Posted by alienatari on June 26, 2005, at 2:47:50
In reply to Re: What next? » alienatari, posted by ed_uk on June 25, 2005, at 20:42:16
Thanks Ed *hugs*
I have this website on bipolar that I have been reading about for a long time. It discusses the interactions between lamictal and valproate.
I really hope I dont have to go on Nardil :(
I dont want to stop clomipramine as it is helping me soooo much with my anxiety, and is just starting to help with the OCD (I've been on it for almost 3 months now I think). But it isn't doing anything for my depression :(
Oh yea, the PBS stands for the "Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme". So basically you don't pay full price of any medication that is on it. I also get an extra discount because I have a healthcare card. So say I was on 20mg of Zyprexa per day, that would roughly cost around about $400 per month to the Australian government (going by when I was on it, it might be cheaper now) but you pay roughly only $30 (and about $7 if you have a healthcare card). So to get a medication like this, that is expensive, you need an authoritive script. In Australia only people with Bipolar and Schizophrenia are entitled to this (though many psychiatrists will lie to get their patients the drugs for other reasons, however some wont and will force their patients to pay the full amount which is huge).
Anyway, there is no way my psychatrist (i doubt any would) would lie and say I have epilepsy and need Lamictal for it. It is just on the verge of being put on the PBS, I really hope it goes on it soon. At the moment, the only drugs on the PBS for Bipolar are, Zyprexa, and Valproate, Tegretol and Lithium. But Valproate, Lithium and Tegretol are cheap now.
I have been on many atypical antipsychotics on the PBS that are only for psychosis but I was on them for psychosis, or atleast my doctor "believed" that I was psychotic. I really dont know if I was though. I was when I was manic, or at the end of it atleast. But then again, isnt the very definition of mania a form of psychosis?
So, yea. If I do go on Lamictal I really hope it goes on the PBS and I dont have to get it as a private script
take care
Chris :)
> Hi Alien!
>
> >PBS
>
> What's the PBS?
>
> >As per your email, you were saying I would probably only need 100mg because I am on Valproate right?
>
> Just a guess :-) Valproate interacts with Lamictal so a lower dose might work well. Because of the interaction, you'd have to start Lamictal at an extremely low dose and increase gradually.
>
> >That would cost me about $55 a month.....
>
> Can you affford it? Hope so :-)
>
> >Do you have any other drug suggestions Ed?
>
> If clomipramine doesn't work, I think it would be a good idea to try Nardil.
>
> Love,
>
> ~Ed
>
poster:alienatari
thread:518314
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050622/msgs/519082.html