Posted by cache-monkey on December 20, 2004, at 0:21:28
Hey all,
I started Lamictal a couple of weeks ago. My dx is really unclear (anxious dysthymia/cyclothymia or possibly something in the BP spectrum). I started at the lowest possible dose (half a 25 mg tab), and felt like poop for a week: tired, more anxious, less drive, less able to concentrate.
But then, I started to feel better, especially for about five hours after taking a dose of Lamictal. And today, I took a full 25mg, divided, and a couple hours after the second half tab, I actually felt good. Really good. On the way home from some shopping, I was listening to Jefferson Starship's "We Built This City" and for the first time in over 18 months I felt just peaceful and happy (without being hypomanic).
And then I cried. For the first time since long ago when I was on an SSRI. Good tears. Tears from actually feeling a genuine emotion again (other than fear, emptiness, and occasional unwarranted exuberance), and realizing what I'd been missing.
Quite a response to such a low dose, and kind of quick. It's worn off a bit by now, probably because the Lamictal hasn't accumulated sufficiently at the higher dose, but I think this bodes well for my future with this drug.
BUT... me being the worry wart (haven't felt good consistently for long enought to crack that yet), what I'm worried about is poop out. My biggest fear is that I'll have felt "normal" emotions again, get used to it, and then the Lamictal will stop working and I'll go back to the bleakness.
I read somewhere that quick responses to SSRIs are often indicative of a relatively quick poop-out. Does anyone know if this is the case with Lamictal, too? (Or anything else about the poop-out possibility?)
Thanks,
cache-monkey
poster:cache-monkey
thread:431932
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20041217/msgs/431932.html