Posted by helpme on July 9, 2006, at 13:04:28
In reply to Really unsure about Lamictal, posted by madeline on May 23, 2006, at 15:28:15
I was on lamictal for a year or two and hated it. I feel that it dampened my mood- I think "stabilized" turned into "no more up", just "down". I felt as if it prevented any improvement of my depression-but that is only my personal impression, and my doc was a tad skeptical about it.I also noticed myself getting "dumb" and confused while on it- even speculated I was developing early alzheimers, at age 33!! My creativity shrivelled, motivation out, etc. I also got a lot of nausea and headache.
Eventually the doctor agreed it wasn't helping me, and we tapered it away. I actually DO feel much clearer now and no longer feel that I am turning stupid. My creativity is returning also.
I should add, I have unipolar depression problem- no manic episodes at all, ever.
I hear lamictal has helped many people- but not me.
If prozac is still working for you, why on earth would you mess with it???? I find this pharmacology thing to be maddening, so if you have something that works, I just can't understand why you'd mess around. I took prozac for a decade- it was fantastic at first, but gradually "pooped out", and now no seratonin drug works for me, and most everything else is dicey or ineffective as well. It's gotten awfully tricky.
> My doc has suggested that lamictal may help me. However, I find myself in quite a quandry over it. I'm not sure if I need a mood stabilizer.
>
> Yes, I have times when the bottom just falls out and I get "psychotic", but I can function, so far it hasn't landed me in the hospital. I think I am just more frightened by these episodes than anything else.
>
> I've been on Prozac for 8 years, and he wants to taper me off that and switch to lamictal. I will admit, being off Prozac scares me. I remember how I felt before I started and I NEVER want to go back to that.
>
> Does anyone have any thoughts on this that they would like to share? Has anyone gotten Stevens-Johnsons syndrome? Did you get relief?
>
> I really really just don't know what to tell him I want.
>
> Maddie
poster:helpme
thread:647374
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060709/msgs/665459.html