Posted by SLS on September 27, 2005, at 10:42:15 [reposted on September 28, 2005, at 5:49:46 | original URL]
In reply to Going off Lamictal, posted by lando68 on September 27, 2005, at 9:32:45
Hi.
It is possible that you will experience a rebound depression along with other withdrawal symptoms from discontinuing Lamictal so abruptly. These symptoms include a small risk of having an epileptic type seizure. You might notice that you experience anxiety, insomnia, and shaking hands. However, these are harmless and pass quickly. The main event that might seem confusing is the appearance of a rebound depression. This is often a withdrawal symptom and not a true relapse. In my experience, rebound depression with Lamictal usually resolves within a week. It could get rough, though. If the depression lasts for more than a week and seems to be getting worse instead of better, you might have to consider restarting the Lamictal. If so, you will need to start at a low dosage and gradually work back up to 200mg in order to prevent the rash reaction.
Keep posting every day so that you might gain insight from others who reply. It might help you decide whether to continue with Lamictal or attempt to discontinue it altogether. One word of caution: although not fully investigated in scientific studies, it is traditional thought that the more gradually you remove an antidepressant or mood-stabilizer, the less likely one is to relapse.
Good luck.
- Scott
-------------------------------------> Hi...about two years ago, I was placed on Lamictal for Bipolar 1 during a tumultuous time in my life...lots of circumstantial ups and downs. The tumult eventually calmed, and I seriously doubt that I was Bipolar 1 to begin with, but was a good little patient and did what he told me. I was originally prescribed the maximum (I believe) dose of 400 mg. I took this amount for about a year, along with a small dose of Prozac. I weaned myself off the Prozac after about a year of being on the Lamictal. No problem. I then waited a month or so and weaned myself down to 200 mg of Lamictal. No problem. I have now been on the 200 dose for about a year.
>
> This medication is insanely expensive. It is, in fact, beyond my budget even though I have very good insurance. In order to stretch my current prescription until I can pay for the next refill I broke my remaining pills down to 175 mg per day. No problems so far, but today was my last dose, and I can't afford to refill until Friday. If I wait until then with no Lamictal, how likely am I to have withdrawal side effects? I called my Dr. to see if he had any sample packets to tide me over, and he doesn't.
poster:SLS
thread:560557
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/wdrawl/20050822/msgs/560558.html