[Anders]

Hi.
I am wondering if anyone else has had the same experience as me with lamotrigene / lamictal.
As many other I have found this as the only medicine that has a helpfull / reliefing effect on dp/dr symptoms.
However my experience is - the magic only happens on dosage increase rather than a sustained reliefer.
E.g. Going from 100-150mg triggers reduction in dpdr symptoms - for maybe 2 - 4 weeks at most?
Then symptoms gradually comes back. 150mg to 200mg - same thing. and so on..
This had lead me to keeping the daily dose on 100mg only. and then take 200mg on demanding social days / periods a booster to reduce symptoms.
I find that this works for me - however still looking for a generel reduction on daily basis which I yet have not found.
Anyone else having this experience or can share thought on their experience with lamotrigene / lamictal?

Best Regards

 

[Peter]

What was you max. dosage?

 

[Trith]

Hi.
I am wondering if anyone else has had the same experience as me with lamotrigene / lamictal.
As many other I have found this as the only medicine that has a helpfull / reliefing effect on dp/dr symptoms.
However my experience is - the magic only happens on dosage increase rather than a sustained reliefer.
E.g. Going from 100-150mg triggers reduction in dpdr symptoms - for maybe 2 - 4 weeks at most?
Then symptoms gradually comes back. 150mg to 200mg - same thing. and so on..
This had lead me to keeping the daily dose on 100mg only. and then take 200mg on demanding social days / periods a booster to reduce symptoms.
I find that this works for me - however still looking for a generel reduction on daily basis which I yet have not found.
Anyone else having this experience or can share thought on their experience with lamotrigene / lamictal?

Best Regards

I did feel little improvement when my dosage was increased in the 250 range up to 300 mg (together with seroplex, I think). I did feel some changes after some weeks but at the time I thought I had just gotten used to my now lower level of DPDR and the surprise effect was wearing off. When I stopped the treatment I felt my DPDR increasing again, and then that surprise effect wearing off too. Or perhaps I was mistaken and it was the actual DPDR itself that was coming back or fading away after a few weeks. The effect was not so strong that I would be able to tell for sure.
But be careful with changing dosage. I have been given increases in dosage of no more than 25 mg per week. As you may know, the point of this is to reduce the chances of triggering a Steven's Johnson's syndrome, or Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis, which are kind rare but are both life threatening reactions nevertheless (with mortality rates of 5% and 30 to 40% respectively). Personally, a quick wikipedia search as well as some google imaging made me respect my prescription with a lot of care.

 

[blankxi]

I’ve had the same exact experience actually. when I first started Lamictal it practically saved my life. I was put on 100mgs & I felt really good for a few months, now all of a sudden it doesn’t do anything for me and I’m slowly slipping back into DP/anxiety. There were a couple days that I tried taking 200mg, but it made me feel super weird and more anxious, so I went back down to 100mg. And I don’t wanna keep trying different meds cause there’s no way that can be good for your mind or body. So i’m not sure what to do now 😕

 

[Anders]

What was you max. dosage?

200mg

 

[Anders]

I did feel little improvement when my dosage was increased in the 250 range up to 300 mg (together with seroplex, I think). I did feel some changes after some weeks but at the time I thought I had just gotten used to my now lower level of DPDR and the surprise effect was wearing off. When I stopped the treatment I felt my DPDR increasing again, and then that surprise effect wearing off too. Or perhaps I was mistaken and it was the actual DPDR itself that was coming back or fading away after a few weeks. The effect was not so strong that I would be able to tell for sure.
But be careful with changing dosage. I have been given increases in dosage of no more than 25 mg per week. As you may know, the point of this is to reduce the chances of triggering a Steven's Johnson's syndrome, or Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis, which are kind rare but are both life threatening reactions nevertheless (with mortality rates of 5% and 30 to 40% respectively). Personally, a quick wikipedia search as well as some google imaging made me respect my prescription with a lot of care.

Yes I have heard of this skin issue with lamotrigene. However I have tried the upping 100mg dosage trick for a demanding day a couple of times with no issue - however thanks for the awareness

 

[Anders]

I’ve had the same exact experience actually. when I first started Lamictal it practically saved my life. I was put on 100mgs & I felt really good for a few months, now all of a sudden it doesn’t do anything for me and I’m slowly slipping back into DP/anxiety. There were a couple days that I tried taking 200mg, but it made me feel super weird and more anxious, so I went back down to 100mg. And I don’t wanna keep trying different meds cause there’s no way that can be good for your mind or body. So i’m not sure what to do now 😕

I am sorry to hear your frustration. I dont think trying different meds for short periods to see if it helps does much harm. I have tried all ssris and the old type antideps and duloxetine as well. I would recommend 1 thing - bupropion (wellbutrin SR/ zyban) - This combined with lamotrigene is probably the closest to something help iv tried but nevertheless i dont think there is no med to completely remove dpdr symptoms. I have had it for 11 years now - and I am trying to accept it - and use lamotrigene and bupropion as symptom reliefers. Also high intensity exercise and a ice cold shower afterwards also has an impact on reducing symptoms i have found.

 

[Trith]

Yes I have heard of this skin issue with lamotrigene. However I have tried the upping 100mg dosage trick for a demanding day a couple of times with no issue - however thanks for the awareness

I don't know if this is how it works. Do you know if SJS always comes with warning signs? For all I know it is unpredictable, and it's not because you were fine ten times that you will not get it the eleventh time. Not all diseases work this way, and I think we would need to ask a specialist to know the answer.
You are free to take it if you want, obviously, but I am just saying that to make sure the information is out and that anybody reading this knows about this and know what they are doing. Deciding to take a risk that you know about is one thing, but taking a risk because you don't know there is a risk is a different problem.