[Hellion]

I've gotten a new prescription called lamotrigine, and I don't know anything whatsoever about it. Probably am going to do a bit of research before I try it...but my psychatrist prescribed it to help the depression, since a bunch of others I've tried have not helped and just make me more anxious.

I suppose I am always nervous about how new meds to try will effect me as many have not worked or made stuff worse/caused problems of their own.

Anyways has anyone tried this for depression or anything else? based on the info on the little paper with drug info it came with its got multiple uses. Or has anyone heard of it?

[ChangingMyMind]

Yeah, it's name brand is Lamictal. I was prescribed it but couldn't bring myself to try it since I get so many side effects to most drugs. I was afraid of the rash. I have heard many people say they have no side effects on it at all, but for me I am so prone to side effects that it worries me. Let me know if you take it and how it goes.

[Altered Moment]

I take it. I started taking it two months before I switched AD's so we could see how it by itself did. Within two weeks I noticed a big elevation in mood but didn't help with any of the other symptoms I was having. I was very deep in it at the time. I think it has helped and I have had no side effects. I have heard it is very clean as far as side effects go. If you get the rash stop it right away. That is the biggest problem with it but is rather rare.

I am not totally clear if I am taking it for bi polar II or as an augmenter for depression. I think the latter but I need to ask my doc.

It wasn't until I switched to Fetzima after starting lamictal that I came fully out of that very deep depression.

It is pretty popular with pdocs these days.

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[~Christina]

I have been on it for numerous years ..yes there is a small chance of the SJS rash.. But so very small and taking it exactly as prescribed is very important.

For me its a background med that works on depression. I have Bipolar I It took me about 3 months to actually be able to notice that it was working for me.

[turtleman59]

Excellent med. no side effects. Much safer than lithium. Good luck

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[Hellion]

I suppose I find it weird she prescribed it for major depression...since most info says its mostly used for epilepsy and bi-polar which I've not been diagnosed with, but mentioned other uses including major depression. Also I guess she thought it might have a lesser chance of increasing my anxiety and causing things like teeth grinding like the celexa I last tried did.

If she had prescribed lithium I doubt I would try it, but don't know if that is ever prescribed for major depression or not either way I haven't heard good things about that one.

[Altered Moment]

Both lamictal and lithium are prescribed as augmenters for depression. Off label in both cases. Lamictal is much safer than lithium.

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[turtleman59]

I take cymbalta and Lamictal. I need an antidepressant of some form.

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[Hellion]

Originally Posted by zinco14532323

Both lamictal and lithium are prescribed as augmenters for depression. Off label in both cases. Lamictal is much safer than lithium.

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what is an augmenter?...it is a term I have not heard before, but either way safer is better though the rash condition concerns me but if I experience any symptoms of that I'll address it immediately...but there is a very small chance of getting that so not too horribly worried.

[Altered Moment]

An augmenter means it enhances the effects of the anti depressant you are already taking. They somehow discovered that the anti convulsants like lamictal, tegretol, and depakote acted as mood stabilizers, meaning they prevent people from going manic. Then somehow they discovered that somehow lamictal, lithium, and abilify can enhance the anti depressant effects of the usual AD's we take. Used to be that they would combine two anti depressants one at a lower dose to augment the effects of the other. For a long time I took Effexor at a normal dose and celexa at a low dose and it worked pretty good until the Effexor pooped. I haven't read all the studies and chemistry but I suspect they discover these things through clinical use and trial and error just like all of medicine. Like you said another experiment. Lamactil with an AD is pretty common now and I think docs like lamictal because of the low side effect profile. I wouldn't worry to much. The main thing is how much it helps you but you have to give it some time.

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[Hellion]

^I am not taking any anti-depressant though last one was celexa which I stopped and have not gotten prescribed any others, just the lamictal as of today and the usual valium as needed for anxiety and trazodone to help get me to sleep.

Either way I would have to give it a while to see if it makes any difference I guess. But if its not known to be useful by itself for depression in any studies or anything, not sure what the point of prescribing it was.

[ChangingMyMind]

Hellion, I'm right there with you. I saw a pdoc who prescribed me with lamictal alone for depression. He said it is used for depression alone sometimes but I haven't come across anybody with depression just on lamictal.

[Altered Moment]

That doesn't make sense to me then. There has been someone on here saying that lamictal at higher doses, like 200 or 300 mg, had antidepressant effects. I don't know though and have not tried to look it up. I would have some questions for the doc.

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[~Christina]

Lamictal is classified as a mood stabilizer ... In Bipolar in often works in the background against depression. So it makes sense to try it for someone that is depressed and maybe is med resistant , I dont know if that would apply to you .. just a thought.

[Hellion]

Originally Posted by zinco14532323

That doesn't make sense to me then. There has been someone on here saying that lamictal at higher doses, like 200 or 300 mg, had antidepressant effects. I don't know though and have not tried to look it up. I would have some questions for the doc.

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Hmm I was starting at 25 and going up to 100mg, if it doesn't cause any problems...but yeah wont be meeting with the psychiatrist for a couple months.

[Hellion]

Originally Posted by ~Christina

Lamictal is classified as a mood stabilizer ... In Bipolar in often works in the background against depression. So it makes sense to try it for someone that is depressed and maybe is med resistant , I dont know if that would apply to you .. just a thought.

That could be, and thus far it seems a lot of depression meds are ineffective for me...but this one could be ineffective to.

Or this is probably very unlikely but what if they think I somehow have bi-polar even though I don't think I have the symptoms for that, mainly I've never had a maniac episode and the most my mood fluctuates is feeling ok with depressoin in the back of my mind....to severely depressed the severely depressed phase comes and goes but i'd think I'd need a more extreme fluctuation and at least one maniac episode of some kind for that to have any chance of that fitting. But I'd think if they thought that they'd just be more up front about it as that would be easier than prescribing me a med used to treat it and then based on if it works or not changing the diagnoses so unlikely, more likely that because I don't seem to react well to anti-depressants the psychatirst is having me try it based on some limited evidence it helps some cases of major depression for people who aren't helped by more obvious meds for depression.

[~Christina]

I honestly wouldnt be too concerned about a change in diagnosis at this point .. Doesnt sound like you have a bipolar issue .. The thing about psych meds are many are used for all kinds of reasons/symptoms ...

Make sure you verify the starting dose and the titrating doses .

Hopefully this med will help life the depression

[ChangingMyMind]

Originally Posted by Hellion

That could be, and thus far it seems a lot of depression meds are ineffective for me...but this one could be ineffective to.

Or this is probably very unlikely but what if they think I somehow have bi-polar even though I don't think I have the symptoms for that, mainly I've never had a maniac episode and the most my mood fluctuates is feeling ok with depressoin in the back of my mind....to severely depressed the severely depressed phase comes and goes but i'd think I'd need a more extreme fluctuation and at least one maniac episode of some kind for that to have any chance of that fitting. But I'd think if they thought that they'd just be more up front about it as that would be easier than prescribing me a med used to treat it and then based on if it works or not changing the diagnoses so unlikely, more likely that because I don't seem to react well to anti-depressants the psychatirst is having me try it based on some limited evidence it helps some cases of major depression for people who aren't helped by more obvious meds for depression.

I say it's probably unlikely. Pdocs seem to be prescribing Lamictal for depression a lot from what I've seen. Personally, I had a total of 4 doctors suggest it to me, 3 were Pdocs and one my primary care doc. They say it's been effective for depression. Although I still have yet to come across somebody on Lamictal alone. Even for bipolar they seem to be on an AD as well.

So for me it defeats the purpose because I have a lot of side effects to meds in general. So if I were to add Lamictal to an AD it would be unnecessary because ADs work all on their own for my depression if I can tolerate the side effects. Which so far, I can't.

For you if you just don't see efficiency but don't get side effects either maybe it's a good idea to augment or maybe they think you can use it alone. Never know until you try.

Best of luck!

Originally Posted by ~Christina

Lamictal is classified as a mood stabilizer ... In Bipolar in often works in the background against depression. So it makes sense to try it for someone that is depressed and maybe is med resistant , I dont know if that would apply to you .. just a thought.

Yes ^^^^^

[Altered Moment]

If it is by itself for depression alone the dose should be higher. Doesn't sound at all like Hellion is bi polar. Seems to me like an AD with it would be in order.

Hellion don't be afraid to ask lots of questions. You have a say in your treatment and at least have a right to know the reasoning. Even if you don't have an appointment soon call them up.

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[~Christina]

Heres the thing with lamictal doses .. There really isnt a "set dose" especially when its an add on med.

... Example .. I am BP and I started on it and decided to just hold at 150 mg ... it works well . I am happy with it. .....My Daughter is BP also .. She started out hit 75 mg and is fine and happy with it.. So there really isnt a Magic golden mg number ..

In general Lamictal isnt a "fast mover" takes a month or so to really notice a change.

[Hellion]

Originally Posted by zinco14532323

If it is by itself for depression alone the dose should be higher. Doesn't sound at all like Hellion is bi polar. Seems to me like an AD with it would be in order.

Hellion don't be afraid to ask lots of questions. You have a say in your treatment and at least have a right to know the reasoning. Even if you don't have an appointment soon call them up.

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I don't know I haven't reacted well to any anti-depressants, so not sure what the point of trying to add one would be...but yeah I know I can call with any questions, will do so if anything specific comes to mind.

[vans1974]

Originally Posted by Hellion

I've gotten a new prescription called lamotrigine, and I don't know anything whatsoever about it. Probably am going to do a bit of research before I try it...but my psychatrist prescribed it to help the depression, since a bunch of others I've tried have not helped and just make me more anxious.

I suppose I am always nervous about how new meds to try will effect me as many have not worked or made stuff worse/caused problems of their own.

Anyways has anyone tried this for depression or anything else? based on the info on the little paper with drug info it came with its got multiple uses. Or has anyone heard of it?

Lamictal is an old anti-convulsant for mood stability for bipolar disorder. For it to have anti-depressant properties, the dose has to be at 600mg, which is what I take. I've been on Lamictal for over 10 years and love it. It works great with no side effects, and is weight neutral...best of luck!

[Hellion]

Originally Posted by vans1974

Lamictal is an old anti-convulsant for mood stability for bipolar disorder. For it to have anti-depressant properties, the dose has to be at 600mg, which is what I take. I've been on Lamictal for over 10 years and love it. It works great with no side effects, and is weight neutral...best of luck!

600mg sounds like a lot, and my psychatrist prescribed me to start with 25mg for two weeks, then go up to 50mg for two weeks than 100mg...and to be honest even that sounds like kind of a lot to me but plan to give it a go unless any unbearable side effects come up....but if 600mg is needed for it to help depression for everyone I guess it likely wont do anything for me except maybe make me feel a bit more relaxed since its an anti-convulsant and they do that.

But yeah I also currently weigh like 88 pounds, usually its more around 92-95 pounds...but yeah she said the 100mg could make me tired at first so worried if I had to take a whole 600mg I'd just sit there and drool or something but I figure there is some reason she thought 100mg would be helpful. I've taken it 3 days would be four but I forgot it yesterday and so far no real side effects, I thought it was causing me a headache first couple days but came to the conclusion not sleeping enough and being kinda stressed/tense gave me the headace after I got some sleep it helped so don't think it was the medication.

[Hellion]

Uhh and another thing that kinda bothers me, not about trying the med...at this point my depression really is destroying my will to live so open to any options of potential relief so in my mind I am trying a drug to help, if it doesn't help then I can quit it....at worst if I have a bad psychological reaction I end up in the psych ward to get that cleared up.

But I haven't even told anyone I know that I was prescribed it or started taking it..they don't exactly like the idea of psych meds too much, I mean they all know I have valium for anxiety...but if I say I am taking something for the depression like a daily pill not such a great reaction. They think I should just use cannabis(which if I put the effort into it could probably get a MMJ card though its legal now anyways), which would be great(since its a plant and has minimal side effects on the body) except I cannot afford a consistent supply to effectively alleviate symptoms....so that kinda leaves me having to be open minded to other things to help the symptoms. I mean granted I agree I should not try any other SSRIs since I already know I don't react well, but that is SSRIs this is a totally different thing.

I guess some of my family and stuff worry I'll get sucked into the ignorant masses, and be overly trusting of the system and what not...but I don't see all that happening just over trying a medication. But then of course if I react badly to it it seems they sometimes think 'well why did you go and try another one of their meds, when that happened the last time.'

Bla this is what happens when we have a society that cannot openly address things like recreational drug use, drug abuse, using medication/drugs for symptoms, issues associated with companies and some doctors pushing certain meds for profit reasons rather than it being the best medication for that person, self medication and all of that.