gaba and lamictal

[elenitadev]

Can you take them at the same time?

[kat4552]

I HAVE BEEN ON LAMICTAL( lamotrigine) (FOR YEARS.  NEVER MESS AROUND WITH THIS DRUG.  IT YOU INCREASE YOUR DOSAGE BY MORE THAN 25MG AT A TIME FOR A WEEK, OR 50MG FOR 2 WEEKS ( AFTER YOU HAVE BEEN ON LAMICTAL FOR SOME TIME AND YOUR DOCTOR FEELS THAT IT IS OK TO INCREASE IT BY 50MG EVERY TWO WEEKS)  YOU CAN HAVE SOME TERRIBLE SIDE EFFECTS.  YOU CAN GET A RASH THAT YOU BETTER GET TO A HOSPITAL RIGHT AWAY.   IT CAN CAUSE DEATH.  ALSO AS I GOT CLOSE TO 200MG MY DOCTOR TOLD ME TO REPORT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I START TAKING 200 MG OF LAMICTAL. WHEN I DID GET TO THAT POINT THE LAMICTAL HAD A WONDERFUL EFFECT ON ME.  IT HELPED ME MORE AFTER I REACHED 200 MG. THAN A LOWER DOSE.  HE WAS ONE OF THE BEST
PSYCHIATRIST IN THE CITY AND WAS VERY UPSET WHEN THE MAKERS OF THIS DRUG SAID PEOPLE COULD TAKE  LOWER DOES THAN 200MG BECAUSE THAT IS WHEN THE EFFECTS REALLY START TO HELP PEOPLE AS A MOOD STABILIZER.     BELOW IS WHAT WAS SAID ABOUT AN OVER DOSE.

Lamotrigine may cause rashes, including serious rashes that may need to be treated in a hospital or cause permanent disability or death. Tell your doctor if you are taking valproic acid (Depakene) or divalproex (Depakote) because taking these medications with lamotrigine may increase your risk of developing a serious rash. Also tell your doctor if you have ever developed a rash after taking lamotrigine or any other medication for epilepsy or if you are allergic to any medications for epilepsy.

Your doctor will start you on low dose of lamotrigine and gradually increase your dose, not more than once every 1 to 2 weeks. You may be more likely to develop a serious rash if you take a higher starting dose or increase your dose faster than your doctor tells you that you should. Your first doses of medication may be packaged in a starter kit that will clearly show you the right amount of medication to take each day during the first 5 weeks of your treatment. This will help you to follow your doctor's instructions as your dose is slowly increased. Be sure to take lamotrigine exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

                                           KATHLEEN  

[opus88]

yes you certainly can. I have been on gabapentin 1800mg (for neuropathic pain) for 5 years now and Lamictal 150mg (lowered from 300mg originally)..for abt 18 months this I take for mood stabilizing.
I have noticed no side effects from either drug alone or combined, except possibly some short term memory problems that may or maynot be related to the lamictal.

[ILADVOCATE]

Yes my mistake if that's what you were speaking about. I was prescribed Neurontin at the same time as Lamictal and I believe I was told by my psychopharmocologist that one enhances the effect of the other. Obviously that would be something to speak to your psychiatrist about but they would be the ones to prescribe it regardless.

[Malaksharif]

Hi,

       i have no personal experience concerning your meds.

but i have suffered lately from some meds interactions side effects which i did not have any idea about, my pdoc was away. i searched the subject of meds interaction on line till i found a very good medical site

                                       www.ehealthme.com

write your meds in the search button in the up middle of the home page and you will have so many links. i have to warn you it is not easy to read,,you have to study it closely with your pdoc, you may print it to discuss it with him/her.

Good Luck

[adel_ezz]

Morning IL

I think she means gabapentin (neurontin). Perhaps only a psychopharmocologist as you sais can answer this. Both are anticonvulsents. I see people combine many AC's together, but upon recommendation from a pdoc naturally

[ILADVOCATE]

If gaba is the natural remedy you are speaking about you would have to ask your psychiatrist or pharmacist and they could do an online search on a physician's only database you would not have access to. I do remember being told by my psychopharmocologist that I could not use GABA because it is clinically similar to Klonopin which I take but I don't know of other interactions but there very well might be some.