[ohlala]

After 5 months of depression (and by my own choice not being on any psych meds except Trazadone) I did research and asked my P-doc for Lamictal. It's taken 4 weeks to build up to 100 mgs. and I admit I grew impatient waiting for it to work. Well, hallelujah it finally happened! I can't believe the difference. So if I feel great at 100 mgs. I guess I should stay at 100 mgs.? Is there any point or justification for increasing the dosage? Thanks in advance for your feedback.

[kindachaotic]

Originally Posted by ohlala

After 5 months of depression (and by my own choice not being on any psych meds except Trazadone) I did research and asked my P-doc for Lamictal. It's taken 4 weeks to build up to 100 mgs. and I admit I grew impatient waiting for it to work. Well, hallelujah it finally happened! I can't believe the difference. So if I feel great at 100 mgs. I guess I should stay at 100 mgs.? Is there any point or justification for increasing the dosage? Thanks in advance for your feedback.

Ohlala, So,so glad this is working for you& your mood has lifted. Isn't it nice to have a regular conversation with someone & maybe even laugh a little!
Glad you were patient & kept going with it. Keep us posted.

[Laelle]

That depends on your manic phase really. If its mostly a depressive issue for you the dosage that you are on is therapeutic level for that. If you experience alot of mania then 200mg is the threshold for it. Also depends on other meds. For example, I take Xanax as well as Lamictal and Xanax is known to cause manic episodes so I stick to the 200mg per day.

hope this helps.

[widgets]

I went 50, 100, 150, 200, soon to go 250.
It helps when the dose had first increased but then seems to stop doing anything after 2 weeks or so.

[ohlala]

Originally Posted by Laelle

That depends on your manic phase really. If its mostly a depressive issue for you the dosage that you are on is therapeutic level for that. If you experience alot of mania then 200mg is the threshold for it. Also depends on other meds. For example, I take Xanax as well as Lamictal and Xanax is known to cause manic episodes so I stick to the 200mg per day.

hope this helps.

I never knew Xanax had the potential to cause mania. In the distant past I was on it but it just the opposite for me...

Originally Posted by ohlala

I never knew Xanax had the potential to cause mania. In the distant past I was on it but it just the opposite for me...

It doesn't. Or, I should say, rarely. Like with just about anything, one can get what they call a paradoxical reaction (ie. the opposite of expected), but it is not typical.

Lamictal is considered most effective on the depressive side of things. Dosages vary pretty widely -- as with anything, if your dose if effective for you, that's great, Ohlala, and no point in changing what is working! I've been put as high as 400mg on it. (Me: far more depression-prone and have gone at various levels between 200mg and 400mg.)

When all is said and done, we're all different in reactions and dosages, what works and what doesn't or what works for a time. Keeps the fun in the med-go-round. (Yeah, right! That'd be sarcasm... )

[Trying To Maintain]

I started out at 50 mg. There was a little difference but I started having symptoms again so my dosage was moved up to 100 mg. I just saw my P-doc and it was moved up to 150 mg. I found out that after a little while, the effectiveness started to wear off. I also got another mood stablizer added on top of the Lamtical. I am hoping that this will do the trick. I think the P-doc took me seriously when I went into my appointment in full blown mania. Agressive, angry, and talking a mile a minute. Something had to be done. I do wonder if it does get any better. I am so tired of being preoccupied with this thing. I am currently getting ready for the CPA exam and my concentration needs to be there and not with the ups and downs.

[zbmom]

Wow everyone else seems to be on a quick titration, my pdoc has been upping me 25mg every 2 weeks. I've got 12 days to go and then I can go up to 100. Hoping that will do the trick for me.

[Starchild3]

I'm still on 25mg daily, my pdoc has given me instructions for up to 100mg daily and by then I'll have another appt with him and we will discuss how I'm doing. He told me to stop titrating up when I feel good. I don't notice any difference at this dosage. I'm soooooo ready to feel better. I hear great things about Lamictal so I'm trying to wait patiently

[ohlala]

Originally Posted by Starchild3

I'm still on 25mg daily, my pdoc has given me instructions for up to 100mg daily and by then I'll have another appt with him and we will discuss how I'm doing. He told me to stop titrating up when I feel good. I don't notice any difference at this dosage. I'm soooooo ready to feel better. I hear great things about Lamictal so I'm trying to wait patiently

I agree, the waiting is torture... My P-doc said, what he's observed in his practice, is that if Lamictal is going to work it usually works between 100-200 mgs. (sometimes higher). I'm tracking my mood on a chart and it went slowly up from severe to mild depression when I reached 50 mgs., and normal after 3 days of 100 mgs. Seemed like a long time getting there but worth it! I've also had a SE of red and bleeding gums (when I brush) but the dental hygenist will be helping with that as I WILL NOT stop the Lamictal...I've also developed a little cough (I don't smoke). Except for the rash, I choose not to look or read about side effects unless I notice something new to prevent obsessing about things...

[foreverbp]

I'm currently on 300mg. I think everyone is so very different when it comes to meds, and what works for some will not work for others. I'm glad to hear that this med is working well for you.