12 replies to this topic

[mandible]

I have double depression and none of the crap I tried works.

I think to myself if the regular shitty antidepressants do zilch for me I gotta think outside of the box.

I brought up lamotrigine to my psychiatrist and he was against it. He thinks this will not help me

but in reality he knows virtually nothing about me. He never asks me how I feel or what my symptoms are.

He only knows that I am "depressed" from my very first visit when I told him I am depressed.

Do your psychiatrists also not ask any questions? I think this is freaking unbelievable. I could as well

get my prescriptions online from a doctor in India it would make no difference.

 

Anyway, I read about lithium and lamotrigine being used to keep people with recurrent depression which I have stable.

But both drugs can have severe side effects. I don't know if I should just give it a try.

Since I have thyroid issues and also antibodies I don't know if lithium would be good. Then only lamotrigine would be left.

What worries me about lamotrigine though is that I read that titrating is difficult, that there is a sweet spot and if you go above

it you will not feel better but may feel worse! I also read that people on lamotrigine can become suicidal when trying to get off it.

This is all pretty frightening.

 

I'd also like to know if someone here takes Lamo for normal depression, not bipolar, what exactly it does. Does it make the constant

depression a little better or does it prevent you from getting into spurts of deep depression? What does it do? Or does it really not do much

at all?

 

Shit I tried so far: (Lexapro,Wellbutrin,Remeron,Stablon,Memantine,Ritalin,Cymbalta,Anafranil)

[Al Capacino]

I have just started lamotragine. I'm on my third week going onto fourth. I was at 25mg first two weeks now 50mg for two weeks before 100mg which I'm led to believe anti depressant properties become apparent. I've felt nothing so far good or bad.
My psychiatrist was actually very open to it when I mentioned it. I have had depression and anxiety for 10 years...maybe a bit of bi polar II also bit dunno. So many conditions overlap. But depression and anxiety my main problems. I'll keep u updated how I go

[drg]

Yes lithium and lamotrigine both helped my depression but I have bipolar but it could help you too. And yes psychiatrists are useless and will not help you in any sort of timely manner. I take 75mg lamo, 600mg lithium, both modest doses but I don't notice side effects at that level. I think they could be decent options for you to try.

[mandible]

Hello,

what scares me about lamo the most is 1) rashes/Steve Johnson syndrome 2) fear of becoming worse because of it, I read it can cause aggression and stuff like that

3) not knowing what this stuff does to the brain. I mean lamo is not like a SSRI. I am scared of going on a drug not knowing what it could cause. What if it makes me freak out

or become suicidal?

 

I also read that titration can be a pain in the ass and that many people get itches and headaches and what's also concerning is that I read that there is a "sweet spot". For example

some people say they felt good at 75mg and then they increase further and suddenly felt worse, which is totally unexpected.

 

@ al

 

Is this your first drug or have you tried antidepressants before? If yes which ones?

Edited by mandible, 23 March 2015 - 12:15 AM.

[drg]

I have tried every psych med pretty much. Lol. Lamo titration is a pain in the ass but if you are proactive you can get your doc to increase the Dose 25mg every week until you find the right amount. side effects are mild for me. And to be frank it is impossible to predict how you will react to a given med and ssris are not any better for this. Many on this board claim long-term damage from ssri use.

In terms of Steven Johnson syndrome and rashes you should see it coming and that is why the dose must be increased slowly.

For suicide potential have someone watch for change in your mood.

In the end the question is do the benefits of a drug outweigh the side effects m.. that is something only you can figure out ffor yourself

Hello,
what scares me about lamo the most is 1) rashes/Steve Johnson syndrome 2) fear of becoming worse because of it, I read it can cause aggression and stuff like that
3) not knowing what this stuff does to the brain. I mean lamo is not like a SSRI. I am scared of going on a drug not knowing what it could cause. What if it makes me freak out
or become suicidal?

I also read that titration can be a pain in the ass and that many people get itches and headaches and what's also concerning is that I read that there is a "sweet spot". For example
some people say they felt good at 75mg and then they increase further and suddenly felt worse, which is totally unexpected.

@ al

Is this your first drug or have you tried antidepressants before? If yes which ones?

Edited by drg, 27 March 2015 - 06:09 AM.

[Al Capacino]

I have been on heaps of psychiatrict meds for about 10 years.

Paroxetine, Prozac, escitalopram, duloxetine, venlafaxine, trazadone, chlomipramine, mirtazapine, lofepramine, wellbutrin, buspin, tianeptine, pregabilin, quietiapine, selegiline, olanzapine...that's all I can remember so I've fairly tried a lot with mixed results.

I've been on lamotrigine 100mg now for 3 days and I'm feeling quite happy, uplifted and very proactive at work and very sociable. I'm no longer avoiding social situations. In fact I'm throwing myself into them. I've been able to give up self medicating with kratom, selegiline, lithium and much much more.

I've felt nothing before 100mg. It seems it's starting to work and is quite noticeable now. So I thoroughly recommend this and that's saying something after everything I've tried! I do feel my heart racing a little though but maybe I just need to get used to the dose

[mandible]

Hello,

is 25mg the smallest pill size available?

 

And does this basically mean that if you raise doses too fast everybody will develop SJS?!

 

I'd try lamo but what shall I do? I asked my doc twice already and he seems to be against it. :(

[lOcéan]

I'm on lamotrigine, for bipolar disorder. I just reached 200mg today, after slowly titrating up since january. It started to have an effect at 100mg, but when the psychiatrist told me to increase more rapidly, it effectively acting the opposite and make me really depressed and suicidal. I just diminished to 100mg again and then augment 25mg by 25mg, while closely watching the effect it had on me and then control if something is weird. 

 

Concerning the side effects, I have none, and it's working perfect for my depression, I feel normal for the first time in years. In my opinion don't be excessively afraid about sides effects like SJS because you will know immediately if something is wrong with your skin. Others side effects can be cognitive blunting, I must admit that my verbal memory is somewhat less efficient but it's not really bothering or too pronounced, you can deal with it I think. 

 

And : find another psychiatrist, yes mine try to understand me, my life, how I function and I think it must be the rule for any follow up ! If you're not satisfied with your current psychiatrist, don't even bother changing, multiple times if you have to, to find a psychiatrist with which you feel effectively considered. If he doesn't knows you, how can he adequately treats you ? So don't wait a second !

(sorry for my english)

Edited by lOcéan, 01 April 2015 - 08:28 PM.

[mealz13]

I do not have bipolar but was misdiagnosed quite a while ago and was put on Lamictal.  It was a living hell.  My OCD got severely worse; there are actually a few studies showing Lamictal can induce OCD.  I also developed severe PMDD.  All ceased after stopping.  However, if you have bipolar, I've heard a large percentage of people do get better on it.  For unipolar depression, I would attempt to try Welbutrin or an SNRI.  For anxiety I feel SSRIs are the best, medication wise.  Of course no one wants to be on medication, but sometimes it is necessary.  Also, find a good behavioral therapist and look into CBT.  Best of luck 

 

Sorry, just read you have tried an Welbutrin and an SNRI.  I would try lithium/lamictal just to say you've tried everything.  The rash is scary but rare.  You may also want to try the supplements inositol, sam-e, NAC, etc.

Edited by mealz13, 04 April 2015 - 05:08 PM.

[mandible]

I really dont know what to do. I mean some people seem to totally like Lamo and for others it's terrible. This scares me.

How shall I know if I should take the risk?

And what if I simply cannot find a pdoc who wants to prescribe it? Where I live it's not officially used for MDD.

 

I also wonder if you get SJS then will it start subtle? How do you know if in case you get a rash it's something really serious or not?

Or is every rash on Lamotrigine totally serious?

[Dorothy Higgin]

My husband began taking this Lamotrigine medicine about 20 years ago after being on Dilantin for 6 years, when he was on Dilantin, he had horrible side effects and still had seizures...To us this is a miracle drug...not a seizure since beginning it!

[Al Capacino]

An update on my last post.
I had a bad reaction to something. I added low dose venlafaxine to lamotrigine 150mg. Horrible consequences. I'm not sure what caused it as I was also going through a bit tooth infection etc. Anyhow I developed all over body tremors and months later I've never got rid of it. Less severe but still there. I'll never touch lamotrgine again. Obviously we all have different chemistries etc and this is just my own personal experience. It didn't improve my mood too much, just made me less afraid of things in a sense and I simply got on with life. But as I say when you get a side effect like what I did, there's no way you'd touch it again. I wouldn't recommend it for depression or anxiety.

[knackers323]

Antone know how the sweet spot thing with lamo works?

I'd I have to little it don't work, if I have too much then it just crushes with sudation but that right spot its pretty good.

The thing is I've had to keep changing the dose down over time.

Does it build up in the system or repair something over time so we need less?

The other thing is, my right dose is minimal. Down to trying 12.5 once per day now.

Does everyone only dose once a day?

I find its effects wear off after about 6 hours. Anyone else find this?