depressed at all, but in the past week (since I've started taking 75mg of Lamictal) I have been hypomanic at times. Mostly just talking really fast and switching subjects constantly. I've been having some amount of trouble sleeping, even when I'm tired. When I first started Lamictal, it made me very sleepy. It's not energizing, but it is making it hard to sleep. Sometimes I find my heart beating hard in the late evening, I figure it's because the Lamictal is wearing off. I'm just concerned because I've been really anxious sometimes. Sometimes I'm totally fine (like right now) and sometimes I'm a wreck and I have to take xanax. I wonder if I should be on more antidepressant. I think my pdoc just wants me on 5mg of Lexapro right now to get off of it. I wonder if he has something in mind to replace it. I don't think the Lamictal is going to cut it alone. Tomorrow I start taking 100mg, which is where I'm supposed to be. The good thing is that I go in for a re-eval on May 2. So if 100mg doesn't work out, at least I'm going back in soon.
-Bonnie
Posted by Phillipa on April 25, 2007, at 21:09:09
In reply to Three weeks on Lamictal, posted by Bonnie_CA on April 25, 2007, at 16:56:08
Maybe call your pdoc and aske what his plan is and the side effects you're having now may make a difference you never know. Love Phillipa
Posted by Sandra62 on April 25, 2007, at 21:50:07
In reply to Three weeks on Lamictal, posted by Bonnie_CA on April 25, 2007, at 16:56:08
Do you mind sharing what your diagnosis is? I am Bipolar, tending towards depression. My PDOC prescribed 100 mg of Lamictal, along with 1 mg of the benzo Rivotril. I first I felt great, energized, able to write some great songs again, and not sleeping the day away. Unfortunately after a couple of weeks I spun into hypomania with anxiety and crippling fear. My PDOC kept the Lamictal but added 10 mg of Zyprexa. This combo worked great but I gained 25 lbs over the year and recently aquired muscle stiffness. I'm now on Seroquel and the jury is still out if it's the med for me. I'm having some anxiety again. I see my PDOC tomorrow to re-evalute the situation.
So perhaps it is worth looking into adding something else to your regime? Or getting rid of the Lamictal altogether? Good luck!
Posted by Bonnie_CA on April 25, 2007, at 22:14:27
In reply to Re: Three weeks on Lamictal, posted by Sandra62 on April 25, 2007, at 21:50:07
Well, so far, it seems to be BP2 with rapid cycling. And I agree, it makes the most sense. My hypomania has been fairly mild, and if I am able I just deal with it since I don't want to build tolerance to the benzo. It didn't happen until I went up to 75mg. I'll see how it goes on 100mg. I've only been taking .5mg a day of Xanax, but yesterday I took .75mg. So it's not that bad. I just want to not being taking a benzo. I haven't had children yet, and really I'd like to be off everything, but now that is just a pipe dream. I'm trying to keep the meds at a minimum anyway. I already gained weight from SSRIs, so I would probably just continue to be this weight on whatever he puts me on.
-Bonnie
Posted by meAgain on April 25, 2007, at 22:51:27
In reply to Re: Three weeks on Lamictal » Sandra62, posted by Bonnie_CA on April 25, 2007, at 22:14:27
I have been on Lamictal for about 6 mos (100 mg) it took a while to adjust but I really have had great results such as positive outlook and less mood swings. I also take take .25mg of xanax 3 times a day and it has really helped with my extreme anxiety!! But I do take Cymbalta (60mg) for my depression. I have been on almost every ssri and this one (which really is a ssrni) has far less side effects and works pretty well. So maybe ask your pdoc about Cymbalta instead of the Lexapro ( which didnt work for me either). I was curious about your experience with Zyprexa, my pdoc just put me on it , but I have not started it because I have heard good and bad reviews about it. is weight gain the only bad side effect?
sincerely,
MeAgain :)
Posted by Bonnie_CA on April 25, 2007, at 23:05:56
In reply to Re: Three weeks on Lamictal, posted by meAgain on April 25, 2007, at 22:51:27
I didn't take zyprexa, but Sandra did.
I have taken Paxil, BuSpar, Celexa, Effexor, Prozac, Lexapro, and Wellbutrin. I gained weight on everything, except the low dose of Celexa, I went back to my normal weight.
-Bonnie
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