BouncingMind Posted December 4, 2011 Share Posted December 4, 2011 I don't have bipolar. Once i get stable on lamictal for MDD and GAD, which its basically starting to work, i'm curious about combining a stimulant like ritalin or adderall with it. Why? Well, its almost impossible for me to give two shits about anything (at least in a good way). And if you cant care about things, you cant derive pleasure from them. I know lamictal has some weak ass dopamine properties. But still i willl probably need a stimulant. Heres the bad part. Lamictal has anti-manic properties so is it not true it will crush all the effects of a stimulant? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muriel Posted December 4, 2011 Share Posted December 4, 2011 Mania does not equal the effects of stimulant drugs. Sometimes they look similar, but they're not the same at all. Lamictal will not block the action of a stimulant. Many people here take Lamictal with a stimulant, though stimulants are usually not prescribed for anhedonia. Anhedonia (not giving a fuck) is a symptom of depression and is treated with drugs and therapies targeted for depression. Wellbutrin would be a better place to start than Adderall. Most psychiatrists won't prescribe stimulants for depression unless you've tried a lot of medications and combinations. You could ask your doctor about simply raising your dose of Lamictal. Also, if you have GAD, you may not be able to handle a CNS stimulant or even Wellbutrin. They raise anxiety levels, and in someone prone to anxiety, they can make anxiety intolerable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BouncingMind Posted December 5, 2011 Author Share Posted December 5, 2011 well has lamictal helped anyone feel motivated? supposedly it enhances dopamine? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muriel Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 Since anhedonia and amotivation are often symptoms of depression, any antidepressant can help with that. You just have to try and find out. Lamictal can definitely help with that in some people. It's not a symptom tied only to dopamine. That's a very simplistic way of looking at the neurochemistry of depression. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rowan77 Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 "Lamictal has anti-manic properties so is it not true it will crush all the effects of a stimulant?" Lamictal is great for Bipolar ll, especially for depressive episodes, but it doesn't have very strong anti-manic properties http://www.psycheduc...lamotrigine.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notfred Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 I know lamictal has some weak ass dopamine properties. But still i willl probably need a stimulant. Heres the bad part. Lamictal has anti-manic properties so is it not true it will crush all the effects of a stimulant? No. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcjimjam Posted December 21, 2011 Share Posted December 21, 2011 well has lamictal helped anyone feel motivated? supposedly it enhances dopamine? yes, definitely! if it's not helping enough and you have room to go up that's probably a good idea. If I works it's a lot better than adding another drug, especially a stimulant. My understanding is that the actual simulating effect which provides that energy and motivation boost fades as the body becomes tolerant to the drug. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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