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Mental health

Lamortrigine titration

15 replies

thedyingswan · 13/01/2014 10:20

Has anyone idea how long it takes to reach the target dose?

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DaddyIsHome · 13/01/2014 10:24

Took me about 6 months to get to the perfect dose but have been taking it for 2 years now no problems. Do you mind me asking why it was prescribed?

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thedyingswan · 13/01/2014 10:28

It was described for bipolar depression. Six months! I am looking for to know how long it takes to reach say 200 mg.

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DaddyIsHome · 13/01/2014 10:50

I am taking it for the same reason. I take 100mg morning and 100mg in the evening. Because its not approved by the FDA there isnt much guidance on correct dosages so I started on 100mg then wait a few weeks with little improvement and ease it up then went too far and eased back down to 200mg. You cant suddenly stop taking it as there are nasty effects if you do so they have to introduce it and reduce it slowly. You can always PM me too if theres anything you want to know.

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thedyingswan · 13/01/2014 11:03

I was on it years ago but I can't remember how the titration was done back then. I just would like to have something that acts fast...
Bloody titration process.

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DaddyIsHome · 13/01/2014 11:06

Its pretty quick compared to a lot of medications Ive tried and it has been the most effective. Another upside is that they actually sell it for the £7.95 perscription charge but it costs them about £25 for the pills Smile

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thedyingswan · 13/01/2014 13:08

oh, I lost will to live. apparently I will start 25 mg/day for two weeks, then 25 mg/twice a day for two weeks, after that 50 mg/ twice a day. I am not sure if I can be bothered.

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Kittymalinky · 13/01/2014 13:17

Don't rush on and increase it sooner than you should, it can be quite dangerous.

I took 200mg a day (100 morning and 100 evening) for years. It worked really well.

Think it took 4-6 weeks to get up to full dose that time is a bit of a crazy, mood bouncing time so hard to recall

I think it can take ages of you're taking it for seizures (which is what it's designed for) to get the dose right. Ironically think it's a bit easier to get the dose right for MH issues

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DaddyIsHome · 13/01/2014 13:20

Stick with it, you may start to feel better after the first dose. I felt like you at one point but now my meds are sorted things are really great. Its worth the fight!

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thedyingswan · 13/01/2014 13:28

I am taking too much diazepam and hoped lamortragine would make me better quick, so I could get rid of diazepam. ugh.

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eatyourveg · 13/01/2014 14:06

I take it for seizures and it was a 2 week swap over from epilim -

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thedyingswan · 13/01/2014 16:17

Eatyourveg: that would have been doable for me :)
Really downer this slow titration.

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eatyourveg · 13/01/2014 17:47

I'm actually thinking of going to the Dr to come off lamotrigine and onto something else which will keep me seizure free (10 yrs now so will keep popping pills as long as I have to in order to keep my driving licence) - lamotrogine really slows my brain though ( I know thats what it is meant to do) but its affecting my memory too much for my liking. Epilim is an old anticonvulsant though so I'm not sure I'll have much choice.

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thedyingswan · 13/01/2014 18:31

I have been on lamotragine before, and actually with exactly same other med years ago. Psych was pushing lamortragine so I thought I will have a quick try. Now this quick try will take for ever. I got really down when I heard how slow it is going to be. I should have said no. argh.

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eatyourveg · 13/01/2014 19:02

don't understand why its 6 months - my dose is only 100mg which might have made some difference but 6 months! Could it be the drug you are coming off that is prolonging it rather than the lamotrigine?

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thedyingswan · 16/01/2014 10:26

I started lamortigine and now I feel restless but at the same time tired. Otherwise I feel as crap as I used to. How long it takes to feel any positive effects?

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