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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by garyengelm on December 14, 2007, at 16:12:55
I'm 39 y.o. and have suffered from periodic panic attacks since age 18, but they never interfered with my work as an RN x 14 years. After my brother passed away last Dec. 2006, I started getting GAD with terrible depression. I attributed the depression to losing my best friend in the world who was just 39 himself at the time. I had been taking Serzone 400mg/day klonopin 1mg bid, and metoprolol 12.5mg bid prior to his death, as I would get the situational panic attacks since age 18. The combo of meds worked well, but after my brother died, everything crashed.
I can't tolerate SSRI's, could be the Serzone being too much, but even just 1.25mg of Lexapro puts me into a Serotonin like Syndrome, mostly flu like symptoms, but not the typical stuff that goes away in 3 weeks, it's much worse and more severe.
My pdoc is a psychopharmacologist and started me on 25mg of Lamictal about 7 days ago. My depression is like gone, and that is great, but my Anxiety has gotten worse, way worse. I start trembling sometimes, and tapping my feet while seated in a chair. My pdoc wants to add a spec of Abilify for this, but said to try some Xanax first. I have Xanax for prn use, but the sedation I use to get from it, isn't there. It's like it doesn't do squat for the anxiety. I was taking like 0.5mg/day for a while, and now up to 1mg/day, but it still isn't helping much with the anxiety.
I'm not having panic attacks, and I'm not worrying about anything. I have read that Lamictal can cause anxiety, but I'm only at 25mg and my goal is to get up to at least 100mg. I'm scared if I taper up, the anxiety will get even worse. I have no signs of mania at all. I think the diagnosis might be right (Bipolar II) after reading the information at psycheducation.org. It's like me to a T. I don't think this is a co-morbid condition, so I'm asking anyone out there if this anxiety will go away, or is this gonna stay with me. I'm pretty sensatie to meds, but besides the anxiety, I've had only slight nausea and some diarrhea, and NO rash. Any thoughts or help would be greatly appreciated.
Gary **** BSN, RN
Posted by oldschool305 on December 14, 2007, at 16:54:40
In reply to Lamictal giving my intense Anxiety.Does is go away, posted by garyengelm on December 14, 2007, at 16:12:55
Darn, I am thinking of starting Lamictal myself and also suffer with anxiety/panic disorder. The Lexapro has really helped my anxiety and panic attacks, pretty much diminished the panic attacks entirely!!!! However, at only 5mg it makes me very sleepy so I take it at nighttime before bed. Have you tried taking it before bed? Even break it into 4 quarters and take only 2.5mg before bed, it really helped me and I have tried almost EVERY SSRI on the market which gave me horrendous side effects.
I was also on Serzone for years and that worked wonders for me. Due to some black box warning and possible liver failure, my doc took me off of it immediately =( Too bad, that stuff really helped the panic attacks.
I tried Lamictal for one week, honestly, I felt nothing, good or bad. 25mg one week though, is not enough time so I will give it another shot and still take the Lexapro before bedtime.
Are you currently taking Lamictal by itself, or with Serzone? I also heard that lamictal could cause anxiety so I would definately want to take it with something else to help the anxiety. Xanax is great, PRN. However, it is so addicting and I have a history with substance abuse so that's not an option. If you don't have a history, xanax is perfect (but can cause depression!!!!!).
So my two cents is take the Lamictal with an anti-depressant with anti-anxiety properties (like lexapro, serzone). And keep a bottle of xanax in your pocket in case of an emergency =O
Hopefully someone with more experience on Lamictal can offer better advice, I have only one week experience with it like yourself. Good luck!
Posted by Phillipa on December 14, 2007, at 20:01:04
In reply to Re: Lamictal giving my intense Anxiety.Does is go away, posted by oldschool305 on December 14, 2007, at 16:54:40
It didn't give me anxiety at all took it at bedtime but also on valium. Serzone is antihistamine type med so that might help. Stick with the lamictal would have loved to. Phillipa
Posted by linkadge on December 14, 2007, at 21:17:12
In reply to Re: Lamictal giving my intense Anxiety.Does is go away » oldschool305, posted by Phillipa on December 14, 2007, at 20:01:04
I didn't have much sucess with lamictal. I took it for a few weeks but the agitated feeling was too much. I had better sucess with tegretol, which is a solid drug, no bells and whistles though.
Linkadge
Posted by Greenmtn on December 16, 2007, at 9:01:04
In reply to Re: Lamictal giving my intense Anxiety.Does is go away, posted by linkadge on December 14, 2007, at 21:17:12
I have been taking Lamictal for 5 months, very slowly titrating up to 200 mg. (100mg AM & PM) I have always had slight tremor however tremor has worsened alot and has not improved. On the plus side I really think this is helping my depression (as well as mood stabilization) at this dose along with other AD's.
This is the end of the thread.
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