[Love&Toil]

My pdoc says lamictal doesn't help much for people with anxiety and panic disorder. Says it's a good AD and good for bipolar. What's your experience? TIA

[pawn78]

Very powerful drug for bipolar mixed episodes. Maybe the best med for mixed and rapid cycling.

[cashart10]

I don't see why it couldn't be used in conjunction with anxiety meds.

[gubernova]

It was a godsend until it stopped working and now I just take it because I haven't gotten around to titrating off of it. It is the gold standard of mood stabilizers especially if you're in a depressive episode.

[catman1975]

I have bipolar type 1 as well as a case of PTSD. I took Lamictal for some time very successfully combined with many other drugs, such as Risperdal, Prozac, Wellbutrin, and as needed Klonopin for the panic attacks.

I would say it is worth trying. The only reason I quit it is because I couldn't afford my medications any more, otherwise probably would have stayed on it forever.

Best of luck with it. I had great results with minimal side effects (occasional dizziness.)

[Love&Toil]

Originally Posted by cashart10

I don't see why it couldn't be used in conjunction with anxiety meds.

My pdoc doesn't want me to use it with something like Ativan for anxiety. She says its not a long term solution. I dunno. She suggested switching me over to Effexor but Prozac does a great job for me reducing panic and anxiety. I don't know if I could take Prozac along with Lamictal. Does anybody here take that combo?

[_mom2boys_]

I was on Lexapro to start with because of my anxiety. It wasn't until I saw a pdoc that I got diagnosed with bipolar as well as anxiety. He has kept me on Lexapro for now as I'm still gradually increasing my Lamictal dosage but I believe the plan is to slowly taper off the Lexapro once the Lamictal is at a level dose...but I'm really not sure of what the future holds. I also take klonopin daily to help with my obsessive thoughts that are either related to the anxiety or the bipolar or both.

[Victoria'smom]

I take lamictal and viibyrd.

[Love&Toil]

Originally Posted by catman1975

I have bipolar type 1 as well as a case of PTSD. I took Lamictal for some time very successfully combined with many other drugs, such as Risperdal, Prozac, Wellbutrin, and as needed Klonopin for the panic attacks.

I would say it is worth trying. The only reason I quit it is because I couldn't afford my medications any more, otherwise probably would have stayed on it forever.

Best of luck with it. I had great results with minimal side effects (occasional dizziness.)

I didn't see this until now, thanks for posting this. Interesting.

[vans1974]

I've been on Lamictal for about 10 years just because it's the best anti-convulsant...at 400-600mg it augments the AD. However, I think its poop out on me, so lately I've been considering Trileptal...I hope it works for you though!

[ozzy1313]

I like lamictal. I'm on that, prozac, and wellbutrin, and I take xanax at night.

Effexor worked well, but gave me THE WORST withdrawal issues I have ever had. I was so sick- picture having the flu, being drunk, having a hangover, and being on a tilt-a-wirl all at the same time. That being said, it worked really well for my depression.

[Disorder7]

I'm just starting Lamictal, but My pdoc also wrote a prescription for Xanax for panic attacks. My past pdoc gave me klonopin. My primary care physician gave me Ativan. I'm sort of a walking pharmaceutical. But I try not to take them because I know I could become addicted.
My panic attacks are severe. I've tried to leap from moving cars several times when the panic hits (yay for child safety locks in vehicles). I've gone up to homes of people I don't know and collapsed on their porches for them to call 911 because I couldn't breathe.
So I HAVE to have something to shut the panic down....fast.

SSRIs never really helped. They'd give me headaches, and I'd still panic.

[Love&Toil]

Thanks for weighing in, its really helpful to hear.

Ozzy1313 interesting that you are taking prozac and wellbutrin along with lamictal. I am taking prozac and wellbutrin as well.