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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by premed812000 on December 15, 2003, at 14:23:43
Hi,
I am a student with a winter recess approaching and was thinking of giving amisulpride a shot but need some advice.
As far as my background, my dx is "double depression" (w/ dysthymia prob. since 10 or so w/ first episode major depression around 17...currently dysthymic w/ anxiety). As with many of us, I've frustratingly tried pretty much the entire gamut of typical American ads and even lithium and atypical aps. About a year ago I added 10 mg geodon to the paxil (couldn't tolerate any higher g) I had been taking and experienced significant relief of my depression and social anxiety, but since then the effect has gradually waned (although i've never tried discontinuing g so there may be some lingering benefit...also, initial relief may have been partial manic response).
In any event, my pdocs latest idea is to add lamictal to my cocktail of 20mg paxil/10mg geodon. Currently I'm at 62.5 w/ no benefit or side effects. I feel now would be the opportune time to try amisulpride b/c any side effects (i.e. sedation) would be less bothersome during a recess, however I'm concerned about adding amisulpride while i'm titrating lamictal. Basically I would appreciate any feedback on the following questions:
1) Has anyone experienced enduring success with lamictal for my symptoms, (primarily dysthymia w/ anxiety), and if so, what dose? (Currently I receive no benefit or side effects but I am aware that lamictal appears to poop out once a benefit is felt)
2) Anyone experienced enduring success with amisulpride for my symptoms?
3) Do you think I should a) stick it out with lamictal, b) discontinue lamictal and try amisulpride, or c) continue titrating lamictal and add amisulpride (an option I am leaning away from)In any event, sorry for the length and thanks in advance for your feedback.
Posted by rod on December 15, 2003, at 18:02:19
In reply to Dilemma- Lamictal/Amisulpride, posted by premed812000 on December 15, 2003, at 14:23:43
> Hi,
> I am a student with a winter recess approaching and was thinking of giving amisulpride a shot but need some advice.
>
> As far as my background, my dx is "double depression" (w/ dysthymia prob. since 10 or so w/ first episode major depression around 17...currently dysthymic w/ anxiety). As with many of us, I've frustratingly tried pretty much the entire gamut of typical American ads and even lithium and atypical aps. About a year ago I added 10 mg geodon to the paxil (couldn't tolerate any higher g) I had been taking and experienced significant relief of my depression and social anxiety, but since then the effect has gradually waned (although i've never tried discontinuing g so there may be some lingering benefit...also, initial relief may have been partial manic response).
>
> In any event, my pdocs latest idea is to add lamictal to my cocktail of 20mg paxil/10mg geodon. Currently I'm at 62.5 w/ no benefit or side effects. I feel now would be the opportune time to try amisulpride b/c any side effects (i.e. sedation) would be less bothersome during a recess, however I'm concerned about adding amisulpride while i'm titrating lamictal. Basically I would appreciate any feedback on the following questions:
> 1) Has anyone experienced enduring success with lamictal for my symptoms, (primarily dysthymia w/ anxiety), and if so, what dose? (Currently I receive no benefit or side effects but I am aware that lamictal appears to poop out once a benefit is felt)
> 2) Anyone experienced enduring success with amisulpride for my symptoms?
> 3) Do you think I should a) stick it out with lamictal, b) discontinue lamictal and try amisulpride, or c) continue titrating lamictal and add amisulpride (an option I am leaning away from)
>
> In any event, sorry for the length and thanks in advance for your feedback.
>
>well, I currentla take lamictal + amisulpride + lexapro + neurontin. Lamictal works for me on depression, anxiety (social too) and dystymia. And amisulpride does the same, but is much more activating and vitalizing. Amisulpride is the best med I have ever taken, for me..
If I were you I would titrate lamictal up to 200mg and if this does not give you enough relief, just add amislupride. why not?
For me, Lamictal never really pooped out. Faded a little, but is still present and useful
good luck
rod
Posted by premed812000 on December 16, 2003, at 13:16:34
In reply to Re: Dilemma- Lamictal/Amisulpride » premed812000, posted by rod on December 15, 2003, at 18:02:19
Hey, thanx alot for the advice man.
Posted by JahL on December 16, 2003, at 22:44:24
In reply to Dilemma- Lamictal/Amisulpride, posted by premed812000 on December 15, 2003, at 14:23:43
Hi there.I originally presented as Dysthymic with Social Anxiety, since age 6 or 7, though now I'm a confirmed sufferer of Soft Bipolar NOS (a diagnosis sometimes dismissed as being 'trendy' and vague, but which I feel can be very useful. Anyway...).
Over 50 meds later and I'm settled on Lamictal + Sulpiride (used interchangeably with Amisulpride in some UK hospitals over here, though their effects can and do differ), as well as Klonopin (1mg) and now Ropinirole (0.5mg tid). This cocktail is nothing like effective but it keeps me -just- out of the hole in the ground.
I was alerted to Lamictal's efficacy when I added 0.25mg of Klonopin to 25mg of Lamictal and emerged hypomanic half an hour later. Not your standard 'kindling' (unlike SSRIs, which also promote brief spells of euthymia/hypomania in me), but it was easily repeatable. I now take *600*mg (I'll explain...) of Lamictal, which primarily helps with cognition and also co-ordination.
Sulpiride (I was led to this by an old and obscure antipsychotic, Promazine) has been a life saver with regards to social phobia. No full remission but a dramatic difference all the same. There still remains that element of paranoia but I can kid people, no problem. The beauty of Amisulpride and Sulpiride is that *if* they work, they tend to do so pretty rapidly. Both Promazine & Sulpiride 'worked' within a day or two for me (it was the same for my bro', who takes the same meds for the same disorder). I don't get any side effects from the low dose (150mg) I take and there are no significant interactions with Lamictal that I know of.
Lamictal took much longer to take effect and IMO you might want to titrate up to btwn 100 & 200mg before deciding to pack it in. The Lamictal has not so much 'pooped-out' on me so much as settled down from the feverish high it originally produced. The reason I'm on so high a dose is that I've been taken off it 3 times (once for ECT) and each time the benefits could only be reinstigated at higher doses. Not sure how common this is, though I have read a few anecdotal reports describing this phenomenon, including on this forum.
Please treat Lamictal with plenty of respect. I once missed a dose and soon developed a rather attractive rash and hugely swollen lymph (I think) glands. Scary stuff.
None of the drugs I take do much for my actual depression, tho' obviously being able to at least function (which I couldn't sans drugs) improves emotional wellbeing somewhat.
Sorry if this is rather long and rambling; currently my brain is well and truly f***** and I'm having trouble taking the proverbial gun outta me gob. Also haven't been here for some while. All these new people...I only recognise SLS (Hi Scott. Hope you're OK).
Nite.
Ta,
Jah*PS. I forgot. I also take low-dose (5 ml daily)Methadone. Helps a little with mood and motivation w/o side effects.
*************************************************
> 1) Has anyone experienced enduring success with lamictal for my symptoms, (primarily dysthymia w/ anxiety), and if so, what dose? (Currently I receive no benefit or side effects but I am aware that lamictal appears to poop out once a benefit is felt)
> 2) Anyone experienced enduring success with amisulpride for my symptoms?
> 3) Do you think I should a) stick it out with lamictal, b) discontinue lamictal and try amisulpride, or c) continue titrating lamictal and add amisulpride (an option I am leaning away from)
>
> In any event, sorry for the length and thanks in advance for your feedback.
>
>
Posted by Iansf on December 17, 2003, at 20:05:34
In reply to Re: Dilemma- Lamictal/Amisulpride » premed812000, posted by JahL on December 16, 2003, at 22:44:24
>
> Hi there.
>
> I originally presented as Dysthymic with Social Anxiety, since age 6 or 7, though now I'm a confirmed sufferer of Soft Bipolar NOS (a diagnosis sometimes dismissed as being 'trendy' and vague, but which I feel can be very useful. Anyway...).
>
> Over 50 meds later and I'm settled on Lamictal + Sulpiride (used interchangeably with Amisulpride in some UK hospitals over here, though their effects can and do differ), as well as Klonopin (1mg) and now Ropinirole (0.5mg tid). This cocktail is nothing like effective but it keeps me -just- out of the hole in the ground.
>In what ways do the effects of Amisulpride and sulpiride differ? Did both of them work for you, but on different aspects of your problem? Or was one more potent than the other? Or are you referring to side effects perhaps?
This is the end of the thread.
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