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How fast can you go above 100mg Lamictal? Rate Topic: -----

#1 User is offline   Bueler 

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Posted 19 November 2009 - 10:56 PM

Hi,

I know this is sort of a medical question, so general guidance or personal experiences would be appreciated.

I did the 6 week titration to 100mg Lamictal (yay!), and no rash or any skin conditions whatsoever.

My doctor said I could go to 150mg and then to 200mg. I upped my dose to 150mg yesterday. How soon do you think before I can go to the 200mg dosage?

Thanks!
DX: Bipolar NOS, Social Anxiety Disorder
RX: Lithium Carbonate 750mg, Celexa 40mg, Lamictal 200mg, Wellbutrin 150mg | PRN - Klonopin, Xanax, Seroquel

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#2 User is offline   Heatherta7 

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Posted 19 November 2009 - 11:24 PM

After I finished the starter pack, my pdoc waited two weeks and then increased my dosage to 200. Two weeks later I went up to 300 and so on. The only problems I had was on the starter pack. I got so sick after taking Lamictal. I was throwing up and felt like shit. After I finished the starter pack and my body got used to the medicine, I was fine. Everyone is different though. So that is my personal experience. I really like Lamictal. I haven't had any issues with it. I take that back. I got "Lamictal Acne" from the medicine. I found a great cleanser system that took care of that. Also, the back of my head always itched for some reason. It has ceased now, but I have heard of others having these issues as well. But hey, I will take anything as long as my meds work. Good luck to you!


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Diagnosed with BPD1
Current Meds- Lamictal 400mg, Vyvanse 50mg
Past Meds- Gabitril 1 mg (HATED IT), Paxil, Wellbutrin, Xanax, Prozac, Abilify

#3 User is offline   Stacia 

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Posted 19 November 2009 - 11:31 PM

Most likely you'll increase in two weeks if you and your doc agree to go to 200mg.

This post has been edited by Stacia: 19 November 2009 - 11:31 PM

Dx: Bipolar I, ADD
Rx: Carbatrol 400mg, Lamictal 250mg, Risperidone 1.5mg, Adderall XR 25mg, blood pressure meds, other stuff PRN.
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#4 User is offline   nalgas 

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Posted 20 November 2009 - 03:56 AM

Like everyone else has been saying, the usual route with Lamictal is to wait two weeks between changes in dosage, whether increasing or decreasing it. It seems to reduce the chance of side effect occurrence significantly compared to going faster. The one major exception is reducing/stopping it more quickly because of a major adverse reaction, like The Rash.

#5 User is offline   Persephone 

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Posted 20 November 2009 - 09:08 PM

I have an aggressive pdoc, so I went up by 50 mg a week until I reached 250 mg. I did feel like crap though - migraines, sore joints, bad fatigue - but I didn't get any rashes so I guess it's ok.
Dx: MDD, history of anorexia and bulimia
Rx: Effexor 300mg, Trazodone 100 mg
Past Rx:
SSRIs: Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, Lexapro
SNRIs: Effexor, Cymbalta
other ADs: Serzone, Wellbutrin, Remeron
MAOIs: Parnate, Nardil
Mood Stabilizers: Abilify, Lithium, Lamictal
Other: Cytomel, several sleep meds

#6 User is offline   Bueler 

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Posted 25 November 2009 - 07:06 PM

Just an update... I've been on 200mg for 3 days now. No physical side effects. I do feel excessively depressed though. I think I'm still getting used to the dose... hopefully this doesn't last long. Above all, no rash or itching :)

Edit: I got 90 200mg Lamictal tablets from Costco for $12.

This post has been edited by Bueler: 25 November 2009 - 07:06 PM

DX: Bipolar NOS, Social Anxiety Disorder
RX: Lithium Carbonate 750mg, Celexa 40mg, Lamictal 200mg, Wellbutrin 150mg | PRN - Klonopin, Xanax, Seroquel

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#7 User is online   danceintherain 

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Posted 25 November 2009 - 07:15 PM

View PostBueler, on 25 November 2009 - 07:06 PM, said:

Just an update... I've been on 200mg for 3 days now. No physical side effects. I do feel excessively depressed though. I think I'm still getting used to the dose... hopefully this doesn't last long. Above all, no rash or itching Posted Image

Edit: I got 90 200mg Lamictal tablets from Costco for $12.


I'm glad you're side effect free...that's great. That said, I hope it kicks in to help with the depression ASAP, since that's presumably the goal behind taking it!
probably bipolar NOS. possibly adjustment disorder w/ mixed mood and anxiety components or MDD w/ anxiety. still a dx in progress, I guess. Some trauma elements.

current RXs: Effexor (150 mg), Ativan (0.5 mg daily; lorazepam), Lamictal (250 mg; lamotrigine); Halcion (triazolam); levothyroxine (75 mcg) and
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Past Rxs: zoloft (like a sugar pill); lexapro (hit an anxiety/akathesia problem); wellbutrin; seroquel; ambien; risperdal

#8 User is offline   Bueler 

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Posted 30 November 2009 - 09:12 PM

5 days later... I don't really feel depressed anymore (or manic)... how nice is that? :)

Now I just hope it stays that way...
DX: Bipolar NOS, Social Anxiety Disorder
RX: Lithium Carbonate 750mg, Celexa 40mg, Lamictal 200mg, Wellbutrin 150mg | PRN - Klonopin, Xanax, Seroquel

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#9 User is online   danceintherain 

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Posted 30 November 2009 - 09:36 PM

View PostBueler, on 30 November 2009 - 09:12 PM, said:

5 days later... I don't really feel depressed anymore (or manic)... how nice is that? Posted Image

Now I just hope it stays that way...


I hope it stays that way as well. 200 is a great threshold for a lot of people, though people go higher. If it doesn't hang around, that's always an option.
probably bipolar NOS. possibly adjustment disorder w/ mixed mood and anxiety components or MDD w/ anxiety. still a dx in progress, I guess. Some trauma elements.

current RXs: Effexor (150 mg), Ativan (0.5 mg daily; lorazepam), Lamictal (250 mg; lamotrigine); Halcion (triazolam); levothyroxine (75 mcg) and
birth control.

Past Rxs: zoloft (like a sugar pill); lexapro (hit an anxiety/akathesia problem); wellbutrin; seroquel; ambien; risperdal



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