Posted by SLS on March 14, 2013, at 5:45:39
In reply to Glutamate suppressant » SLS, posted by alexcanada on March 14, 2013, at 1:27:28
Hi AlexCanada.
> Lamictal for me had very positive effect on mood and ability to feel some happiness but I felt progressively more tired and extremely cognitively dull. I felt more stupid by the day.
What dosage of Lamictal are you at?
What other drugs are you taking?
Perhaps lowering the dosage of Lamictal slowly will get rid of the cognitive side effects while retaining its antidepressant effects. Lamictal is a deceptive drug. It can produce fleeting improvements at low dosages as one titrates upward. The tendency is to continue titrating in an attempt to recapture this robust response to the point of developing cognitive impairments. This happened to me. At first, 300 mg/day seemed to be a good dosage. However, problems with memory and "brain-fog" developed. Eventually, I discovered that 200 mg/day was my optimum dose. The thing is, you might experience a temporary rebound depressive reaction if you reduce the dosage too quickly.
> You mention lamictal being a glutamate suppresent. What other meds or substances are glut suppressants?
Minocycline. This old antibiotic was discovered to have an array of effects in the brain, including anti-inflammatory and anti-glutamatergic. Memantine, ketamine, and amantadine, also exert anti-glutamatergic effects localized to the NMDA receptor. Minocycline really works. I take 200 mg/day, which is probably the "sweet spot" for most people.
> -strong melancholic depression, very poor drive, motivation, interest, cognition.
Do you feel worse in the morning with have early morning insomnia? Are you underweight or have poor appetite? How about psychomotor disturbances - agitation or retardation?
How do you respond to TCA (imipramine, desipramine, clomipramine, amitriptyline, nortriptyline)? What about SNRI (Effexor, Pristiq, Cymbalta, Savilla, clomipramine)?
You'll noticed that clomipramine is listed as both a TCA and a SNRI. It is perhaps the most effective antidepressant with the possible exception of a MAOI.
You might consider combining (Effexor or Pristiq) with Wellbutrin + Lamictal. I received some benefit from a combination of Effexor + nortriptyline + Lamictal.
I do best when taking a combination of MAOI + TCA.
Currently, I am taking:
Parnate 80 mg/day
nortriptyline 150 mg/day
Lamictal 200 mg/day
lithium 450 mg/day
Abilify 10 mg/day
minocycline 200 mg/day
prazosin 10 mg/dayThat covers about everything. I know someone with a rather severe depression who benefits from a combination of Lamictal + minocycline + Abilify. She takes no "traditional" antidepressants.
- ScottSome see things as they are and ask why.
I dream of things that never were and ask why not.- George Bernard Shaw
poster:SLS
thread:1022616
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20120530/msgs/1040298.html