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Member
Member Since Jan 2018
Location: USA
Posts: 101
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#1
Hi, I recently added Lamictal to my medication regimen. I'm taking Tegretol for its anti-manic properties and Lamictal for some lingering depression. For those of you taking Lamictal, did it have more of an antidepressant effect as you raised the dose of it or a mood stabilizing effect?
The reason I ask is that I am experiencing a bit of hypomania at the low dose of Lamictal, which is typical for me with any medication that has a mood lifting effect. So I'm wondering if I raise the dose if that will make the mania better or worse. My doctor usually suggests raising the dose of a medication when I have an adverse effect for some reason, but what I've read online indicates that people who experience hypomania will worsen at higher doses. So, I thought it would be good to hear directly from people taking it. Thanks! |
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Member
Member Since Mar 2020
Location: Michigan
Posts: 126
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#2
For me I don't notice much of an effect from the Lamictal. Maybe that's a good thing. I did notice an effect in the past with Lithium and Depakote. The Lamictal definitely did not help with my depression. Eventually I went on Latuda to help with the Bipolar Depression and it has worked wonders. I still take the Lamictal since I'm doing well and don't want to mess with what's working.
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Crone
Member Since May 2010
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#3
Lamictal has no mood raising property for me, just made me flat.
__________________ Nammu …Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. …... Desiderata Max Ehrmann |
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Poohbah
Member Since May 2018
Location: Toronto, Canada
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#4
Lamictal worked really well for me. My main problem is depression. So it was more of a mood stabilizer for me.
The thing is I was rapid cycling until I reached my target dose. My mood would switch every few hours and it took weeks until I got to the target dose but once I was there things worked out really well. I had to stop it after 4 years of taking it because it was damaging my liver. I suggest you ask your doctor for a liver function test once a year as part of your regular blood work. Better to catch lover damage early instead of late as was my case. __________________ * Dx: Unspecified Bipolar and Related Disorder * Rx: Remeron, Prozac, Klonopin, Vraylar My avatar picture is a photo of the Whirlpool Galaxy I took in April 2023. I dedicated this photo to my sister who passed away in July 2016. |
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catches the flowers
Member Since Jul 2019
Location: Downtown Vibes, California
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#5
The highest dose of Lamictal that I've been on is 425mg. I am currently on 300mg. I tend to have either mixed or more manic moods, but when not on meds I definitely struggle with depression, especially during the darker months.
For me, Lamictal never did much (if anything) for depression. It acts as a mood stabilizer. __________________ |
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Member
Member Since Jan 2018
Location: USA
Posts: 101
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#6
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Thanks for the note about the liver. I knew that was a risk with Tegretol but didn't know about Lamictal. |
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Member
Member Since Jan 2018
Location: USA
Posts: 101
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#7
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catches the flowers
Member Since Jul 2019
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#8
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At the higher dose I felt almost completely flat. No motivation to do much of anything, least of all something creative. The feeling became intolerable. I wasn't really alive, I was existing. When I titrated down on the dose I felt (feel) much more alive. Motivated, thinking. __________________ |
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