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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by denise1966 on May 27, 2006, at 4:48:05
Hi,
Well I've just started Lamictal at 50mg, although I took 100mg yesterday.
I've noticed that I'm feeling very lethargic and flat with some tension still there. Does anyone know if the lethargy passes in time, how long does it take to go away and at what doses?
Thanks.....Denise
Posted by SLS on May 27, 2006, at 9:26:54
In reply to Lamictal lethargy, posted by denise1966 on May 27, 2006, at 4:48:05
> Hi,
>
> Well I've just started Lamictal at 50mg, although I took 100mg yesterday.
>
> I've noticed that I'm feeling very lethargic and flat with some tension still there. Does anyone know if the lethargy passes in time, how long does it take to go away and at what doses?I didn't experience lethargy on Lamictal, so I can't answer your queston from personal experience. I think the initial reaction to the introduction of Lamictal is variable. Some people find it very activating. Others feel sedated. I guess the only way to know for sure is to be patient and wait and see what happens. I don't think you can conclude very much given the inconsistent way in which you have reintroduced the drug.
I know it is hard to be patient when you are in pain. Unfortunately, these drugs give us no choice. It is very frustrating.
- Scott
Posted by Racer on May 27, 2006, at 11:30:17
In reply to Re: Lamictal lethargy, posted by SLS on May 27, 2006, at 9:26:54
Posted by denise1966 on May 27, 2006, at 15:23:43
In reply to Re: Lamictal lethargy, posted by SLS on May 27, 2006, at 9:26:54
Scott,
"The inconsistent way I started the drug" :-) you have such a nice, polite way of putting things.
Denise
Posted by denise1966 on May 27, 2006, at 15:24:38
In reply to I had the lethargy - it never went away, got worse (nm), posted by Racer on May 27, 2006, at 11:30:17
Hi Racer,
Did the lamictal help your depression even though it made you lethargic?
Denise
Posted by heaven help me on May 27, 2006, at 15:40:59
In reply to Racer - Doesn't bode well then., posted by denise1966 on May 27, 2006, at 15:24:38
Hi Denise,
I just posted way above on your original Lamictal question so I won't repeat all that, but I have been on it 1 year and it surely seems to help my depression. I understnad it to be a mood stabilizer with anitdepressant properties. Seems so for me
blessings
mary
Posted by Racer on May 27, 2006, at 16:56:18
In reply to Racer - Doesn't bode well then., posted by denise1966 on May 27, 2006, at 15:24:38
> Hi Racer,
>
> Did the lamictal help your depression even though it made you lethargic?
>
> DeniseI had an atypically bad reaction to it, and shouldn't have posted that this morning. (I haven't been doing very well just recently.)
Yes, I had a bad reaction to it. It made me lethargic -- but also made me constipated and severely increased my depression. That reaction was pretty bad from about 50mg onwards, although my pdoc at the time suggested that raising the dose would improve things. I wasn't willing to try, and my T thought I was right about it. It's possible, though, that it would have gotten better had I been willing to try it.
In case you're wondering, though, even though it wasn't pleasant and I had a hard time getting through it, I stuck it out to the 200mg level, where I stayed for about a month. It was only after that that I was convinced that it wasn't worth continuing. (And that was through SEVERELY increased depression -- sitting in one spot all day, staring at walls, and crying for no apparent reason.)
I would strongly recommend that you titrate up according to your doctor's orders, rather than the "inconsistent" manner -- yes, Scott does have such a sweet way with words -- and give it time. I know it's hard, but what helped me was repeating to myself, "I'll never know unless I give it an honest trial. If I don't manage to give this an honest trial, I will never know if it might have been the right one for me." Maybe you can find something similar to get you through it. I'd say four to six weeks at 200mg will be enough, so you'll know that if it doesn't work, it's not forever, and you'll be able to stop it knowing that you did all you could to allow it to be your friend.
Good luck.
Posted by Phillipa on May 27, 2006, at 21:31:19
In reply to Not necessarily true... » denise1966, posted by Racer on May 27, 2006, at 16:56:18
Wow you have to go up to 200mg to see if it helps depression? Love Phillipa
This is the end of the thread.
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