[manicdepressive07]

Anybody on it/have taken it? I just got prescribed it today. I'm also taking Saphris (which is an atypical antipsychotic) I've been feeling REALLY depressed lately and all I want to do is sleep in and when I wake up all I want to do is waste time on the computer. I have no drive for life. I've been completely neglected things I need to get done, even small things like openign the mail, running errands, and making phone calls I need to do. ANd I hate that I feel this way but I can't help it. I wake up everyday and sleep in as long as I can because I hate "starting the day". Isn't that weird? I don't want to feel like this anymore... I want to wake up HAPPY to be alive and HAPPY to start my day. Hoping this new med will help :/ What do you guys think?

Plus it's not a typical anti-depressant. It's mainly used to treat seizures I think. So I'm wondering how effective an anti-seizure drug will be as an anti-depressant. Do you guys have any thoughts on this? Thanks!

[Victoria'smom]

My whole family is on lamictal as or mood stabilizer. My husband and I are both on ADs also.

[krisakira]

I am on 200 mg of lamictal. Saphris made me so tired when I took it, but had to stop because the sublingual pills were so disgusting I just would not take them. The lamictal was prescribed to me for irritation and agitation that came along with my Tourette's syndrome, and it has been really helpful. I no longer get really bad bouts of the agitation. It has leveled that out.

[manicdepressive07]

Great I'm excited to see how it works Worried about that uncommon but serious rash people get :/

[krisakira]

Originally Posted by manicdepressive07

Great I'm excited to see how it works Worried about that uncommon but serious rash people get :/

Just go up on the dose slowly. That way you won't get Steven Johnson's syndrome

Yep, raise the dose slowly (as your p-doc likely prescribed). I have had a very mild rash from Lamictal that came and went and has not returned.

It's taken 6 weeks, but I am finding that 100mg Lamictal in the morning and 100mg at night is working well for me.

[r010159]

I have been taking Lamictal for serveral weeks now. Does anyone know when the dose becomes therapeutic? On a previous dose increase, it seemed to have taken about 2 to 3 weeks. Last week my dose was increased from 200mg to 300mg.

My mood swings happen less frequently, are more mild, and go away relatively quickly. Has Lamictal helped with anyones rapid daily mood changes?

Bob Graham

[THE16THDOCTOR]

I've been taking lamactil for a few years w lexapro. It does what I need it stabilizes my mood and prevents mixed episodes. Sometimes I may feel depressed but it has been a far cry from when I wasn't taking it. It's helped me immensely.

Many mood stabilizers are "anti seizure" drugs, but they have pretty good effects for BP. For one, they can help stabilize mood disorders, whereas only antidepressants could -- in the long run -- induce hypomania and mania in people with BP. I've experienced this twice with Wellbutrin and Lexapro, before being diagnosed with BP.

Lamictal worked for me for a while, but I'm really allergic to it. Currently, I take Trileptal, which is also an anti-seizure drug used as a mood stabilizer. It works fairly well, but no drug is a perfect cure

[Cocosurviving]

Lamictal helped me a great deal with depression. I had the "winter blues" in 2012. It was horrible it started when daylight savings hit. I was already taking Lithium and it was not helping. I have BP 1 and ADs cause mania. BUT if I'm I take a AD with a non-AD BP med I'm ok (which I was taking Lithium). Lamictal did not stop stop me from having mixed episodes thou. I was hospitalized twice for mixed episodes while taking Lamictal and Topamax (I was no longer taking Lithium).

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[r010159]

I used to take Fluoxetine and Topomax and Olanzapine combination that worked well for me for awhile.

tucson

r010159, a therapeutic dose would vary from person to person, but as I understand it 200mg Lamictal is definitely a target dose.

[BipolaRNurse]

I've been on Lamictal for 2 years now, and have found that it helps make my depressive episodes milder. I'm on a fairly large dose but I need all of it to manage that end of the spectrum. It doesn't do a thing for the mania though. I've had no ill effects from it, except I did notice that it activated some hypomania when I got to 150 mg. awhile back.

I also used to get drowsy and headachy for a few days whenever the dose was increased, but that didn't last long. All in all, it's a good drug for me and I don't really have any side effects now that I haven't had to titrate up in several months.

[Curiosity77]

I'm on lamotrigine, saphris, and wellbutrin. For the most part it seems like a good combo, although i think the saphris flattens my mood a bit too much. I like the lamotrigine. It helped with my depression, and i have no side effects.

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[medicalfox]

I take lamotrigine and it makes me so much more functional. I get random rashes from it, but they are small and go away in a day or less. My neurologist told me that lamictal can cause benign rashes and said that it wasn't the severe rash you have to watch out for.

[MagicsMom]

I take 300 mg of Lamictal and it has helped with the depression somewhat.

[Crazycatlady82]

Originally Posted by r010159

I have been taking Lamictal for serveral weeks now. Does anyone know when the dose becomes therapeutic? On a previous dose increase, it seemed to have taken about 2 to 3 weeks. Last week my dose was increased from 200mg to 300mg.

My mood swings happen less frequently, are more mild, and go away relatively quickly. Has Lamictal helped with anyones rapid daily mood changes?

Bob Graham

my doctor says 300mg to 400mg is therapeutic dose

[littlemiss44]

I'm on lamictal. 200mg twice a day. AM/PM. Im on it as a mood stabilizer. I didn't think it would be prescribed as an antidepressant. I've never heard of saphris. I hope the combo really helps you. I'm sorry your feeling so bad. The way you described yr depression is EXACTLY how I've felt before and still do but not as much. Getting the right meds and therapy have helped me so much. Be easy on yer self. Don't put too much pressure on things so you don't put yr self down. You are suffering from a very debilitating illness. Give yr body time to adjust to these new meds. It could take a.little while for yr mind to calm down. Do little things to make yr self feel good. Take a bath. Sit outside and breathe in the fresh air. Watch yr fav movies or tv shows. Give yr self some little victories like making even one phone call or go to an appt you have scheduled. I found that when I'm really down like you are to.just do one thing at a time. Don't look at the big picture or you'll overwhelm yr self. Try and find happiness in the small stuff no matter how silly it may seem to you. There is light at the end of the tunnel. Joining the forum is a very positive step. Keep me or anyone here posted on how yr doing. Like let us know how this new med combo works for you. We do care. Feel free to pm me anytime. Hugs

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