![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Bonnie_CA on July 27, 2007, at 12:18:48
I visited my pdoc about an hour ago. My meds are staying the same (200 of Lamictal, 10 mg of Lexapro, .25 mg of xanax as needed). He says that the inability to sleep and lingering anxiety is most probably caused by the Lamictal. He wants to try taking me off of Lexapro eventually, and just have me take Lamictal and xanax. He said it's because with BP, SSRIs can cause the mood to shift upward too much, causing hypomania. Maybe with a slow taper I could have less anxiety with Lamictal alone? I'll try it, especially since this guy isn't just throwing drugs at me and sending me on my way. He's not having me do it yet, because he wants me to just be stable for awhile. I haven't had any complaints with how well it is working. I've been figuring out the little kinks, like how Lamictal just TEARS up my stomach (I take it in the morning with a glass of Ovaltine), so I didn't have any desire to get off of it. I had a post earlier about trying a sleeping aid. He gave me a script for ambien, if that doesn't work out for me, I can call in and he'll give me trazadone, and then seroquel. At least he's got something lined up in case things don't work out. I really like this guy. He also commends that I take the time to research my drugs and drug choices. It makes me an informed consumer! He also isn't benzophobic. He thinks that I use xanax wisely, and he perfectly okay with giving me a prescription for it (with refills even!). I actually kinda wouldn't mind getting off of Lexapro, just so maybe I can drop this SSRI weight! Lamictal apparently isn't a drug that puts on weight, but I'm sure everyone is different.
As usual, wait 'n' see.
-Bonnie
Posted by Phillipa on July 27, 2007, at 12:26:14
In reply to My pdoc makes a lot of sense., posted by Bonnie_CA on July 27, 2007, at 12:18:48
Confused are you saying your borderline or bipolar? And that lamictal will take care of depression and lower anxiety without lexapro? Wonder if trileptal would do the same? Love Phillipa
Posted by Bonnie_CA on July 28, 2007, at 1:37:04
In reply to Re: My pdoc makes a lot of sense. » Bonnie_CA, posted by Phillipa on July 27, 2007, at 12:26:14
> Confused are you saying your borderline or bipolar? And that lamictal will take care of depression and lower anxiety without lexapro? Wonder if trileptal would do the same? Love Phillipa
I have bipolar II, rapid cycling. I don't think he is discounting my original dx of GAD. Yes, Lamictal has an antidepressant effect, which has worked better than any SSRI I ever took. I still got depressed on SSRIs alone, but my anxiety (which was my primary complaint, since it caused physical symptoms) was mostly controlled. But, as the BP developed fully (I'm 27), SSRIs didn't cut it without a benzo. Lamictal has stablized my moods and I didn't know what it was like to not be depressed, which is why I never thought I was depressed! It only helps the panic part of my anxiety, because it prevents me from becoming hypomanic, which seemed to lead to panic attacks on occasion. But, I still have occasional physical symptoms of anxiety, and a small amount of benzo takes care of those problems, so he's thinking taking me off the Lexapro might straighten things out since SSRIs can cause slight mania in BP. Lamictal does cause slight anxiety, but again, the xanax takes care of that. I know you had that salivation thing on Lamictal, but it has been nothing but awesome for me. Well, except the sleep thing. But hopefully that can be fixed too.
-Bonnie
Posted by Phillipa on July 28, 2007, at 19:55:12
In reply to Re: My pdoc makes a lot of sense. » Phillipa, posted by Bonnie_CA on July 28, 2007, at 1:37:04
And that was the only negative reaction. But it made life miserable and couldn't be around people. sometimes I wonder if deep inside I feared the drug hence tha salivation. But did try it twice. I'd do it again if it wouldn't happen or would go away. Love Phillipa
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.