bp med lamical

[jimgreg]

i read on this drug  for bp deppreshion..is it a good one with very little side affects?? except 3 out of 1,000 people gets the rash then you have to get off of it!!  let me know how your doing on it and how long did it take for you to feel it?? tku  james

[LeftCoastChick]

It's the best drug I have been on so far, and I've been a guinea pig, no side effects what so ever, Im on 250mg/day(you can go higher if needed, I have difficult to treat depression) -  I've reacted badly to to other drugs because my pdoc wanted to augment, then he finally realized I was just fine just taking this MS.  Actually the stats are a little lower then you mentioned. Most pdocs are very conservative and will up you very slowly on the drug @ 25mgs each week. . I was nervous at first, but I was told if nothing had happened by the time I hit 100mgs/day, then chances are little to none. I didn't feel much of an effect until I hit 100mgs, then I swear my brain did a sigh of relief, I rarely get sad, cranky and a little hypomanic yes, depression in it's full form hasn't been around since October when I got up to full dose.

Dearest jimgreg, why aren't you asking your physician/pdoc when you are there for answers, you have the right to ask, if you don't think you'll remember write it down. I've had to do that, and not embarrassed any more about doing so. My memory hasn't been great since my BP got worse last Aug.

[jst4shanell]

I tolerate Lamictal just fine.  My limit is 200mg.  But I have no side effects at all.  I'm not completely responsive to Lamictal so I take it with other MS.

[ILADVOCATE]

I took it without a problem except at much higher doses where it may have worsened mania (which is not uncommon as I was informed) but at standard doses that's not a problem. I didn't have any cognitive side effects or weight gain and not much sedation (many people experience none) and out of all the mood stabilizers it was the most likely to help rapid cycling and also (this is also confirmed) had an antipsychotic effect as well (though it can't replace an antipsychotic). As for the rash (Stephen's Johnson Syndrome) its an incredibly rare allergic reaction to Lamictal. It can happen with other medications. Lamictal just gets the most bad press about it. Its not something to be frightened of considering its rarity. When you start it, if you have any sign of a rash see your doctor asap and if its stopped in time the rash goes away. That's why Lamictal by FDA regulations must be titrated upwards at 25 mg. per week (at least when I was taking it) so it will take a while to build up to a proper dose. And after 6 months the risk goes down. Long term Lamictal has a very good side effect profile as per weight gain and metabolic changes (which basically don't happen) plus there are no blood tests required. Anyway, its a first line FDA approved mood stabilizer and an effective one so if you are allowed to start it I think it makes sense.