Lamictal

[bpchrisb]

I am BP2 and have been on 200mgs of Lamictal for about 6 months. I tend to rapid cycle; quickly, but since Day 1 of 25 mgs, the mood swings have basically subsided. It was 180 degree turn around even at 25 mgs.

However, right now, I am in the middle of nicotine withdrawals; quitting chewing and snuff. It's been rough, but I am managing. However, since I quite chewing, I have started to hit some deep-depressive episodes that last a few hours every one and a while. They aren't terrible, but they scare me nonetheless.

I talked to my psychiatrist yesterday and kind of ran into an empass; she would like to stick me on Lithium, but I would rather increase the dose of Lamictal. We're riding it out right now; I am on nicotine patches an we want to be completely off of them before making any changes. Any way, the studies say that doses of Lamictal above 200mgs aren't effective, but I am very sensitive to the medications. Again, 25 mgs of the stuff turned me around in a big way. I don't want to mess around with adding another medication if I dont' have to.

So, my question is a two parter:

1. Have any of you BP folks experiences a relapse in symptoms while going through nicotine withdrawals?
2. Have any of you had success with dosages of Lamictal above 200mgs?

[bpchrisb]

The depressive episodes are kind of new to me; when I was cycling a lot, it was always towards the agitated mania side of the disorder.

She's been pushing Lithium off and on over the oast few months; everytime I have a down swing. But, with every increase in Lamictal, my mood stabilizes more and more. If the Lamictal isn't effective as higher doses, then so be it, I'll work with the Lithium. But, I'm not going to pile medication upon medication; I am sensitive enough to the meds that I really do need a miniumum number of them. In fact, getting off of the Klonopin will help in a big way; it makes the down swing worse.

[ILADVOCATE]

I was stable (mood disorder issue, the psychosis only within the past 2 years became completely came under control but I then again I have schizoaffective) with Lamictal at 325 mg. for almost a decade. In higher doses it is true there is the potential of Lamictal creating mania but that didn't happen with me for the whole time I was on it until the end and it was successful until then.