Posted by colin wallace on July 31, 2003, at 15:51:26
In reply to Re: Lamictal (lamotrigine) High Doses » maryhelen, posted by Peter S. on July 31, 2003, at 13:04:26
Hi guys,
I've been see-sawing up and down with my Lamictal doses for over a year, with an almost identical reaction to Peter's(we've spoken about this quite a few times before).
I reached 350mg on monotherapy,achieved phenomenal results, but kept experiencing a rapid diminution of the effect, causing instability and breakthrough depression.
I added 20mg Prozac three months or so back(I was previously unable to tolerate any antidepressant)and recaptured the effect, and at this point returned to a 300mg Lamictal dose.
The results have so far been consistent,and get better as the Prozac continues to build on its effects.
I do believe that the Lamictal will again begin to fade at some point, and then I intend to add a small dose of valproate, for two reasons;firstly, it gave me a similar feeling of stability to Lamictal(without any AD effect), and secondly because, as valproate reduces the clearance of lamictal by a half, this means you can get away with taking half your usual dose of Lamictal, and theoretically achieve the same results.
Of course, this assumes you already have a solid response from an antidepressant in place along with the lamictal.
This is just my personal plan of attack, and I may even bring the valproate into play in advance of any Lamictal 'poop out'....just to pre-empt things a little!!Let us know how you go guys, and Pete, I'm sending your girlfriend back to you, as she seemed to have a puncture.... :)
poster:colin wallace
thread:246759
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030728/msgs/247106.html