Dosage question

[kaflyboy]

I take 200mg of Lamictal in the AM. This is after my "starter pack" and this dosage has worked well for quite some time (3 months)... I am beginning to feel like i "crash" in the afternoon, around 4pm. I took a 50mg around 3pm one day last week (total of 250 for the day) and it worked, but, i didnt sleep that well... should go to 250 for the whole day, or, do 100 in the AM and 100 around 2pm, or some other combination...???

[AnneMarie]

Kaflyboy, I think you should contact your doctor. Although Lamictal's half-life isn't real clear, the ballbark estimate is 24-36 hours. Also, if it was just a timing issue, you'd probably feel the worst when you woke up until your dose kicked in since that's when it'd be the weakest in your system.

Some people get more AD benefit from Lamictal over 200m. Other's don't so much. Talk it over with you doc. S/he might recommend more Lamictal or talk to you about adding something else.

In the meantime, you can try taking some fish oil. Studies show 1000-2000mg of the EPA ingredient is as effective as 20mg of Prozac, except that fish oil does not make people with bipolar otherwise symptomatic. And, try to get exercise in the morning while you are feeling better. It should help a little with the rest of the day and help you sleep more normally (if you are not already).

Sorry you are feeling low.

[nalgas]

Despite the reasonably long half-life, some people do have better (or at least different) results splitting up when they take it or taking it at a different time of day. Sometimes it helps. Sometimes it makes it hard to fall asleep or wake up. Hard to tell without trying and finding out. If your doctor's ok with it and you can get away with potentially screwing up your schedule a bit, it can be worth trying, or they might have some other ideas for what to do about it.