![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 19 of 19. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Bekka H. on February 8, 2002, at 23:28:25
Is Lamictal helpful for unipolar depression, or is it only appropriate for bipolar depression? I have unipolar depression.
About six years ago, I was given Depakote to "augment" the antidepressant I was on at the time. The Depakote made my depression much worse and it brought a lot of other problems with it (bleeding, hair loss, etc.), so I am very wary of anti-convulsants being used for depression.
Posted by paulb on February 9, 2002, at 6:49:23
In reply to Lamictal - is it useful for unipolar depression?, posted by Bekka H. on February 8, 2002, at 23:28:25
> Is Lamictal helpful for unipolar depression, or is it only appropriate for bipolar depression? I have unipolar depression.
>
> About six years ago, I was given Depakote to "augment" the antidepressant I was on at the time. The Depakote made my depression much worse and it brought a lot of other problems with it (bleeding, hair loss, etc.), so I am very wary of anti-convulsants being used for depression.Lamictal can be useful for unipolar depression in combination with an antidepressant. I read of success stories of its combination with SSRIs and MAOIs and in high enough doses[200-400mg] has reasonable antidepressant effects on its own, although I dont think it will ever be marketed as an antidepressant. I dont think a trial with Depakote should discourage you from trying Lamactil.
Paulb
Posted by Bekka H. on February 9, 2002, at 18:02:22
In reply to Lamictal - is it useful for unipolar depression?, posted by Bekka H. on February 8, 2002, at 23:28:25
Thanks for the information.
Posted by Hattree on February 11, 2002, at 8:32:54
In reply to Lamictal - is it useful for unipolar depression?, posted by Bekka H. on February 8, 2002, at 23:28:25
I find it to be a gem for unipolar depression (along with Zoloft) and for me there are no side effects other than some itching, which went away after awhile.
> Is Lamictal helpful for unipolar depression, or is it only appropriate for bipolar depression? I have unipolar depression.
>
> About six years ago, I was given Depakote to "augment" the antidepressant I was on at the time. The Depakote made my depression much worse and it brought a lot of other problems with it (bleeding, hair loss, etc.), so I am very wary of anti-convulsants being used for depression.
Posted by Bekka H. on February 11, 2002, at 17:23:43
In reply to Re: Lamictal - is it useful for unipolar depression?, posted by Hattree on February 11, 2002, at 8:32:54
> I find it to be a gem for unipolar depression (along with Zoloft) and for me there are no side effects other than some itching, which went away after awhile.
>
> > Is Lamictal helpful for unipolar depression, or is it only appropriate for bipolar depression? I have unipolar depression.
> >
> > About six years ago, I was given Depakote to "augment" the antidepressant I was on at the time. The Depakote made my depression much worse and it brought a lot of other problems with it (bleeding, hair loss, etc.), so I am very wary of anti-convulsants being used for depression.
*************************************************Hello, Hattree. Thanks for your reply. Have you ever combined Lamictal with stimulants (like Dexedrine, for example?). One pdoc told me that Lamictal had to be combined with an antidepressant, not a stimulant, to be effective. I have a lot of trouble with polypharmacy (I think my liver enzymes are out of whack), so I like to take as few meds as possible at any one time. Any luck with Lamictal plus Dex. WITHOUT an antidepressant?
Posted by Hattree on February 12, 2002, at 10:44:14
In reply to Re: Lamictal - is it useful for unipolar depression?, posted by Bekka H. on February 11, 2002, at 17:23:43
Yeah, I left out the Dex. I take that too.
I seem to require the Zoloft to get the desired effect (I tried to drop it for a while and got depressed--I can't be sure that was why, but I went back on the Zoloft and got better). I do take a tiny dose, though, 25 mg. Maybe an itty bitty dose of something would do the trick for you.
That said, I'm not convinced the Lamictal won't work without an AD. And I find it helps me avoid the stimulant crash.
> > I find it to be a gem for unipolar depression (along with Zoloft) and for me there are no side effects other than some itching, which went away after awhile.
> >
> > > Is Lamictal helpful for unipolar depression, or is it only appropriate for bipolar depression? I have unipolar depression.
> > >
> > > About six years ago, I was given Depakote to "augment" the antidepressant I was on at the time. The Depakote made my depression much worse and it brought a lot of other problems with it (bleeding, hair loss, etc.), so I am very wary of anti-convulsants being used for depression.
> *************************************************
>
> Hello, Hattree. Thanks for your reply. Have you ever combined Lamictal with stimulants (like Dexedrine, for example?). One pdoc told me that Lamictal had to be combined with an antidepressant, not a stimulant, to be effective. I have a lot of trouble with polypharmacy (I think my liver enzymes are out of whack), so I like to take as few meds as possible at any one time. Any luck with Lamictal plus Dex. WITHOUT an antidepressant?
Posted by Bekka H. on February 12, 2002, at 17:22:10
In reply to Re: Lamictal - is it useful for unipolar depression?, posted by Hattree on February 12, 2002, at 10:44:14
> Yeah, I left out the Dex. I take that too.
>
> I seem to require the Zoloft to get the desired effect (I tried to drop it for a while and got depressed--I can't be sure that was why, but I went back on the Zoloft and got better). I do take a tiny dose, though, 25 mg. Maybe an itty bitty dose of something would do the trick for you.
>
> That said, I'm not convinced the Lamictal won't work without an AD. And I find it helps me avoid the stimulant crash.
>
************************************************Thank you, Hattree (what an interesting screen name!). You said you take 25 mg Zoloft. Have you ever tried Celexa? If so, what did you think?
Posted by Hattree on February 13, 2002, at 10:42:05
In reply to Re: Lamictal - is it useful for unipolar depression?, posted by Bekka H. on February 12, 2002, at 17:22:10
Celexa didn't do anything for me one way or the other. But then, Zoloft was only a little bit helpful until I added Lamictal.
> > Yeah, I left out the Dex. I take that too.
> >
> > I seem to require the Zoloft to get the desired effect (I tried to drop it for a while and got depressed--I can't be sure that was why, but I went back on the Zoloft and got better). I do take a tiny dose, though, 25 mg. Maybe an itty bitty dose of something would do the trick for you.
> >
> > That said, I'm not convinced the Lamictal won't work without an AD. And I find it helps me avoid the stimulant crash.
> >
> ************************************************
>
> Thank you, Hattree (what an interesting screen name!). You said you take 25 mg Zoloft. Have you ever tried Celexa? If so, what did you think?
Posted by Cindylou on February 13, 2002, at 15:06:40
In reply to Re: Lamictal - is it useful for unipolar depression?, posted by Bekka H. on February 11, 2002, at 17:23:43
Hi Bekka,
Thought I'd throw in my 2 cents here. I have tried adding stimulants to Lamictal and CANNOT TOLERATE them AT ALL -- even in small doses. The combo actually makes me quite sick -- dizzy, nauseated. I'm not the best person to compare yourself with, because I am so med-sensitive it is ridiculous -- even without the Lamictal the stims would work great for a few days, but then I'd crash and be worse off than before.As far as Lamictal helping depression alone ... I don't think it does a great job. It has definitely helped my anxiety, but as far as depression goes, I am just barely keeping my head above water. I've described it before as being like a "safety net," keeping me from hitting the all-time lows.
My problem is, like you, I have a hard time combining meds. I tried adding Prozac last month and got quite sick again. I am going to try some crazy low dose -- like 1 mg of Prozac through a dropper!!! -- to see if that may help.
Best of luck to you! Isn't a bummer not being able to tolerate polypharmacy :(
Take care and keep us posted,
cindy> > I find it to be a gem for unipolar depression (along with Zoloft) and for me there are no side effects other than some itching, which went away after awhile.
> >
> > > Is Lamictal helpful for unipolar depression, or is it only appropriate for bipolar depression? I have unipolar depression.
> > >
> > > About six years ago, I was given Depakote to "augment" the antidepressant I was on at the time. The Depakote made my depression much worse and it brought a lot of other problems with it (bleeding, hair loss, etc.), so I am very wary of anti-convulsants being used for depression.
> *************************************************
>
> Hello, Hattree. Thanks for your reply. Have you ever combined Lamictal with stimulants (like Dexedrine, for example?). One pdoc told me that Lamictal had to be combined with an antidepressant, not a stimulant, to be effective. I have a lot of trouble with polypharmacy (I think my liver enzymes are out of whack), so I like to take as few meds as possible at any one time. Any luck with Lamictal plus Dex. WITHOUT an antidepressant?
Posted by Cindylou on February 13, 2002, at 15:12:26
In reply to Re: Lamictal - is it useful for unipolar depression?, posted by Hattree on February 12, 2002, at 10:44:14
Hi Hattree,
I know we've had this conversation before, about stimulants. But Dexedrine is the ONE stimulant I haven't tried. Is there any reason for me to believe I may be able to tolerate that one better than the others?Thanks in advance! Hope you are doing well,
-cindy> Yeah, I left out the Dex. I take that too.
>
> I seem to require the Zoloft to get the desired effect (I tried to drop it for a while and got depressed--I can't be sure that was why, but I went back on the Zoloft and got better). I do take a tiny dose, though, 25 mg. Maybe an itty bitty dose of something would do the trick for you.
>
> That said, I'm not convinced the Lamictal won't work without an AD. And I find it helps me avoid the stimulant crash.
>
> > > I find it to be a gem for unipolar depression (along with Zoloft) and for me there are no side effects other than some itching, which went away after awhile.
> > >
> > > > Is Lamictal helpful for unipolar depression, or is it only appropriate for bipolar depression? I have unipolar depression.
> > > >
> > > > About six years ago, I was given Depakote to "augment" the antidepressant I was on at the time. The Depakote made my depression much worse and it brought a lot of other problems with it (bleeding, hair loss, etc.), so I am very wary of anti-convulsants being used for depression.
> > *************************************************
> >
> > Hello, Hattree. Thanks for your reply. Have you ever combined Lamictal with stimulants (like Dexedrine, for example?). One pdoc told me that Lamictal had to be combined with an antidepressant, not a stimulant, to be effective. I have a lot of trouble with polypharmacy (I think my liver enzymes are out of whack), so I like to take as few meds as possible at any one time. Any luck with Lamictal plus Dex. WITHOUT an antidepressant?
Posted by Bekka H. on February 13, 2002, at 18:35:15
In reply to Re: Lamictal + Dex » Hattree, posted by Cindylou on February 13, 2002, at 15:12:26
> Hi Hattree,
> I know we've had this conversation before, about stimulants. But Dexedrine is the ONE stimulant I haven't tried. Is there any reason for me to believe I may be able to tolerate that one better than the others?
>
> Thanks in advance! Hope you are doing well,
> -cindy
>
*************************************************Hi CindyLou. I'm not Hattree, but I'll try to answer your question until Hattree logs on. For me, Dexedrine has been the best of all the stimulants. It doesn't feel as harsh on my body. As you probably know, Dexedrine (dextroamphetamine) is the D isomer of amphetamine, and supposedly it has more CNS (central nervous system) effects and fewer cardiovascular system effects than Adderall. Adderall is a mixture of amphetamine salts, and only 25% of Adderall is dextroamphetamine. Adderall also has the L isomer of amphetamine and some other salts mixed in. Some people respond better to the mixture; I respond better to just the plain old dexedrine. I read in Stephen Stahl's "Essential Psychopharmacology" that the L isomer, which is in Adderall, has more of an effect on norepinephrine, and the d isomer has more of an effect on dopamine, but both isomers affect both neurotransmitters to some degree. It's probably best to try it and see if it's right for you. By the way, I've also found that the proprietary brand of Dexedrine is much better for me than the generic brand. It seems to last longer and I have less rebound (I'm referring to the immediate release Dexedrine tablets). I haven't had as much luck with the Dex. Spansules (time release), but I know some people who swear by them.
Thank you for your advice regarding the Lamictal. I'm very conflicted about it. I don't know what I'll do yet.
Posted by Cindylou on February 13, 2002, at 22:17:54
In reply to Re: Lamictal + Dex, posted by Bekka H. on February 13, 2002, at 18:35:15
Hi Bekka,
Wow, thanks for the great information! I didn't know any of that stuff ... I'm not very well-versed in chemistry/biology, etc.Thanks again for your time in responding to me. I will check with my pdoc about trying Dexedrine!
-cindy
> > Hi Hattree,
> > I know we've had this conversation before, about stimulants. But Dexedrine is the ONE stimulant I haven't tried. Is there any reason for me to believe I may be able to tolerate that one better than the others?
> >
> > Thanks in advance! Hope you are doing well,
> > -cindy
> >
> *************************************************
>
> Hi CindyLou. I'm not Hattree, but I'll try to answer your question until Hattree logs on. For me, Dexedrine has been the best of all the stimulants. It doesn't feel as harsh on my body. As you probably know, Dexedrine (dextroamphetamine) is the D isomer of amphetamine, and supposedly it has more CNS (central nervous system) effects and fewer cardiovascular system effects than Adderall. Adderall is a mixture of amphetamine salts, and only 25% of Adderall is dextroamphetamine. Adderall also has the L isomer of amphetamine and some other salts mixed in. Some people respond better to the mixture; I respond better to just the plain old dexedrine. I read in Stephen Stahl's "Essential Psychopharmacology" that the L isomer, which is in Adderall, has more of an effect on norepinephrine, and the d isomer has more of an effect on dopamine, but both isomers affect both neurotransmitters to some degree. It's probably best to try it and see if it's right for you. By the way, I've also found that the proprietary brand of Dexedrine is much better for me than the generic brand. It seems to last longer and I have less rebound (I'm referring to the immediate release Dexedrine tablets). I haven't had as much luck with the Dex. Spansules (time release), but I know some people who swear by them.
>
> Thank you for your advice regarding the Lamictal. I'm very conflicted about it. I don't know what I'll do yet.
Posted by Hattree on February 14, 2002, at 8:47:37
In reply to Re: Lamictal + Dex » Hattree, posted by Cindylou on February 13, 2002, at 15:12:26
Hi Cindy,
> Is there any reason for me to believe I may be able to tolerate that one better than the others?
Probably not, but you never know. I do find Dex to be the smoothest one. Also, this Adrafinil that people write about here sounds intriguing--more gentle than the others maybe, including its cousin Provigil. If you can get it, of course.
Also I don't think your notion of teeny doses of Prozac is so crazy, either, given its loooong half life. Or maybe even weekly doses (but not weekly prozac, just the regular kind). Ask your doc, but my very first AD experience was trying Prozac, which made me feel emotionally and physically HORRIBLE--I gave it up after 5 or 6 days, and then a few days after that I gradually realized that I was feeling better than I had before in my life. When after a few months I found myself sinking again in a big way, I tried it again, and it worked again, and so on (with diminshing returns) for a couple of years until I got pregnant. After that hiatus it never worked again and I started trying other things, none of which did all that well until Lamictal. Just a long way of saying you never know.
Also wonder if you ever thought about Neurontin.
Hope its a good day.
--hat
>
> Thanks in advance! Hope you are doing well,
> -cindy
>
> > Yeah, I left out the Dex. I take that too.
> >
> > I seem to require the Zoloft to get the desired effect (I tried to drop it for a while and got depressed--I can't be sure that was why, but I went back on the Zoloft and got better). I do take a tiny dose, though, 25 mg. Maybe an itty bitty dose of something would do the trick for you.
> >
> > That said, I'm not convinced the Lamictal won't work without an AD. And I find it helps me avoid the stimulant crash.
> >
> > > > I find it to be a gem for unipolar depression (along with Zoloft) and for me there are no side effects other than some itching, which went away after awhile.
> > > >
> > > > > Is Lamictal helpful for unipolar depression, or is it only appropriate for bipolar depression? I have unipolar depression.
> > > > >
> > > > > About six years ago, I was given Depakote to "augment" the antidepressant I was on at the time. The Depakote made my depression much worse and it brought a lot of other problems with it (bleeding, hair loss, etc.), so I am very wary of anti-convulsants being used for depression.
> > > *************************************************
> > >
> > > Hello, Hattree. Thanks for your reply. Have you ever combined Lamictal with stimulants (like Dexedrine, for example?). One pdoc told me that Lamictal had to be combined with an antidepressant, not a stimulant, to be effective. I have a lot of trouble with polypharmacy (I think my liver enzymes are out of whack), so I like to take as few meds as possible at any one time. Any luck with Lamictal plus Dex. WITHOUT an antidepressant?
Posted by Hattree on February 14, 2002, at 8:48:59
In reply to Re: Lamictal + Dex, posted by Bekka H. on February 13, 2002, at 18:35:15
Ditto on the Spansules--not impressed.
> > Hi Hattree,
> > I know we've had this conversation before, about stimulants. But Dexedrine is the ONE stimulant I haven't tried. Is there any reason for me to believe I may be able to tolerate that one better than the others?
> >
> > Thanks in advance! Hope you are doing well,
> > -cindy
> >
> *************************************************
>
> Hi CindyLou. I'm not Hattree, but I'll try to answer your question until Hattree logs on. For me, Dexedrine has been the best of all the stimulants. It doesn't feel as harsh on my body. As you probably know, Dexedrine (dextroamphetamine) is the D isomer of amphetamine, and supposedly it has more CNS (central nervous system) effects and fewer cardiovascular system effects than Adderall. Adderall is a mixture of amphetamine salts, and only 25% of Adderall is dextroamphetamine. Adderall also has the L isomer of amphetamine and some other salts mixed in. Some people respond better to the mixture; I respond better to just the plain old dexedrine. I read in Stephen Stahl's "Essential Psychopharmacology" that the L isomer, which is in Adderall, has more of an effect on norepinephrine, and the d isomer has more of an effect on dopamine, but both isomers affect both neurotransmitters to some degree. It's probably best to try it and see if it's right for you. By the way, I've also found that the proprietary brand of Dexedrine is much better for me than the generic brand. It seems to last longer and I have less rebound (I'm referring to the immediate release Dexedrine tablets). I haven't had as much luck with the Dex. Spansules (time release), but I know some people who swear by them.
>
> Thank you for your advice regarding the Lamictal. I'm very conflicted about it. I don't know what I'll do yet.
Posted by Hattree on February 15, 2002, at 8:26:30
In reply to Re: Lamictal + Dex, posted by Hattree on February 14, 2002, at 8:47:37
> Hi Cindy,
>
> > Is there any reason for me to believe I may be able to tolerate that one better than the others?
>
Probably not, but you never know. I do find Dex to be the smoothest one. Also, this Adrafinil that people write about here sounds intriguing--more gentle than the others maybe, including its cousin Provigil. If you can get it, of course.Also I don't think your notion of teeny doses of Prozac is so crazy, either, given its loooong half life. Or maybe even weekly doses (but not weekly prozac, just the regular kind). Ask your doc, but my very first AD experience was trying Prozac, which made me feel emotionally and physically HORRIBLE--I gave it up after 5 or 6 days, and then a few days after that I gradually realized that I was feeling better than I had before in my life. When after a few months I found myself sinking again in a big way, I tried it again, and it worked again, and so on (with diminshing returns) for a couple of years until I got pregnant. After that hiatus it never worked again and I started trying other things, none of which did all that well until Lamictal. Just a long way of saying you never know.
Also wonder if you ever thought about Neurontin.
Hope its a good day.
--hat
>
> >
> > Thanks in advance! Hope you are doing well,
> > -cindy
> >
> > > Yeah, I left out the Dex. I take that too.
> > >
> > > I seem to require the Zoloft to get the desired effect (I tried to drop it for a while and got depressed--I can't be sure that was why, but I went back on the Zoloft and got better). I do take a tiny dose, though, 25 mg. Maybe an itty bitty dose of something would do the trick for you.
> > >
> > > That said, I'm not convinced the Lamictal won't work without an AD. And I find it helps me avoid the stimulant crash.
> > >
> > > > > I find it to be a gem for unipolar depression (along with Zoloft) and for me there are no side effects other than some itching, which went away after awhile.
> > > > >
> > > > > > Is Lamictal helpful for unipolar depression, or is it only appropriate for bipolar depression? I have unipolar depression.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > About six years ago, I was given Depakote to "augment" the antidepressant I was on at the time. The Depakote made my depression much worse and it brought a lot of other problems with it (bleeding, hair loss, etc.), so I am very wary of anti-convulsants being used for depression.
> > > > *************************************************
> > > >
> > > > Hello, Hattree. Thanks for your reply. Have you ever combined Lamictal with stimulants (like Dexedrine, for example?). One pdoc told me that Lamictal had to be combined with an antidepressant, not a stimulant, to be effective. I have a lot of trouble with polypharmacy (I think my liver enzymes are out of whack), so I like to take as few meds as possible at any one time. Any luck with Lamictal plus Dex. WITHOUT an antidepressant?
Posted by Cindylou on February 15, 2002, at 14:54:50
In reply to Re: Lamictal + Dex, posted by Hattree on February 14, 2002, at 8:47:37
Hi Hattree...
Thanks for the response. You know, you are the second person on this board who has mentioned that they felt HORRIBLE on Prozac for 5 days or so, then stopped it, and then felt better for awhile. THE SAME EXACT THING HAPPENS TO ME!!! But when I mentioned this to two different therapists, they both poo-pooed it ... like it was all in my head.So, after that initial experience, would you purposefully take the Prozac for a few days, then stop it? How long would you take it for, and then how long would you stop? It makes a lot of sense to me. Like you said, maybe a week on, week off would work ...
Also, I mentioned Neurontin to my pdoc, and she dismissed the idea ... I can't remember why, but I think she said it causes fatigue, and since I am so sensitive to fatigue she didn't see it as a good choice. She is usually very open to suggestions, so I just accepted her 'dismissal' of it. Why do you think it may be a good option? I don't know much about that med.
Thanks for everything!
cindy> Hi Cindy,
>
> > Is there any reason for me to believe I may be able to tolerate that one better than the others?
>
> Probably not, but you never know. I do find Dex to be the smoothest one. Also, this Adrafinil that people write about here sounds intriguing--more gentle than the others maybe, including its cousin Provigil. If you can get it, of course.
>
> Also I don't think your notion of teeny doses of Prozac is so crazy, either, given its loooong half life. Or maybe even weekly doses (but not weekly prozac, just the regular kind). Ask your doc, but my very first AD experience was trying Prozac, which made me feel emotionally and physically HORRIBLE--I gave it up after 5 or 6 days, and then a few days after that I gradually realized that I was feeling better than I had before in my life. When after a few months I found myself sinking again in a big way, I tried it again, and it worked again, and so on (with diminshing returns) for a couple of years until I got pregnant. After that hiatus it never worked again and I started trying other things, none of which did all that well until Lamictal. Just a long way of saying you never know.
>
> Also wonder if you ever thought about Neurontin.
>
> Hope its a good day.
>
> --hat
>
> >
> > Thanks in advance! Hope you are doing well,
> > -cindy
> >
> > > Yeah, I left out the Dex. I take that too.
> > >
> > > I seem to require the Zoloft to get the desired effect (I tried to drop it for a while and got depressed--I can't be sure that was why, but I went back on the Zoloft and got better). I do take a tiny dose, though, 25 mg. Maybe an itty bitty dose of something would do the trick for you.
> > >
> > > That said, I'm not convinced the Lamictal won't work without an AD. And I find it helps me avoid the stimulant crash.
> > >
> > > > > I find it to be a gem for unipolar depression (along with Zoloft) and for me there are no side effects other than some itching, which went away after awhile.
> > > > >
> > > > > > Is Lamictal helpful for unipolar depression, or is it only appropriate for bipolar depression? I have unipolar depression.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > About six years ago, I was given Depakote to "augment" the antidepressant I was on at the time. The Depakote made my depression much worse and it brought a lot of other problems with it (bleeding, hair loss, etc.), so I am very wary of anti-convulsants being used for depression.
> > > > *************************************************
> > > >
> > > > Hello, Hattree. Thanks for your reply. Have you ever combined Lamictal with stimulants (like Dexedrine, for example?). One pdoc told me that Lamictal had to be combined with an antidepressant, not a stimulant, to be effective. I have a lot of trouble with polypharmacy (I think my liver enzymes are out of whack), so I like to take as few meds as possible at any one time. Any luck with Lamictal plus Dex. WITHOUT an antidepressant?
Posted by Hattree on February 19, 2002, at 8:49:49
In reply to Re: Lamictal + Dex » Hattree, posted by Cindylou on February 15, 2002, at 14:54:50
> Hi Hattree...
> Thanks for the response. You know, you are the second person on this board who has mentioned that they felt HORRIBLE on Prozac for 5 days or so, then stopped it, and then felt better for awhile. THE SAME EXACT THING HAPPENS TO ME!!! But when I mentioned this to two different therapists, they both poo-pooed it ... like it was all in my head.I had pooh-pooh responses from docs too, but one did say that it was something that could only happen with prozac, because of its long half-life.
> So, after that initial experience, would you purposefully take the Prozac for a few days, then stop it?
I would take it for five days or so, or as long as I could stand it, then stop, and a few days later I would feel cheerful again for as much as a few months (I don't remember that clearly). It may even have made me a touch manic the first time, but I put it to good use.
I basically got one script from a doctor I hated and didn't want to deal with seeing another, and milked that script for about two years (with
somewhat dimishing returns).So it seems possible that some kind of low-dose, intermittent prozac thing just might help you.
A weird thing about Prozac for me is that when I took it I never knew what it was going to do in the short run...I've been wired, sleepy, euphoric
(rarely), and deeply depressed. Weird Drug.> Also, I mentioned Neurontin to my pdoc, and she dismissed the idea ... I can't remember why, but I think she said it causes fatigue, and since
I am so sensitive to fatigue she didn't see it as a good choice. She is usually very open to suggestions, so I just accepted her 'dismissal'
of it. Why do you think it may be a good option? I don't know much about that med.>I just added it to help with sleep, which it may, although it doesn't actually put me to sleep. At first at least I found it very relaxing. It
does seem to add to my mood stabilization and help to keep the stimulant jitters at bay, but it doesn't make me particularly drowsy. I got interested in it because of posts here and my doc let me try it (he called it a "creative solution"). The posts here indicate widely different responses, but few of them are hugely negative.Best of luck with the search.
Posted by Alex J on February 24, 2002, at 16:31:00
In reply to Re: Lamictal - is it useful for unipolar depression?, posted by Hattree on February 12, 2002, at 10:44:14
Hattree,
Could you please tell me how Lamictal has helped you avoid the stimulant crash?
Also, how much Dexedrine and how much Lamictal are you taking? With respect to Lamictal, do you divide your doses up or take it all at once? Have you experienced any negative side effects from Lamictal?
Thanks in advance,
Alex
> That said, I'm not convinced the Lamictal won't work without an AD. And I find it helps me avoid the stimulant crash.
Posted by Hattree on February 25, 2002, at 10:54:44
In reply to Re: Lamictal - is it useful for unipolar depression? » Hattree, posted by Alex J on February 24, 2002, at 16:31:00
> Could you please tell me how Lamictal has helped you avoid the stimulant crash?
>
Only moderately. I just find I last a few more days before I need to take a break from the stimulants.
I find stimulant management to be a struggle.I take 25 mg of Lamictal in the morning and 25 at night. Generally I take about 7.5 mg of Dex, only once a day. When it starts to wane I sometimes have some coffee.
I don't experience any side-effects from the Lamictal...I may have had a minor rash issue in the beginning, or I may have had poison ivy. Nothing since except a better attitude.
This is the end of the thread.
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