[Blueberrybook]

I just got home from the pdoc, and he is upping my dosage of Lamictal to 400 mg a day, 2 200 mg pills (up from 300 mg/day). I forgot to ask, do I take it all at night? I called the office with this question, but they won't get back to me for hours. What does upping the dose of Lamictal treat? I have bee hypomanic and forgetful this past week. He is also decreasing my sleep medication by one pill and told me if I have problems sleeping to add melatonin in there. I am also on Seroquel, and that usually knocks me out. I take 4 clonidine 0.1 mg tablets for sleep. He had me on 4 20 mg tablets and said to go to three. What is that supposed to help with?

[Under*Over]

Well lamictal is a mood stabilizer with antidepressant properties so... it would likely move your mood more twoards a central state, and IF you were experiencing depression would help alleviate those symptoms- and in any case, help orevent depression from happening to you. Upping a medication would just make the qualities of that med more potent so...

[Wonderfalls]

I take 200mg Lamictal. I suppose it helps my depression. My doctor wanted me to stay on it even with a full dose of antipsychotic (Latuda) just because of the extra mood stabilization it gave me. You should know that, though it's good for depression, it's a weak ant-manic. If you're prone to serious mania you should also be on an effective antipsychotic (or other mood stablilizer; I'm assuming you're just on Seroquel at a low dose for sleep.). Nice thing about it is it's low side effect profile.

I take it all in the morning, but since it doesn't either energize me or make me sleepy it doesn't matter when I take it.

[LacunaCoiler]

I've been taking 400mg (2x200 mg pills) for a couple of years now. I did notice it lifted my depression and made my "normal/stable" periods longer. I don't think it really helped with the mania as much though, I take an ap for that.

As for when to take it, I take both at night. It doesn't make me tired or my stomach upset. Because I don't get any side effects the doc said I can take them together whenever I wanted it. I always forgot taking them in the morning cuz I'm always in a rush in the morning so I decided to take them at night when I'm more relaxed. My doc said if I get extra tired and have trouble waking up or they upset my stomach to take one in the morning and one at night.

[Zigy]

Lamictal does not do anything for my depression. I've been on it since August last year and I've been depressed all the time. No difference. I'm on 300mg since February.

[Blueberrybook]

I'm on 300 mg of Seroquel as the AP. We'll see if upping the Lamictal does anything. I go back to see him next week. I think perhaps he is trying to address the depressions I sometimes have, like a total meltdown last Sunday and feeling tired all the time. I have been on this amount of Seroquel for a long time, and while it makes me fall asleep (except when manic), I don't wake up feeling overtired when my meds are working right.

I think Lamictal does different things for different people. I'll assume that your psychiatrist feels that an increase in Lamictal will do for you what needs to be done for you. If not, he'll need to be told.

Lamictal is very activating for me and is primarily used for me as an unofficial "antidepressant". I take only 100 mg along with a large dose of Tegretol XR and a medium dose of Seroquel XR. My psychiatrist has never increased it because of my history with being activated from it. But officially, Lamictal is considered to be an anticonvulsant moodstabilizer. I'm assuming some people can get relief from developing hypomania or mania from it. Or for some people it is effective as a prophylactic medication at preventing any kind of bipolar mood episode. If you are hypomanic, perhaps your psychiatrist feels that an increase will help stabilize your mood? That's just my guess based on what you wrote. For exact reasons do be sure to ask him.

My suggestion, if your psychiatrist's office does not get back to you on your dosing question, is to call your pharmacist and ask him/her how they think you should take your Lamictal given the increase.

[BipolaRNurse]

My dose was increased from 300 to 400 mg when I was in the hospital three years ago. It has definitely helped with the depression and I've never had another serious depressive episode since then. The only problem with it is that I'm maxed out on it and if it stops working I don't know what I'll do.

[Unrigged64072835]

I was on 300mg a day. It helped with the depression but not much on the mania.

[wiretwister]

have been at 300 or 400 for years .... when I am doing better I "beg"to go down to 300 ... usually he will ... ina few months he knows I will be calling him back ... 400 ... I take mine 200 at night and 200 in morning .... helps with my depression but mostlly just keeps me flat ...

[HALLIEBETH87]

I take 200mg in am and pm. It along with Latuda helps with my depression. Haldol helps my psychosis. Celexa helps depression that lingers.

I feel like my dr likes to medicate me.

[Wander]

I was on 300 since abou August last year. Was still deeply depressed until early January then my mood shot up and I have not been purely depressed since. However, I fell into a mixed state late January and have been in that since. Does increase to 400 and my lows are not as sever but I still get suicidal at times but have motivation for basic life stuff. Is the agitation that’s killing me and the swings up make me dizzying. Don’t know if I’m making any sense. Sorry.

I know you’ve had a pretty hard time lately. I assume the pdoc is trying to keep you from sinking with lightening the sleep meds and strengthening the mood stabilizer.

[pirilin]

In my case (sometimes up to 300mg a day) absolutely nothing.

Doesn't help my depression one bit. HOWEVER, I am chronically pissy without it, so I like it and that's why I continue to take it.

[Blueberrybook]

I am on Seroquel 300 mg to help with the agitation. When I'm not hypormanic/manic, it does help me fall asleep.

[xRavenx]

I used to be on 200 mg Lamictal a day (divided dose 100 AM and 100 mg PM). It had did something for me in the beginning, but eventually, it was not doing enough. Reflecting on it further, I realize how little it was benefiting me, although it definitely helped compared to not being on it at all....

Two years ago, I had my Lamictal upped from 200 mg to 400 mg per day (200 mg AM, 200 mg PM). I'm still on this dose, and it helped so much more than the lower dose. Lamictal has been indicated when it comes to delaying or preventing episodes (both manic and depressed). I'm on several different meds and still get episodes, but I can see how it prevented me from experiencing some full-blown ones. I don't cry as much, and I am definitely less impulsive on Lamictal, compared to previously. It helped depression lift after a serious episode where I crashed from mania also. Another thing I noticed: I don't feel the need to drink alcohol as much, which is a good thing.