New to Lamictal questions

[lewielew3]

i am at the following dosage of lamictal..

.25am

.50pm

now in 3rd week..the night time dose knocks me out, stumbling, blurred vision..i dont get this with am .25--i know you have to be titrated up, what was your next bump on lamictal?

is this common in the begining, i take w/200mg seroquel and 2mg klonopin

does the lamictal work better in higher dosages? pdoc weened me off depakote

i dont feel any relief w/what i am on..i take wellbutrin 150 am, does nothing--

only med that relieved my depresive episodes is effexor xr 225, but it increase my blood pressure and pdoc removed it

any opinions? suggestions of some other cocktail?

dx bp-2 or bp-nos--dont agree w/either dx--seeing new pdoc in 2 weeks-i believe major depressive disorder

lew

[Silver]

Well, you're still taking Depakote, right? This is what it says in your sig.

Therefore, your functional level of Lamictal is twice what it 'should' be. I am not understanding at all why your psychiatrist started you on "orange pack" dosing, when you should be on "blue pack" dosing.

I thought you just started with this psychiatrist. You're switching again? What?

Why not call her, see if you can go back to the last tolerated dose of Lamictal, and hang out at that dose (which, if I read you correctly, was 25 mg BID) for another week or two?

[lewielew3]

Well, you're still taking Depakote, right? This is what it says in your sig.

Therefore, your functional level of Lamictal is twice what it 'should' be. I am not understanding at all why your psychiatrist started you on "orange pack" dosing, when you should be on "blue pack" dosing.

I thought you just started with this psychiatrist. You're switching again? What?

Why not call her, see if you can go back to the last tolerated dose of Lamictal, and hang out at that dose (which, if I read you correctly, was 25 mg BID) for another week or two?

i am weened off depakote-i havent seen the new pdoc (9-23) still with original.

what is the blue and orange pack-? ive taken meds that have made me tired-but none like .50 where i cant stand, blurred vision etc

is 3 weeks long enough to begin to feel improvement-because i dont-and feel the only thing will work is effexor which as i said raises my pressure

[Silver]

The blue and orange packs are the starter kits used; one of the few really good uses for samples. Blue is for people on Depakote, orange is for people not on Depakote. Explained in earlier post.

How long have you been off Depakote? And how long have you been at the 50 mg at bedtime of Lamictal?

3 weeks might NOT be long enough to feel improvement. Lamictal takes a little time.

And, again, I'd call your current psychiatrist and ask if you can go back to 25 mg twice per day and stay there for the time being.

[lewielew3]

The blue and orange packs are the starter kits used; one of the few really good uses for samples. Blue is for people on Depakote, orange is for people not on Depakote. Explained in earlier post.

How long have you been off Depakote? And how long have you been at the 50 mg at bedtime of Lamictal?

3 weeks might NOT be long enough to feel improvement. Lamictal takes a little time.

And, again, I'd call your current psychiatrist and ask if you can go back to 25 mg twice per day and stay there for the time being.

i have been off depakote for 0ne week, and started the .50 pm--this week..so your saying i should be on .25 am and pm? how will that improve my depression if i am staying at same dose? again, it sucks that effexor was/is the only med that lifts my depression. but takes my bp 160/130..way to high and i am already on 3 meds for hbp

to clarify

am--.25 lamitrical--150 wellbutrin (worthless imo)

pm-.50 lamitcal, 200 seroquel, 3mg klonopin

[Silver]

I'm not saying you 'should' be on anything; that's a talk you need to have with your psychiatrist. But if you were tolerating the lower dose, and not the higher dose, the first logical response, if it's an intolerable side effect, is to talk to the prescriber about reducing to the last tolerated dose. That won't help with your depression, it'll just help with your ability to tolerate the drug while it does its thing.

Functionally, though, it shouldn't make a difference; the Depakote plus lower-dose Lamictal should have equalled the dose of Lamictal you're taking now.

Maybe you could call your doctor and ask her about dividing into 25 mg three times per day? If the morning dose isn't gorking you out, that might be the way to go.

I agree that it sucks that you perceive that Effexor was the only helpful drug, but if it's not on your dance card, it's not on your dance card. I loved Tegretol. It suppresses my bone marrow and it makes my skin fall off. So, unfortunately, Lew, we are both going to have drugs we just can't take. I'm sorry.

[lewielew3]

I'm not saying you 'should' be on anything; that's a talk you need to have with your psychiatrist. But if you were tolerating the lower dose, and not the higher dose, the first logical response, if it's an intolerable side effect, is to talk to the prescriber about reducing to the last tolerated dose. That won't help with your depression, it'll just help with your ability to tolerate the drug while it does its thing.

Functionally, though, it shouldn't make a difference; the Depakote plus lower-dose Lamictal should have equalled the dose of Lamictal you're taking now.

Maybe you could call your doctor and ask her about dividing into 25 mg three times per day? If the morning dose isn't gorking you out, that might be the way to go.

I agree that it sucks that you perceive that Effexor was the only helpful drug, but if it's not on your dance card, it's not on your dance card. I loved Tegretol. It suppresses my bone marrow and it makes my skin fall off. So, unfortunately, Lew, we are both going to have drugs we just can't take. I'm sorry.

i am not on depakote any longer but i will call her

thanks for your help