[Amy3boys]

I'm supposed to start Lamictal tonight and start tapering off of Remeron. I'm sick of the Remeron weight gain. I'm a little nervous about going off of an antidepressant that was very effective for my depression. Has anyone found Lamictal (and an antipsychotic, I take Geodon) to be effective for your depression without an antidepressant? I have mostly depression with occasional hypomania.

Originally Posted by Amy3boys

I'm supposed to start Lamictal tonight and start tapering off of Remeron. I'm sick of the Remeron weight gain. I'm a little nervous about going off of an antidepressant that was very effective for my depression. Has anyone found Lamictal (and an antipsychotic, I take Geodon) to be effective for your depression without an antidepressant? I have mostly depression with occasional hypomania.

Absolutely Lamictal and Geodon were effective for my depression, without an antidepressant!

I have bipolar type 1, and I must say that hypomania and mania are stronger features of my bipolar disorder than depression, but I have had more than plenty of depression, too. Also in my case, traditional antidepressants were not helpful in any positive way. They always either made me manic or have rapid cycling. Lamictal is activating for me, but hasn't been as prone to make me rapid cycle. With proper anti-manics also in my mix (i.e. an antipsychotic), Lamictal's effect creates a good balance for the depressive side. I happen to only need 100 mg for that, but I know most people need more.

I am no longer on Geodon, but it served me well for a number of years. Both Lamictal and Geodon were comparatively side effect friendly for me. While on that combo (actually also with Lithium), I was able to diet and lose 40 lbs, and maintain that weight loss for quite a long while. Only when Seroquel XR was added did I experience any weight gain again. I had to switch from Geodon to Seroquel XR because of akathisia. But I only got akathisia from Geodon years into taking it. Perhaps many never get akathisia from it.

Good luck with your upcoming combo! I hope it serves you well

[Amy3boys]

Originally Posted by BirdDancer

Absolutely Lamictal and Geodon were effective for my depression, without an antidepressant!

I have bipolar type 1, and I must say that hypomania and mania are stronger features of my bipolar disorder than depression, but I have had more than plenty of depression, too. Also in my case, traditional antidepressants were not helpful in any positive way. They always either made me manic or have rapid cycling. Lamictal is activating for me, but hasn't been as prone to make me rapid cycle. With proper anti-manics also in my mix (i.e. an antipsychotic), Lamictal's effect creates a good balance for the depressive side. I happen to only need 100 mg for that, but I know most people need more.

I am no longer on Geodon, but it served me well for a number of years. Both Lamictal and Geodon were comparatively side effect friendly for me. While on that combo (actually also with Lithium), I was able to diet and lose 40 lbs, and maintain that weight loss for quite a long while. Only when Seroquel XR was added did I experience any weight gain again. I had to switch from Geodon to Seroquel XR because of akathisia. But I only got akathisia from Geodon years into taking it. Perhaps many never get akathisia from it.

Good luck with your upcoming combo! I hope it serves you well

Thank you! I got akathesia on a higher dose of Geodon but since tapering down it stopped. The Remeron helped me sleep, so that's another issue I'll have to discuss with my doctor. Did you take anything else for sleep while on Geodon and Lamictal?

Originally Posted by Amy3boys

Thank you! I got akathesia on a higher dose of Geodon but since tapering down it stopped. The Remeron helped me sleep, so that's another issue I'll have to discuss with my doctor. Did you take anything else for sleep while on Geodon and Lamictal?

Hi Amy3boys. During the weeks/months of my early Geodon treatment, Geodon was sufficiently sedative to help me sleep. However, over time, the Geodon sedation practically disappeared. At that time, I had trouble sleeping, so an additional antipsychotic was added. To be honest, when my difficulties sleeping started, I didn't really care that much. I was hypomanic for a while (happy hypomanic), so enjoying the wee hours of the morning didn't create any complaints from me. But then I did need more sedation. Not just for sleep, but for controlling mania. As said, hypomania and mania have been big issues for me, so I need a pretty sedating mix, unless many people. My "second" antipsychotics didn't work out, so then Seroquel XR was added.

Seroquel XR has been consistently reliable for just about everything I need, including sleep, mania, depression, and even anxiety control. However, at larger doses (usually 500 mg and above, it's not so very weight friendly as Geodon. As for Lamictal, that was always weight neutral for me. Lamictal never helped me with sleep. Again, Lamictal is activating for me. And yet, just yesterday I read a post here from a member saying that Lamictal seemed to be sedating. We're all different!

[Scooter9]

I experience mostly depression like you.

I was on it for 4 years along with Latuda. It was mostly effective for my depression although I still had bad days while I was on it. It wasn't perfect but it worked most of the time.

The problem was tapering up. I was rapid cycling up to the time I got to my target dose of 200mg. My mood switched every few hours and the taper took weeks.

I also got a bunch of rashes as I was tapering but they were all not the dreaded SJS (my doctor checked).

Overall I consider this a success. But I had to stop it due to a bad reaction with my liver.

I suggest you get your liver function tested every year while you're on it. It's a blood test and can detect reactions before they get bad as they did in my case.

[sarahsweets]

I take both lamictal and geodon but the lamictal only works for me with an antidepressant-specifically and SNRI which in my case is cymbalta.

[Amy3boys]

Originally Posted by sarahsweets

I take both lamictal and geodon but the lamictal only works for me with an antidepressant-specifically and SNRI which in my case is cymbalta.

Cymbalta worked well for me for several years. I may ask my doctor about trying it again. I also did well on Effexor, so SNRIs seem to be effective for me. Thanks!
One issue for me is sleep. Geodon used to help me sleep but doesn't any more. Remeron (which I need to get off of) does help me sleep so I'm wondering what will happen once I'm off it. Do you take anything to help you sleep?