Posted by SLS on July 12, 2000, at 7:44:00
In reply to Lamictal and Neurontin in combination, posted by Opolonio on July 11, 2000, at 23:02:40
Dear Opolonio,
> After almost ten years of trying different combinations of meds, Neurontin was the first one that stopped my mixed episodes.Prior to Lamictal, what else were you taking in combination with Neurontin?
> I had just started to respond to it at 200 mg daily when she refused to raise the dosage.
I need a minimum of 300mg of Lamictal for it to provide me with any improvement. The range for bipolar depression is between 50-300mg, the average being 200mg.
> My problem is this -- since I've started taking the Lamictal the dosage of Neurontin that I'm taking, 600 mg qid is not doing as well as far as keeping me stable. I believe that my Neurontin dosage should be raised as well. I would be interested in any comments.
A few.
1. The NIH recently published a report describing success with the Lamictal + Neurontin combination. Unfortunately, they failed to mention dosages. This combination brought someone diagnosed as bipolar II out of a depression that was not responsive to antidepressants or other mood stabilizers. The combination of medications was more effective than either one by itself.
2. For some people, Lamictal can actually cause mania and rapid-cycling. Of anticonvulsant mood stabilizers, it is the only one that possesses true antidepressant properties. I don't know if these two facts are related.
3. For me, adding Neurontin to Lamictal made me feel worse. After an initial improvement, my depression became worse, and it has left me more unstable, despite having discontinued it a month ago. The residual instability has subsided, though. I had once taken Neurontin without Lamictal, and I don't remember it producing this effect.
Questions:
1. Is depression your main problem, or are manic symptoms also resistant to treatment?
2. Have you ever combined an antidepressant with Neurontin?
3. Have you ever tried Wellbutrin or Parnate?
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:40136
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000708/msgs/40165.html