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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Tarquinius on January 28, 2009, at 4:14:43
I have been on Lamictal at 200 mg for a month and a half now. I have noticed a strange and extreme increase in my desire for stimulants such as caffeine and nicotine. I can easily down a couple pots of coffee a day, and I am smoking around two packs of cigarettes a day. The strange thing is that this has a tremendous relaxing effect akin to benzos. Has anyone else experienced this? What might the cause be?
Posted by Ceres on January 28, 2009, at 13:55:25
In reply to Lamictal + Caffeine - Relaxing effect, posted by Tarquinius on January 28, 2009, at 4:14:43
Hi, Tarquinius
When I started Lamictal years ago, I had a temporary relaxed feeling.
I don't recall a stimulant connection. But, I've always craved & enjoyed coffee more when starting out relaxed.
The ritual alone of sitting to have hot coffee is so nice (aesthetically & as emotional comfort) when I'm doing okay.Do you think you'd have the same result though if you just added caffeine powder to a soft drink or did a nicotine patch? Maybe it's the nice blend of stimulant high without the jitters & agitation.
I used to do pots of coffee through out the day & sometimes it felt good or barely sustaining, & other times added to storminess.
I don't know if caffeine enhances the effects of certain drugs.
-Glad you're feeling well
Posted by Tarquinius on January 28, 2009, at 21:15:43
In reply to Re: Lamictal + Caffeine - Relaxing effect, posted by Ceres on January 28, 2009, at 13:55:25
> Hi, Tarquinius
>
> When I started Lamictal years ago, I had a temporary relaxed feeling.
> I don't recall a stimulant connection. But, I've always craved & enjoyed coffee more when starting out relaxed.
> The ritual alone of sitting to have hot coffee is so nice (aesthetically & as emotional comfort) when I'm doing okay.
>
> Do you think you'd have the same result though if you just added caffeine powder to a soft drink or did a nicotine patch? Maybe it's the nice blend of stimulant high without the jitters & agitation.
>
> I used to do pots of coffee through out the day & sometimes it felt good or barely sustaining, & other times added to storminess.
>
> I don't know if caffeine enhances the effects of certain drugs.
> -Glad you're feeling wellThose are all good points. Thanks for responding to my post. It does seem to have more of an effect while I have been on Lamictal though. I used to get quite jittery when I drank a lot of coffee before I took the Lamictal. I am curious what effect tea and a patch might have. This really could be psychosomatic. Still, it seems a bit weird.
I should mention I have bipolar II and BPD. maybe something specific about Lamictal and an interaction with the illness. Nonetheless, I have responded better to Lamictal than anything else, and I have been on so many different things over ten years.
Posted by Ceres on January 29, 2009, at 17:00:59
In reply to Re: Lamictal + Caffeine - Relaxing effect » Ceres, posted by Tarquinius on January 28, 2009, at 21:15:43
Oh, black tea..
A friend emailed me an article that claimed black tea increased alertness without adding the jitters.
Well, it has a lot less caffeine than coffee, so maybe that's the reason. I'd experiment, but can't handle the tannins, acids in tea anymore.I thought about trying nicotine to improve my concentration which seems all the worse on Lamictal. I don't want to start smoking, just thought about trying the gum.
Hope Lamictal continues to work well for you.
Posted by desolationrower on January 30, 2009, at 0:19:33
In reply to Re: Lamictal + Caffeine - Relaxing effect, posted by Ceres on January 29, 2009, at 17:00:59
tea has l-theanine in it, and amino acid. it has a few affects but generally is calming. what do you mean you cannot handle the tannic acids? a bit of milk will bind and reduce the astringency. else try a good darjeeling tea, steep for less than a minute.
-d/r
Posted by Ceres on January 30, 2009, at 2:27:59
In reply to Re: Lamictal + Caffeine - Relaxing effect, posted by desolationrower on January 30, 2009, at 0:19:33
Hey, D/R, I was wondering about L-Theanine. Do you know anything about taking it as a supplement?
I was taking an L-Theanine, Melatonin, B-6 combo (Melatonin Plus -Schiff) 3hrs prior to ideal sleep time. I thought it was making me a bit sleep-receptive for a while. But, it burned the heck out of my stomach. Quit it when was up all night throwing up. Not sure if it was the B or the Thea.
I do soymilk in coffee. I guess soy protein might buffer it. But, my understanding is that tannins have an anticholinergic effect. Between the heater & meds, my eyes are sucked dry, so am avoiding them.
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