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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by blueboy on June 9, 2008, at 7:39:47
After my diagnosis of Bipolar II, my pdoc started me on lamotrigine. I took 2 weeks at 25mg and I just started 50 mg per day.
He indicated that most of his patients who use it stay at 50 mg per day, although one of them gets sufficient effect at 25 mg and doesn't want to increase.
Then I hear online a lot of people taking like 200-300 mg per day!
Does anyone have any insight on this? I know dosages can be higher for epileptic problems, I'm just talking about lamotrigine taken to treat Bipolar II.
Posted by dbc on June 9, 2008, at 7:54:06
In reply to Lamictal dosage, posted by blueboy on June 9, 2008, at 7:39:47
Its different for every person, there are some that only take 50mg but most hover between 200 - 300. Im prescribed 400 which is about as high as it goes.
Posted by NewHampshireGuy on June 9, 2008, at 8:42:03
In reply to Lamictal dosage, posted by blueboy on June 9, 2008, at 7:39:47
I have been taking 25 mg for about a week now and it worked wonders on stabilizing my mood.
I literally felt better the first and second time I took a pill, surprisingly
I personally am going to ask to stay at 25mg since I got such an affect. I do not want to take more than I need or risk being over stimulated because I am chemically sensitive
Posted by llurpsienoodle on June 9, 2008, at 9:51:45
In reply to Re: Lamictal dosage, posted by NewHampshireGuy on June 9, 2008, at 8:42:03
hi,
I'm on lamictal for AD and moodstabilizing properties of this drug. I take 300mg, and didn't feel much of an effect until I was at 150mg, but my taper up was rapid, so I didn't really spend much time at the lower doses. bipolar II. yep-Ll
Posted by Phillipa on June 9, 2008, at 10:26:55
In reply to Re: Lamictal dosage, posted by llurpsienoodle on June 9, 2008, at 9:51:45
Most come with a starter kit that is 25mg for two weeks, then 50mg for two weeks, then l00mg and don't know how it works after that only got to 50mg and then taken off cause of excessive salivation. Good luck Phillipa
Posted by Horned One on June 9, 2008, at 10:40:51
In reply to Lamictal dosage, posted by blueboy on June 9, 2008, at 7:39:47
I take 100mg lamotrigine for Bipolar I. I've tried going uo to 150mg, but I get blurred vision and my concentration goes out of the window. I'm sticking at 100mg for now, but I used to take 200mg when I first took it four years ago.
-Horny
Posted by elbee on June 9, 2008, at 12:37:33
In reply to Lamictal dosage, posted by blueboy on June 9, 2008, at 7:39:47
I take 400 for bipolar I. I don't know anything about low doses. I also was under the impression that average doses are 200-400.
Hope it helps!
Posted by dbc on June 9, 2008, at 14:07:39
In reply to Re: Lamictal dosage, posted by NewHampshireGuy on June 9, 2008, at 8:42:03
> I literally felt better the first and second time I took a pill, surprisingly
>Unfortunately, the activating effect goes away after being stable on a dose for a little bit and then you bump the dose etc etc. It drags on, everyone feels that initial activating energy and anti depressant stuff almost immediately (most people, for some the drugs a placebo odd).
Posted by NewHampshireGuy on June 10, 2008, at 8:16:26
In reply to Re: Lamictal dosage NewHampshireGuy, posted by dbc on June 9, 2008, at 14:07:39
Interesting dbc, thanks. although I would say it was more of a DE-activating feeling
it brought me back down to earth, stabilized my energy and emotions and killed the loads of energy I had (way too much, like wired on 4 cups of coffee). I actually feel like my normal self about 5 years ago before all this happenend. no more feeling of constant "300mph torrential outpour blues" as Jack White of the White Stripes would say, pretty sure he is bipolar too
def not more energy or any antidepressant feeling really, just more a feeling of normalness
I have tried lots of meds and was almost ready to give up hope, but surprisingly Lamictal almost has me a believer. now if it can only rebalance me to sleep normally! ;)
Posted by blueboy on June 11, 2008, at 7:58:09
In reply to Re: Lamictal dosage NewHampshireGuy, posted by NewHampshireGuy on June 10, 2008, at 8:16:26
> Interesting dbc, thanks. although I would say it was more of a DE-activating feeling
>
> it brought me back down to earth, stabilized my energy and emotions and killed the loads of energy I had (way too much, like wired on 4 cups of coffee). I actually feel like my normal self about 5 years ago before all this happenend.Thanks for the post. I was really starting to lose all hope.
Actually, I'm cautious about giving credit to a drug, since I (and I think a majority of BP II people) naturally have periods of spontaneous remission. But it's nice to hear that the drug is actually helping someone :)
Posted by Peter S. on June 11, 2008, at 23:51:18
In reply to Re: Lamictal dosage NewHampshireGuy, posted by NewHampshireGuy on June 10, 2008, at 8:16:26
I've been taking Lamictal at 25mg for years and haven't lost the anti-depressant effect that lasts for about 5-6 hours
Posted by garylee on June 13, 2008, at 16:30:03
In reply to Lamictal dosage, posted by blueboy on June 9, 2008, at 7:39:47
> After my diagnosis of Bipolar II, my pdoc started me on lamotrigine. I took 2 weeks at 25mg and I just started 50 mg per day.
>
> He indicated that most of his patients who use it stay at 50 mg per day, although one of them gets sufficient effect at 25 mg and doesn't want to increase.
>
> Then I hear online a lot of people taking like 200-300 mg per day!
>
> Does anyone have any insight on this? I know dosages can be higher for epileptic problems, I'm just talking about lamotrigine taken to treat Bipolar II.
Hey BlueboyDiagnosed Bipolar II/NOS too... Made a proper appearance in my early 20's, knew it was Bipolar after taking Prozac for six weeks, then started rapid cycling straight after.
Think if you research on Google, you'll find the usual dose for us is around 200mg, in the morning. For me it gives me energy and helps massively with cognition. Cannot think straight at all if I don't have it. Also has that slight AD effect too. I got a small phase of hypomania when I was on around 25mg, which was nice. That faids though.
I've recently bumped the dose up to 400mg a day now. Was feeling so bad and couldn't get to my pdoc, so had to do something. Feel a bit better for it. Sulpiride in small doses helps too, espeacially with SP and as an AD.
One thing is though, and I think applies to all, if you stop taking it, second time round you will need a higher dose. My brother, also Bipolar NOS is on 600mg now from changing around his meds...
As for;
"Actually, I'm cautious about giving credit to a drug, since I (and I think a majority of BP II people) naturally have periods of spontaneous remission. But it's nice to hear that the drug is actually helping someone :) "
I don't think we have periods of remission as such, just periods of mild hypomania, from cycling. I've kinda stopped rapid cycling now, have the odd day iff I haven't slept the night before, but usually just a very, very flat mood - constant.
I've found, (from personal experience and studies on the net, google pramipexole and bipolar II) that BII's seem to respond well to DA's. I'd highly suggest trying Pramipexole - was a wonder drug for me till I tried another med and it didn't work 2nd time around :O( .
Anyhoo, I hope some of this helps?
Gary
Posted by blueboy on June 15, 2008, at 9:38:44
In reply to Re: Lamictal dosage, posted by garylee on June 13, 2008, at 16:30:03
> I've found, (from personal experience and studies on the net, google pramipexole and bipolar II) that BII's seem to respond well to DA's. I'd highly suggest trying Pramipexole - was a wonder drug for me till I tried another med and it didn't work 2nd time around :O( .
>In my personal experience, taking DA's was a disaster. No good effects and some fairly extreme bad effects, such as convulsions and catatonia. I also got Restless Leg Syndrome while taking these and it has only slowly dissapated over the years since I stopped trying them. (I bet I tried 15 or more.)
I did take Nardil for almost two years, which threw me into a pretty much ongoing hypomanic state. Looking back, this was also a bit of a disaster.
I was very relieved, actually, to get the BP II diagnosis, since it gave me some hope. I'm on Lamictal right now.
Posted by elanor roosevelt on June 15, 2008, at 23:11:31
In reply to Re: Lamictal dosage, posted by Horned One on June 9, 2008, at 10:40:51
i went up to 200mg
i am almost civilized now that i've been back down to 100mg for more that a month
This is the end of the thread.
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