[ohlala]

I am taking Lamictal for bipolar depression. I am on the 4th week of titration (50 mgs) up to 200 mgs. I know it is different for different people, but when does it start to kick in? There has been no change in my depression and I feel like it's doing nothing.

I had to get up to over 200 before I saw any difference, and I finally ended up at 375 as the best dose for me. It takes patience, particularly since it takes so long to titrate up.

[Astridetal]

Do you mean you're now on 50mg or have you gone up to 200mg from 50mg in four weeks? 200mg is a pretty normal maintainance dose but some people need higher doses. Also it may take a few weeks of you being on your ideal dose before it starts to work.

[rockgal]

Originally Posted by ohlala

I am taking Lamictal for bipolar depression. I am on the 4th week of titration (50 mgs) up to 200 mgs. I know it is different for different people, but when does it start to kick in? There has been no change in my depression and I feel like it's doing nothing.

After several days at 75 mg, the clouds vanished, the sun came out, and the angels sang. My depression was utterly obliterated!

Unfortunately, I got a rash and we stopped it. The rash was mild and harmless, though, and we gave it another shot with a slower titration. I did not get as dazzling a response the second time around - the effect is softer, but it's very helpful and been an important part of my treatment along with Abilify.

The effective dose seems to vary a lot from person to person. I take 100 mg, and simply cannot tolerate a higher dose. Other people do great above 300 mg. Try to hang in there. Good luck.

[ohlala]

Originally Posted by Astridetal

Do you mean you're now on 50mg or have you gone up to 200mg from 50mg in four weeks? 200mg is a pretty normal maintainance dose but some people need higher doses. Also it may take a few weeks of you being on your ideal dose before it starts to work.

I'm on the beginning of my 4th week (2 weeks @ 25mg/ 2 weeks @ 50 mg.). P-doc indicated that we would titrate up to 200 mg. (I guess by 25mg. increase every 2 weeks...)

[ohlala]

I know to be mindful of the rash. Regarding side effects, has anyone experienced increased sweating? I am not on any psych meds other than Trazadone (for sleep) and I haven't had a sweat issue but the last 2 weeks I have noticed an increase. It's not listed under SE's for Lamictal...

[rockgal]

Originally Posted by ohlala

I'm on the beginning of my 4th week (2 weeks @ 25mg/ 2 weeks @ 50 mg.). P-doc indicated that we would titrate up to 200 mg. (I guess by 25mg. increase every 2 weeks...)

What will your pdoc do if you feel really good at 100 or 150 mg? Psych drug dosing isn't exactly automatic or the same for each person.

[ohlala]

Originally Posted by rockgal

What will your pdoc do if you feel really good at 100 or 150 mg? Psych drug dosing isn't exactly automatic or the same for each person.

He indicated that we would assess regularly as the dosage increased to see how I was doing. I asked him what the maximum dosage was and he said it's usually 200mgs. but is different for different people...

[zbmom]

My pdoc has me on it. I did 2 weeks at 25mg and am at 50mg now. Pdoc says I can stop going up on the dose whenever I feel like I'm doing well. I think it's already helping, I tend to be very sensitive to medications. I noticed a difference at 25mg, and I've noticed one when bumped to 50. I'm hoping at 75 or 100 I'll be good.

[nicoleb2]

I am on 200mg, have been for a few months now, with no changes in anything

[Starchild3]

Originally Posted by ohlala

I know to be mindful of the rash. Regarding side effects, has anyone experienced increased sweating? I am not on any psych meds other than Trazadone (for sleep) and I haven't had a sweat issue but the last 2 weeks I have noticed an increase. It's not listed under SE's for Lamictal...

Umm yes!! I have never really had to wear deodorant and just on my mild dose of 25mg daily I found I actually had B.O. luckily I keep deodorant at my desk. I don't think anyone else noticed but I was so embarassed

[sugahorse1]

I found a rapid increase in my mood at the beginning. I can't remember what it was, but we initially stayed at quite a low dose. And I managed to remain fairly stable. We had to add Wellbutrin to keep the depression away.
I am now now on 100mg and 150mg of Lamictin( AM and PM doses), but I'm expecting my meds to be adjusted soon

[Skully]

50mg is usually not a therapeutic dosage. I think therapeutic dosage starts at around 100mg.

[alwaysrejoice]

Im up to 175, dont think it's helping me, no rash so maybe I'll get bumped up some more.

[sugahorse1]

I didn't notice a huge change.
Sweating did increase
I'm one 100mg in AM and 150mg at night
I had to add Wellbutrin to get my depression under control. Recently I have noticed I'm becoming more hypomanic. So, we decided I needed to add Lithium, which apparently workd really well when combined with Lamictal

[hope31]

Originally Posted by zbmom

My pdoc has me on it. I did 2 weeks at 25mg and am at 50mg now. Pdoc says I can stop going up on the dose whenever I feel like I'm doing well. I think it's already helping, I tend to be very sensitive to medications. I noticed a difference at 25mg, and I've noticed one when bumped to 50. I'm hoping at 75 or 100 I'll be good.

Hi, I am new 2 this forum & I am so glad that I found other people who also take Lamictal! I was super scared after I went online 2 research this drug & saw & read of the horrible rash that some people get, so I was reluctant when my Pdoc suggested 2 me to take it. Long, story short.... It seems like my depression is resistant with the other meds & I did not want 2 try a drug that had dangerous side effects. I have been taking it for about 4wks now & I am still taking the 50mg of the quick dissolve tablets (for dissolving on the tongue). I also take wellbutrin 150mgs twice a day & generic celexa 40mgs. I hope & pray that I can take the Lamictal without getting that rash & I hope it put me in a better place mentally. How are you doing on it & do you feel any different now than you did before you started taking it? How many mgs do you take now or are you still taking it? I just want to get an idea of how it is helping others that take it. My doctor wants to keep me increasing the dose t 200mgs, however if I feel better on 100 mgs, I want 2 stay on that. Has anyone developed a rash after longterm usage?

Please can you share your experience with me & I hope 2 hear from you soon! Good luck to you & hope all is well with you! Thanks for your response. Hope

[AniManiac]

Originally Posted by hope31

Hi, I am new 2 this forum & I am so glad that I found other people who also take Lamictal! I was super scared after I went online 2 research this drug & saw & read of the horrible rash that some people get, so I was reluctant when my Pdoc suggested 2 me to take it. Long, story short.... It seems like my depression is resistant with the other meds & I did not want 2 try a drug that had dangerous side effects. I have been taking it for about 4wks now & I am still taking the 50mg of the quick dissolve tablets (for dissolving on the tongue). I also take wellbutrin 150mgs twice a day & generic celexa 40mgs. I hope & pray that I can take the Lamictal without getting that rash & I hope it put me in a better place mentally. How are you doing on it & do you feel any different now than you did before you started taking it? How many mgs do you take now or are you still taking it? I just want to get an idea of how it is helping others that take it. My doctor wants to keep me increasing the dose t 200mgs, however if I feel better on 100 mgs, I want 2 stay on that. Has anyone developed a rash after longterm usage?

Please can you share your experience with me & I hope 2 hear from you soon! Good luck to you & hope all is well with you! Thanks for your response. Hope

All meds have potentially dangerous side effects. Some of them just aren't as dramatic as Stevens-Johnson Syndrome!

If you're going to get a rash, it will usually show up in the first 8 weeks. Sometimes people get rashes that aren't dangerous, but if you do, stop right away and call the docs immediately, just in case. A little bit of itching might just be dry winter skin, so try not to get too worried about it unless you actually see a rash, lotion doesn't help, or there's a fever going with it.

Lamictal has been great for me. I'm much more stable and cognitively functional, aside from a little aphasia. I'm at 150mg and that seems to work well for me. The cue for me as to the right dosage was that I would feel great after increasing the dose, but 2 weeks later I'd be depressed again. That happened at every dosage increase until I got to 150mg (plus 300mg Wellbutrin XR), and now things seem to be pretty much fine.

Good luck with it!

[mgran]

It definitely elevated my mood when I first went on it. I'm at a low dose, 100. I've been waiting since APRIL to see a pdoc about my meds, I'm sure they need a tweak, but my doctor is loathe to intervene too much without specialist advice. I'm seeing a pnurse on Tuesday, hopefully she can expedite my seeing a psychiatrist.

It's the only thing that ever helped my mood without sending me manic.