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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by oceansun on October 10, 2014, at 0:02:08
I've been taking 400 mg of Lamictal for depression and anxiety for 4 months with good results, but have faced a personal setback. My doctor suggested raising it to 600 mg. Anyone here on 600 mg? I've not gotten any side effects from Lamictal except cognitive issues.
Posted by LouisianaSportsman on October 11, 2014, at 21:43:48
In reply to 600 mg Lamictal for depression + anxiety?, posted by oceansun on October 10, 2014, at 0:02:08
> I've been taking 400 mg of Lamictal for depression and anxiety for 4 months with good results, but have faced a personal setback. My doctor suggested raising it to 600 mg. Anyone here on 600 mg? I've not gotten any side effects from Lamictal except cognitive issues.
That's a rather high dosage but it is utilized for those with neurological disorders. I think lamotrigine is frequently underdosed at the 200mg. benchmark for bipolar disorder. If the 400mg. had benefit and your physician suggested 600mg.-- considering your circumstances require it, I don't see anything wrong with the 600mg. dosage.
But, watch out for aggrandized cognitive effects. Perhaps augmenting memantine with it to offset that would be good for things...
Follow the advise of your doctor.
Posted by oceansun on October 11, 2014, at 22:14:55
In reply to Re: 600 mg Lamictal for depression + anxiety?, posted by LouisianaSportsman on October 11, 2014, at 21:43:48
> > I've been taking 400 mg of Lamictal for depression and anxiety for 4 months with good results, but have faced a personal setback. My doctor suggested raising it to 600 mg. Anyone here on 600 mg? I've not gotten any side effects from Lamictal except cognitive issues.
>
> That's a rather high dosage but it is utilized for those with neurological disorders. I think lamotrigine is frequently underdosed at the 200mg. benchmark for bipolar disorder. If the 400mg. had benefit and your physician suggested 600mg.-- considering your circumstances require it, I don't see anything wrong with the 600mg. dosage.
>
> But, watch out for aggrandized cognitive effects. Perhaps augmenting memantine with it to offset that would be good for things...
>
> Follow the advise of your doctor.Thanks! Does memantine really help with cognitive problems from Lamictal? My memory is shot and I feel less intelligent than before I started it. I tried Deplin and it helped a bit, but made me way too cranky.
Posted by LouisianaSportsman on October 11, 2014, at 22:32:48
In reply to Re: 600 mg Lamictal for depression + anxiety?, posted by oceansun on October 11, 2014, at 22:14:55
> > > I've been taking 400 mg of Lamictal for depression and anxiety for 4 months with good results, but have faced a personal setback. My doctor suggested raising it to 600 mg. Anyone here on 600 mg? I've not gotten any side effects from Lamictal except cognitive issues.
> >
> > That's a rather high dosage but it is utilized for those with neurological disorders. I think lamotrigine is frequently underdosed at the 200mg. benchmark for bipolar disorder. If the 400mg. had benefit and your physician suggested 600mg.-- considering your circumstances require it, I don't see anything wrong with the 600mg. dosage.
> >
> > But, watch out for aggrandized cognitive effects. Perhaps augmenting memantine with it to offset that would be good for things...
> >
> > Follow the advise of your doctor.
>
> Thanks! Does memantine really help with cognitive problems from Lamictal? My memory is shot and I feel less intelligent than before I started it. I tried Deplin and it helped a bit, but made me way too cranky.
>
>Your posts indicate someone who seems rather intelligent.
Methylfolate was a good idea, I might augment it.
Check out
http://www.longecity.org/forum/forum/169-brain-health/
^^ this is the best place to learn about nootropics that may help you with your cognitive functioning, I'm not sure how effective memantine would be, but there are nootropics that are beneficial.
Have you ever tried modafinil for mood/cognitive stimulation?
Posted by Christ_empowered on October 13, 2014, at 15:42:42
In reply to 600 mg Lamictal for depression + anxiety?, posted by oceansun on October 10, 2014, at 0:02:08
I dunno...I'm not a doc, but...couldn't you just add something? I take 1200/Trileptal and 100/Lamictal on top of 30 Abilify for...something, lol (diagnosis changes, or seems to, depending on the shrink).
Anyway, I was just thinking that instead of ramping the Lamictal dose up and up, you could add something to deal with your current problem(s). Even an additional anticonvulsant may not be that big a deal (although I would def. stay away from harsher AEDs like Depakote and Tegretol).
I also take low-dose, PRN neurontin. Do you think gabapentin might help you? Lyrica? That's a fairly tolerable, quick fix. Probably better than a BZD.
Good luck!
Posted by rjlockhart37 on October 13, 2014, at 16:30:14
In reply to 600 mg Lamictal for depression + anxiety?, posted by oceansun on October 10, 2014, at 0:02:08
im on 400mg too, it will cause some cognitive difficulties because it makes you spaced out....too stablized but if your taking it for depression alone, nope, mood swings, yes.....
try it for a while and see how it goes, but it cause some cognitive difficulties in thinking at that high of a dose, im on 400mg....sometimes it's difficult to concentrate
Posted by oceansun on October 15, 2014, at 0:12:16
In reply to Re: 600 mg Lamictal for depression + anxiety?, posted by Christ_empowered on October 13, 2014, at 15:42:42
I'll see how raising the Lamictal goes, but I think adding Trileptal is a great idea. Hopefully it will help with anxiety, I heard it does, along with depression. Next on my list is gabapentin, but I really can't handle the weight gain. I tried it a few times as needed and it knocked me out flat!
> I dunno...I'm not a doc, but...couldn't you just add something? I take 1200/Trileptal and 100/Lamictal on top of 30 Abilify for...something, lol (diagnosis changes, or seems to, depending on the shrink).
>
> Anyway, I was just thinking that instead of ramping the Lamictal dose up and up, you could add something to deal with your current problem(s). Even an additional anticonvulsant may not be that big a deal (although I would def. stay away from harsher AEDs like Depakote and Tegretol).
>
> I also take low-dose, PRN neurontin. Do you think gabapentin might help you? Lyrica? That's a fairly tolerable, quick fix. Probably better than a BZD.
>
> Good luck!
This is the end of the thread.
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