Posted by BarbaraCat on October 21, 2002, at 20:02:36
In reply to Re: Countering Lamictal Irritability » BarbaraCat, posted by colin wallace on October 16, 2002, at 10:17:04
Hi Colin,
I've learned my lesson about taking my benzos. They seem to be critical to my mental health. I'm now taking lorezapam 3 times a day and the lamictal is working like a charm. Otherwise, the anxiety and dread engulf everything and don't let anything else get through. I'll attempt to stay at this 37.5mg dose because it's just plain working (at least today). One other thing I've been working with is my breathing. Been finding out alot about hyperventilation syndrome, or disrupted over-breathing pattern, and how it knocks the pH balance out of whack. Contributes to every symptom I have, including muscle pain. Theresa Hale has written a book aimed for asthmatics called The 5 Day Breathing Cure, or something like that. Some of it seems a little extreme, but the science behind deficient CO2 hence inefficient Oxygen sound very intriguing. You might want to do a web search on hyperventilation+depression or +anxiety, or what have you, since I know you also have somatic pain and this might be a key. Barbara> > I was doing great on 25mg of Lamictal and then titrated up to my present 50mg. Yuck, irritability, anxiety, fear and body tension. I will drop back down slowly. Thank God for this forum and the knowledge we share. - BarbaraCat
>
> Hi Barbara,
>
> Tricky business trying to find the right 'window'
> for this med ain't it?!
> I find a benzo. (diazepam) very helpful when I increase the lamictal dose, then I reduce it (benzo) when things settle down.
> I suffer with chronic muscle pain/body ache too (not fibromyalgia, just depression related) and plan to add some neurontin when I hit 50mg Lamictal.May help my anxiety too.
>
> Keep well,
>
> Col.
poster:BarbaraCat
thread:123065
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021019/msgs/124584.html