Posted by Greg A. on July 31, 2003, at 12:12:34
In reply to Re: Lamictal (lamotrigine) High Doses, posted by maryhelen on July 30, 2003, at 21:56:06
Thanks for your comments, maryhelen. You have experienced much of what I have with lamotrigine and you nailed it when you said, It was such a strange feeling not to be depressed, to be able to do things, to laugh, look forward to the day. I got that effect at about 200mgs but it only lasted a week. I had been extremely depressed for many months before and was quite suicidal, fighting it every day. I had tried ECT last fall with no benefit, in fact I felt worse. It was such a relief to get even a week of improvement just to remind me of how I was supposed to feel. I then went to 250 and then 300mgs and I had almost 2 months of feeling the way you have described. Just when I was beginning to forget about how I might feel each day, I suddenly went downhill rather drastically. I upped the dose to 375mgs and felt good for another week. Then today I went to 450. I feel good. I seem to get an almost instant reaction to it unlike antidepressants and also a precipitous decline. Lamotrigine was developed as an anti seizure med for epilepsy and is prescribed off label treatment for depression and bipolar disorder. The info for depression says 200mgs but for epilepsy/seizures says the usual dose is 500mgs.
Interestingly my doc changed my diagnosis from treatment resistant depression to BPII when I started the lamotrigine. She felt that my resistance to anti depressants plus my slight hypomanic symptoms indicated a new approach.
I am also on lithium, celexa, clonazepam. I am hopeful, as you are, that I will arrive at a level of lamotrigine where I will feel good for a long time.No luck on Parnate?
Greg
poster:Greg A.
thread:246759
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030728/msgs/247033.html