![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 2 to 26 of 37. Go back in thread:
Posted by Jane D on July 14, 2001, at 16:15:44
In reply to LAMICTAL doses 4 mood vs. seizure- HELP!, posted by Janelle on July 14, 2001, at 15:53:57
> To answer Jane's question (hope you read this, Jane!), oh yes, because of the rash problem, Lamictal is now available starting at a mere 2 mg.!! Yes, 2 mg, then also 5, 10, 25, etc.
>
> MY question to anyone who might know, because all I have read about Lamictal deals ONLY with seizures, is what is the therapeutic dose for mood disorders?
>
> I bet it is different, possibly lower for mood disorders than the 50-300 mg for seizures?????? Thanks to whoever might have some feedback/info on this.Janelle -
I think its around 200 - 400. I've also seen accounts here of people getting an effect at as little as 50. Remember using it this way is fairly new. One place you can look up the studies that have already been done is on Medline. If you haven't already discovered this it's great. It contains abstracts of all articles published in med journals and is easily searchable. Just try entering lamotrigine and bipolar or lamotrigine and depression. Be careful. It's addictive.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgiAre the lower doses available for sale or are they just in the sample packs? I looked up lamictal recently on some on line drugs stores and found nothing less than 25.
Jane
PS. You can still continue old threads even after the board has been archived. Just add a follow up to one of the old posts. It will automatically appear on the new page but it will contain links at the bottom to the old posts.
Posted by SalArmy4me on July 14, 2001, at 16:38:26
In reply to LAMICTAL doses 4 mood vs. seizure- HELP!, posted by Janelle on July 14, 2001, at 15:53:57
All we know is what dosage experimenters have used in the past:
Botts, Sheila R.. Raskind, Jackie. Gabapentin and lamotrigine in bipolar disorder. American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy. 56(19):1939-1944, October 1, 1999:
"Fogelson and Sternbach reported using lamotrigine 200-400 mg/day orally for mood stabilization in a series of patients with bipolar I disorder (n = 6) or bipolar schizoaffective disorder (n = 1). All the patients were refractory to treatment with standard mood stabilizers, and four were rapid cyclers. After eight weeks of lamotrigine therapy, three patients had marked improvement, two had moderate improvement, and two did not respond. Responses occurred in both manic and depressed phases.
Sporn and Sachs 31 conducted a retrospective case series involving 16 patients diagnosed with treatment-resistant bipolar disorder. Eight patients responded to adjunctive therapy with lamotrigine 50-250 mg/day orally, as indicated by CGI scores of < =2. Four of eight rapid cyclers were responders. Patients who responded were in either a mixed or depressed phase. Two patients remained well over a long period, suggesting sustained mood stabilization by lamotrigine..."
Posted by Janelle on July 14, 2001, at 16:59:48
In reply to Re: LAMICTAL doses 4 mood vs. seizure- HELP! » Janelle, posted by Jane D on July 14, 2001, at 16:15:44
Jane - I bet you are right - that 50 mg is the "minimal" dose for Lamictal to work on mood disorders (if so, man, have I got a long way to go, titrating up from a mere 4 mg - I'll ask my pdoc if I can do it a bit more after this initial "test" to make sure I don't get a rash!)
Thanks for the link - I will use it. I know of a site called medscape.com which ties into medline, but your link sounds more direct. Thanks!
To answer your question - from what I've seen on the Net I think you are also right that the lower doses of Lamictal (2 mg, 5 mg, and I think there may be a 10mg) are just in the sample packs. My doc gave me samples of 2 mg because she didn't have any 5's.
It is my impression that 25 is the lowest dose available for sale.
Thanks for cluing me in about being able to continue continue old threads even after the board has been archived by adding a follow up to one of the old posts. I thought it would just appear on the OLD page, so I'm glad to hear that it will automatically appear on the new page and also will contain links at the bottom to the old posts - that's great! I have noticed some post topics on the new page that sounded familiar and now realize that they are what you described (continuations of archived threads!) Thank you again for all your info!
-Janelle
Posted by Janelle on July 14, 2001, at 17:02:18
In reply to LAMICTAL doses 4 mood vs. seizure- HELP!, posted by Janelle on July 14, 2001, at 15:53:57
nfm
Posted by stjames on July 14, 2001, at 19:30:41
In reply to LAMICTAL doses 4 mood vs. seizure- HELP!, posted by Janelle on July 14, 2001, at 15:53:57
I looked in Dr Bobs Tipc section, most of the docs start folks at 12.5, as going up too fast can cause the rash issue. I don't see anything wrong with starting lower, to err on the side of caution.
James
Posted by Chloe on July 14, 2001, at 21:07:35
In reply to Re: LAMICTAL doses 4 mood vs. seizure- HELP!, posted by stjames on July 14, 2001, at 19:30:41
There is a pediatric dose that is 5 mgs and is in a chewable form. That is how I started out on Lamictal. You can get it at your local pharmacy, but I had to ask them to special order it. Most stores around me anyway, don't stock pediatric size doses.
The smaller the better, I say! The body really needs time to adjust to this med. It's powerful stuff. I could never tolerate it. (But no rash!)
Hope you all have better luck!
Chloe> I looked in Dr Bobs Tipc section, most of the docs start folks at 12.5, as going up too fast can cause the rash issue. I don't see anything wrong with starting lower, to err on the side of caution.
>
> James
Posted by Cece on July 14, 2001, at 23:11:59
In reply to LAMICTAL doses 4 mood vs. seizure- HELP!, posted by Janelle on July 14, 2001, at 15:53:57
Hi-
At the end of this message is the url for a post about my mood stabilizer meds, including Lamictal dosages in my experience. I have continued to increase since that posting, for the first time made a 25mg. jump this week without any problems, am now at 250mg/day. I am really feeling better, more positive, more stable, more functional- knock on wood!
Good luck to you,
Cece
www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010708/msgs/69446.html
> To answer Jane's question (hope you read this, Jane!), oh yes, because of the rash problem, Lamictal is now available starting at a mere 2 mg.!! Yes, 2 mg, then also 5, 10, 25, etc.
>
> MY question to anyone who might know, because all I have read about Lamictal deals ONLY with seizures, is what is the therapeutic dose for mood disorders?
>
> I bet it is different, possibly lower for mood disorders than the 50-300 mg for seizures?????? Thanks to whoever might have some feedback/info on this.
Posted by Janelle on July 14, 2001, at 23:16:57
In reply to Re: LAMICTAL doses 4 mood vs. seizure- HELP!, posted by stjames on July 14, 2001, at 19:30:41
How nice of you to have looked in Dr Bobs Tips section (I'll have to check that part of this wonderful site out!) and report that most of the docs start folks at 12.5, as going up too fast can cause the rash issue. I knew that starting at lowish doses is because of problems with the rash when Lamictal first came out and it was given to people at like 50mg to START with, but it is reassuring to read what you found out - that 12.5 is what docs start people out with for mood disorder treatment. If my doc had 5mg sample bottles that's what she would have started me at; instead she had only 2 mg bottles, so I've started at 4 mg/day (2 TINY pills/day, man are those pills tiny!)
I wouldn't have minded starting a bit higher, but I agree with you that there's nothing wrong with starting lower, to err on the side of caution. Thanks again for the info.
-Janelle
Posted by Janelle on July 14, 2001, at 23:24:02
In reply to Re: LAMICTAL doses 4 mood vs. seizure- HELP!, posted by Chloe on July 14, 2001, at 21:07:35
My doc wanted to start me on the pediatric dose that is 5 mgs and I thought she was kidding around when she referred to it as PEDIATRIC, but she didn't even have any 5 mg samples left so she gave me 2mg samples and said to take two of them each day. They are indeed in a chewable form, taste pretty good (cherry), and are TINY.
I've heard that most pharmacies do not stock the small (2mg, 5mg) doses, or even the 25's; they tend to carry 50mg and up. But now that Lamictal is being used for mood disorders as well as seizures, I have a feeling the stores WILL start stocking the smaller doses (at least the 25's and maybe 10's).
My doc is very into "the smaller the better" when starting me on meds because I'm sensitive to them and don't necessarily need even a "therapeutic" dose (on Paxil I was fine on less than the "therapeutic" dose).
What do you mean about how the body really needs time to adjust to this med - Lamictal. In what way is it "powerful stuff?" (glad you got no rash!)
I could never tolerate it starting high either.
Posted by Janelle on July 14, 2001, at 23:27:09
In reply to Re: LAMICTAL doses 4 mood vs. seizure- HELP!, posted by Cece on July 14, 2001, at 23:11:59
Thanks for posting that url at the end of this message is the url for a post about your mood stabilizer meds, including Lamictal dosages.
How great to hear that you have continued to increase since that posting, for the first time made a 25mg. jump this week without any problems, am now at 250mg/day, and you're feeling better, more positive, more stable, more functional- knock on wood! KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK! And thanks for the info. I hope I have the success that you are having with Lamictal.
-Janelle
Posted by Emme on July 15, 2001, at 8:15:04
In reply to LAMICTAL doses 4 mood vs. seizure- HELP!, posted by Janelle on July 14, 2001, at 15:53:57
> To answer Jane's question (hope you read this, Jane!), oh yes, because of the rash problem, Lamictal is now available starting at a mere 2 mg.!! Yes, 2 mg, then also 5, 10, 25, etc.
>
> MY question to anyone who might know, because all I have read about Lamictal deals ONLY with seizures, is what is the therapeutic dose for mood disorders?
>
> I bet it is different, possibly lower for mood disorders than the 50-300 mg for seizures?????? Thanks to whoever might have some feedback/info on this.I'm sure it's different for everyone, but I was beginning to see noticeable improvement by the time I hit 75 mg and was planning to inch it up higher and see how it went. Unfortunately, I developed a rash after a week and a half at 75 mg, despite having started at 12.5 mg and titrating very slowly. The rash was benign, but my doctor wanted to play it safe lest it develop into something more serious. So I have stopped it. Until the rash, I had experienced no noticeable side effects and was really pleased.
It seems like a great drug if you don't develop a rash. I'll be trying trileptal now. Does anyone have any experience with trileptal, especially with respect to anti-depressant properties?
Posted by Chloe on July 15, 2001, at 17:23:04
In reply to Thanks, CHLOE: what dose are you now on?? » Chloe, posted by Janelle on July 14, 2001, at 23:24:02
>
> What do you mean about how the body really needs time to adjust to this med - Lamictal. In what way is it "powerful stuff?" (glad you got no rash!)
>
> I could never tolerate it starting high either.Hi Janelle,
I am extremely sensitive to meds, similar to you it sounds. (I take 1 and 1/2 mgs! of Celexa and I feel good on that amount. Any more and I get racy and edgy.) Lamictal didn't agree with me, even at microdoses. I was a little annoyed that I had to start so slowly on this med. But slow is good. And some people only need 50 mgs or less to get good result.
When I started Lamictal, I didn't notice any side effects the first day I took it. It was the second day that it hit me, hard. I think this drug has a long half life, and my body didn't ever seem to get used to it. I always had a headache, even if I didn't increase the dose for 10 days. I also couldn't sleep at all and could not sit still. I tend to get hypomanic from meds, and this one really did it to me.But, I just didn't like the way Lamictal made me feel. It's an "up" drug, I think. I never got tired at night.
I also got a terrible sun reaction everytime I went out in the sun. If I would walk to the mall in the middle of the day, I would get a red prickly rash that would go away when I came in from the sun (it's called an "actinic" rash. Very annoying since I work alot outside.).
For me, it just wasn't a good match. It just made me feel "off." And way too energized!I hope you have success with it. You just have to be patient with this med.
Chloe
Posted by Janelle on July 15, 2001, at 20:54:05
In reply to Re: Thanks, CHLOE: what dose are you now on?? » Janelle, posted by Chloe on July 15, 2001, at 17:23:04
Chloe - thanks again for your further response. Wow, you take "only" 1 and 1/2 mgs of Celexa and feel good on that amount - neat! You sure are sensitive to the meds! I titrated up on Celexa from 10-20-30-40, and got mostly side effects (headache, foggy-heavy headed, detached feeling) which did NOT dissipate and only slight lift from the depression.
So I got off that and am now on EffexorXR (which I'll be changing from - this trial/error process is so frustrating) because as I titrated up on that from 37.5 to 75 and eventually to the therapeutic 150 mg, I got racy, edgy, etc.
My pdoc backed me down to half (75 mg/day) but it still makes me too energized and I get the shakes, that feeling of being caffeinated (and I stopped drinking coffee for the time being!). It is too stimulating and activating for awhile, then when that wears off I feel fatigued. Yuck. Effexor is NOT the a-d for me!
As for Lamictal, because of my sensitivity and the rash issue, my doc started me at what she called a "Pediatric" and what you so aptly referred to as a MICRODOSE - 4 mg! It would have been 5mg, but all she had left of samples were 2mg, so I'm taking 2 of those/day. I'm frustrated that I'm having to start so slowly on this med, but everything I read indicates that "LOW & SLOW" is the way to go! (hey, that rhymes!)
I have a feeling that if/when Lamictal kicks in, I will be one of those people who needs a relatively "low" dose (like 50 mg or maybe a wee bit more) to feel good. I sure hope so.
What dose did you START on Lamictal that after "only" two days, it hit you hard? I'm guessing maybe 25 mg?
My pdoc said the SAME thing you did - Lamictal is a perk-you-UP med (which I need, but I have to be careful not to go too high and get hyper from it).
Thanks for mentioning the sun reaction you got while on Lamictal because I live in an area where the sun is INTENSE year round. If I get that red prickly rash as I titrate up on the Lamictal (and thanks for giving the name of it - "actinic"), at least I'll know what it is.Where I used to live there were 4 seasons, and I was NOT on ANY meds, but would get a red prickly rash the first couple weeks of summer heat and sun, which always cleared up on its own (I guess my sensitive skin got acclimated to the stronger summer sun).
Posted by Chloe on July 16, 2001, at 8:01:13
In reply to CHLOE: Thanks and MORE (incl. question):, posted by Janelle on July 15, 2001, at 20:54:05
I started on 12.5 (half a 25 mg pill) every other day. My experience was: the first day I took it, I felt nothing. The second day, I felt headachy, blah and uncoordinated. I read the pdr, and asked my pdoc for the 5 mgs. When I took 5mgs every other day, I felt ok, but I started to get really speedy, irritable and couldn't sleep.
I too was angry that I couldn't go up faster on Lamictal. I thought why do I have to start every other day. That seemed ridiculously slow. But as I increased to every day, I got so racy, edgy and couldn't sleep. I just didn't like the feel of the drug, and felt only the AD effect. Not the mood stabilizer effect. I probably should have given it more time, staying at every other day. I may have adjusted to the speediness. But I hated the fact that I had to avoid the sun like the plague and that I only needed 4 hours sleep. I like to sleep. And with Lamictal, it seemed like there was little use for sleep!
What dose are you on now? And how are you tolerating it? Patience is a virtue on Lamictal. I know how you want to be at the right dose NOW! But honestly there is no rush esp. when you might have to stop this drug if you get an adverse reaction!
Take care,
Chloe> Chloe - thanks again for your further response. Wow, you take "only" 1 and 1/2 mgs of Celexa and feel good on that amount - neat! You sure are sensitive to the meds! I titrated up on Celexa from 10-20-30-40, and got mostly side effects (headache, foggy-heavy headed, detached feeling) which did NOT dissipate and only slight lift from the depression.
>
> So I got off that and am now on EffexorXR (which I'll be changing from - this trial/error process is so frustrating) because as I titrated up on that from 37.5 to 75 and eventually to the therapeutic 150 mg, I got racy, edgy, etc.
>
> My pdoc backed me down to half (75 mg/day) but it still makes me too energized and I get the shakes, that feeling of being caffeinated (and I stopped drinking coffee for the time being!). It is too stimulating and activating for awhile, then when that wears off I feel fatigued. Yuck. Effexor is NOT the a-d for me!
>
> As for Lamictal, because of my sensitivity and the rash issue, my doc started me at what she called a "Pediatric" and what you so aptly referred to as a MICRODOSE - 4 mg! It would have been 5mg, but all she had left of samples were 2mg, so I'm taking 2 of those/day. I'm frustrated that I'm having to start so slowly on this med, but everything I read indicates that "LOW & SLOW" is the way to go! (hey, that rhymes!)
>
> I have a feeling that if/when Lamictal kicks in, I will be one of those people who needs a relatively "low" dose (like 50 mg or maybe a wee bit more) to feel good. I sure hope so.
>
> What dose did you START on Lamictal that after "only" two days, it hit you hard? I'm guessing maybe 25 mg?
>
> My pdoc said the SAME thing you did - Lamictal is a perk-you-UP med (which I need, but I have to be careful not to go too high and get hyper from it).
> Thanks for mentioning the sun reaction you got while on Lamictal because I live in an area where the sun is INTENSE year round. If I get that red prickly rash as I titrate up on the Lamictal (and thanks for giving the name of it - "actinic"), at least I'll know what it is.
>
> Where I used to live there were 4 seasons, and I was NOT on ANY meds, but would get a red prickly rash the first couple weeks of summer heat and sun, which always cleared up on its own (I guess my sensitive skin got acclimated to the stronger summer sun).
Posted by Roo on July 16, 2001, at 14:11:18
In reply to Re: CHLOE: Thanks and MORE (incl. question): » Janelle, posted by Chloe on July 16, 2001, at 8:01:13
This is slightly off topic, but still on the topic
of lamictal. I just recently started, and I'm not
starting nearly as slow as y'all are. I started
at half a 25 mg pill for 3 days, then a whole 25 mg
pill for 3 days, now a pill and a half for 3 days...So far I've been feeling fine, and don't know if it's
my imagination or not, it seems way too soon on way
too low a dose, but I feel less depressed and more
functional. However, today I have what looks like
bug bites all over my legs. It dosen't look like a
"rash" per say, but I have a hard time imagining I
had that many bed bugs in my bed last night! (Plus
my boyfriend had no bites!) Now I'm paranoid it's
the dreaded rash, even though, honestly, it just looks
like mosquito bites.Anyone out there had a lamictal rash that just looked
like bug bites?Feeling kinda silly....
Posted by emme on July 16, 2001, at 16:51:03
In reply to Re: CHLOE: Thanks and MORE-RASH question for Y'all, posted by Roo on July 16, 2001, at 14:11:18
Don't feel silly at all. It never hurts to be alert. If you are worried about what you have, head on over to a dermatologist right away. That is what my pdoc advised me to do. A dermatologist will be able to tell you whether it's medication related or not. Good luck.
>
> This is slightly off topic, but still on the topic
> of lamictal. I just recently started, and I'm not
> starting nearly as slow as y'all are. I started
> at half a 25 mg pill for 3 days, then a whole 25 mg
> pill for 3 days, now a pill and a half for 3 days...
>
> So far I've been feeling fine, and don't know if it's
> my imagination or not, it seems way too soon on way
> too low a dose, but I feel less depressed and more
> functional. However, today I have what looks like
> bug bites all over my legs. It dosen't look like a
> "rash" per say, but I have a hard time imagining I
> had that many bed bugs in my bed last night! (Plus
> my boyfriend had no bites!) Now I'm paranoid it's
> the dreaded rash, even though, honestly, it just looks
> like mosquito bites.
>
> Anyone out there had a lamictal rash that just looked
> like bug bites?
>
> Feeling kinda silly....
Posted by Roo on July 17, 2001, at 9:51:02
In reply to Re: CHLOE: Thanks and MORE-RASH question for Y'all, posted by emme on July 16, 2001, at 16:51:03
Well, not THE rash, the bad stevens-johnson thing,
but those "bites" turned into itchy oozing welts.
I've got about 30 of them on my right leg. I itched
so bad last night I couldn't sleep. Now, of course,
I have to stop the drug. I'm disappointed, b/c I
swear I was feeling better on it emotionally. Darn.
Back to the drawing board. I'm going to try either
topomax or tripetal (sp?) next, but I was really hoping
the lamictal would be "the one" b/c of it's AD
qualities.
Posted by Chloe on July 17, 2001, at 9:59:42
In reply to Re: CHLOE: Thanks and MORE-I got the damn Rash, posted by Roo on July 17, 2001, at 9:51:02
Roo,
I think I read in the archives (I don't have any facts about this) that if you get the rash you can restart it. But you have to completely discontinue it, and restart extremely slowly.I am sorry you got that reaction. Hang in there.
Chloe
Posted by emme on July 17, 2001, at 11:46:47
In reply to Re: CHLOE: Thanks and MORE-I got the damn Rash, posted by Roo on July 17, 2001, at 9:51:02
Sorry to hear you have to stop the drug. I also got a rash (smooth red area) and stopped it. I was very disappointed because it was having an antidepressant effect and I thought it was my ticket out of misery. I have just started trileptal and am keeping my fingers crossed. I would be interested to hear if topomax or trileptal have antidepressant effect for you. Good luck.
> Well, not THE rash, the bad stevens-johnson thing,
> but those "bites" turned into itchy oozing welts.
> I've got about 30 of them on my right leg. I itched
> so bad last night I couldn't sleep. Now, of course,
> I have to stop the drug. I'm disappointed, b/c I
> swear I was feeling better on it emotionally. Darn.
> Back to the drawing board. I'm going to try either
> topomax or tripetal (sp?) next, but I was really hoping
> the lamictal would be "the one" b/c of it's AD
> qualities.
Posted by Janelle on July 18, 2001, at 22:13:40
In reply to Re: CHLOE: Thanks and MORE (incl. question): » Janelle, posted by Chloe on July 16, 2001, at 8:01:13
As unbelievable as this sounds, I've started on a mere 4 mg of Lamictal each day, in another day I increase to 6 mg - whopeeeeee! My pdoc only had 2mg sample bottles that's why I'm on 4, not 5mg.
I WISH I could have started on at least 12.5, but my system is very sensitive so my pdoc wants to go slow with this.
Based on what you described, I'm getting those same type symptoms from the EffexorXR I'm on - the way I know is that I had them BEFORE I started the Lamictal, plus pdoc and my own self say that 4 mg/day of Lamictal is most likely doing NOTHING!
I've gotten what you used - great word - speedy, plus racy, caffeinated feeling, shaky, lightheaded and now starting to feel irritable and jumpy/edgy.
I can't get to sleep either, so I've been given Zyprexa plus my ol' Klonopin which I've been on for years.
Gosh, I sure hope that when I'm at a decent dose of Lamictal, that I WILL get the mood stabilizer effect.
But as you so wisey said - Patience is a virtue on Lamictal. Ditto for just about any psy-med! But you are also so right that there is NO rush with Lamictal especially, becaues of the potential rash which would mean having to stop it.
-Janelle
Posted by Janelle on July 18, 2001, at 22:18:39
In reply to Re: CHLOE: Thanks and MORE-I got the damn Rash, posted by Roo on July 17, 2001, at 9:51:02
Roo - so sorry to hear you got "a" rash, that those "bites" turned into itchy oozing welts, and you have so many of them, etc.
I can understand your disappointment because I too am hoping and praying that Lamictal will be my ticket out of the whole depression-anxiety-BPII cycle and because my pdoc also said that Lamictal has good a-d properties.
wish you all the best - let us know what you try next. Good luck!
-Janelle
Posted by Roo on July 19, 2001, at 7:37:02
In reply to To ROO: Re: I got the damn Rash , posted by Janelle on July 18, 2001, at 22:18:39
Yeah, I'm sorry too. Because I swear I could tell
that even just 25 mg's lifted my mood! I was so
disappointed to get the rash. And it _is_ a miserable
rash--I'd be really hesitant to stop and re-start low and
slow, just
b/c if I got this rash again I think i'd go nuts!
Think I may try either trileptal or topomax OR add
on another AD to my 20 mg's of prozac to see if I
could get more AD effect. (Have tried increasing
the prozac, but it dosen't seem to make much of a difference.
It's weird but 20 mg's seems about the same as 60 mgs).
Posted by Mitch on July 19, 2001, at 9:54:44
In reply to Re: To ROO: Re: I got the damn Rash--Janelle , posted by Roo on July 19, 2001, at 7:37:02
Roo, So you are just taking 20mgs of Prozac now for unipolar depression? I have taken all of the anticonvulsants (except 2 or 3) for bipolar and I found Trileptal somewhat activating (150-300mg/day), but Topamax blurred me out pretty bad. There is another one that was activating as well (at lower doses)..Gabitril (4-8mg/day). Also lower doses of Neurontin are activating, too. If you keep the dose between 200-600mg/day, it is used for ADHD. That might help you as an add-on.
good luck
mitch> Yeah, I'm sorry too. Because I swear I could tell
> that even just 25 mg's lifted my mood! I was so
> disappointed to get the rash. And it _is_ a miserable
> rash--I'd be really hesitant to stop and re-start low and
> slow, just
> b/c if I got this rash again I think i'd go nuts!
> Think I may try either trileptal or topomax OR add
> on another AD to my 20 mg's of prozac to see if I
> could get more AD effect. (Have tried increasing
> the prozac, but it dosen't seem to make much of a difference.
> It's weird but 20 mg's seems about the same as 60 mgs).
Posted by Roo on July 19, 2001, at 10:41:13
In reply to Re: To ROO: Re: I got the damn Rash--Janelle » Roo, posted by Mitch on July 19, 2001, at 9:54:44
> Roo, So you are just taking 20mgs of Prozac
now for unipolar depression? I have taken all
of the anticonvulsants (except 2 or 3) for
bipolar and I found Trileptal somewhat
activating (150-300mg/day), but Topamax
blurred me out pretty bad. There is another
one that was activating as well (at lower doses).
.Gabitril (4-8mg/day). Also lower doses of
Neurontin are activating, too. If you keep the
dose between 200-600mg/day, it is used for ADHD.
That might help you as an add-on.
> good luck
> mitch
Mitch--I take prozac and 2100 mg's of neurotin. I was trying
to taper off neurotin and try something new b/c of the
weight gain I experienced on neurotin. Also, I don't
think the AD benefit I'm getting from the prozac is
good enough. I'm cyclothymic. I have depression and
anxiety. So tell me more about trileptal and your'
experience on it....
Posted by Elizabeth on July 19, 2001, at 12:40:04
In reply to Re: CHLOE: Thanks and MORE-I got the damn Rash, posted by Roo on July 17, 2001, at 9:51:02
> Well, not THE rash, the bad stevens-johnson thing,
> but those "bites" turned into itchy oozing welts.Yuck!
I got a rash on Lamictal, and I got really freaked out. It turned out it was just a fungal infection, of course.
Anyway, I'm glad you at least don't have toxic epidermal necrolysis or something! It's too bad the Lamictal didn't work out for you, though. I hope you're able to find something that works as well for you without causing an allergic reaction or anything.
> I'm going to try either topomax or tripetal (sp?) next, but I was really hoping
> the lamictal would be "the one" b/c of it's AD qualities.I don't know about Trileptal, but the closely-related Tegretol works as an AD for some people, including some who don't respond to regular ADs. So if I were in your shoes, I'd try Trileptal.
-elizabeth
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