I was skimming through some posts that resulted from a search I did for "Lamictal", and was not surprised to read that Lamictal caused depression for some others who have posted on the boards. I was hoping to touch base with any of you who have experience with Lamictal and the depression it may cause. I'm losing faith in my psychiatrist who seems so eager to prescribe yet another pill for the Major Depression I was diagnosed with 10 years ago. I am not bipolar, but he felt that the Lamictal would be a good adjunct to the Zoloft I've been taking since 1995. I was going through a low period about 2 months ago when I agreed to try the Lamictal. I think now that I've been kidding myself that it has helped with anything; in fact, I think I feel worse with it than before! I should have just weathered the low tide and stuck it out with Zoloft alone (which does help). Anyone have a similar experience? Thank you!!!
Sue

Hi Sue,

I haven't been on the Lamictal, but wanted to respond to your post. I've been on Lexapro for close to a year now.

If the addition of the Lamictal has made you worse, I would DEFINITELY talk to your doc about getting off it.

When I was first on Lexapro and feeling the depression wasn't lifting quickly enough (we want to get out of that hell FAST), my doc considered a round of Wellbutrin, which he said can sometimes work on the "depressive" aspect of anxiety disorders. Around the time we were considering it, I began to have better days, so have never done this.

Hope someone who has had experience with Lamictal will post soon, but meanwhile, I can understand your having lost faith in this medication!!



Jacquie

I've been on Lamictal for almost a year and do not think it has added to my depression. I also take Wellbutrin XR for depression. My doctor has me take Lamictal for mania.

My best advice to you would be to talk with your doctor about this. Everyone responds differently to the various medications.

Good luck!

I have been on Lamictal for about a year and a half. A new Psychiatrist added it to the Effexor I was already on when I had a depressive episode after a mid-life crisis. She says I am Bipolar II (less severe Bipolar), hence the Lamictal. She also said the Lamictal would boost the effect of the Effexor. I have never really felt a lot of symptoms lift, like I would have expected. I guess the meds. got me through a tough time, but it seems weird to me that I would still have obsessive thoughts, crying spells, and a general feeling of malaise and poor self esteem. When I was originally put on SSRI's by my family doctor it made such a difference!
Plus. all I wanted was someone to talk to and instead I got a lot of medication. I can't go off of it because both Lamictal and Effexor have to be weaned very carefully. Also, my shrink says that being menopausal has nothing to do with my mood swings! That since I have always struggled with depression, I always will.
I know that none of us can diagnose ourselves and a Doctor that you trust is very important to have... but.... I don't really think I have any symptoms of mania either - don't other people do things at midlife that they wouldn't ordinarily do? I got over it (except for the self-hatred, shame, and yearning for things to be better). Anyway didn't mean to write so much, but hearing that Lamictal might have the opposite effect really made me think! Even when I have been really depressed in the past it has not taken me this long to re-adjust and leave the pain behind!!! Anyone else questioning Lamictal? or Effexor?
Carolly

P.S.
I would really be interested in the experience of others diagnosed with mania.... I know what it is, but don't know anyone directly who have experienced it...

THANK YOU ALL!

SUE.
I ALSO FOUND LAMICTAL TO BE DEPRESSING.MY FIRST DOSE WAS 25MGS AND IT CAUSED ME SUCH DEPRESSION THAT I CRIED FOR HOURS.NEEDLESS TO SAY, MY PSYCHIATRIST LOWERED THE DOSE TO 5MGS EACH DAY.AFTER 10 DAYS I STOPPED IT DUE TO RACING HEART AND BECOMING MORE DYSTHYMIC.IAM EXTREMELY SENSITIVE TO MEDS. MENOPAUSE HAS BEEN THE NIGHTMARE OF MY LIFE. TAKE CARE.
SUMMERSUN

SummerSun, et al.: Thanks for your feedback. It's greatly appreciated! Summer: I'm sorry you had a bad experience with Lamictal, too, and hope you're ok now. I weaned myself from it, and although I don't feel good (I have soooo many complaints, I feel like a big baby sometimes), I do feel better without the Lamictal. I was not happy about taking a medication for mania when I don't have mania, but I thought it was worth a shot. I was in a very deep slump and my doctor assured me Lamictal was the perfect adjunct to the Zoloft I take. I'm still taking the Zoloft, and thankfully, I feel as though I've recovered from the negative Lamictal influence on my mood. I'll muddle through with the Zoloft. Now, if there were only a pill to "cure" perimenopause....! Thank you all again.


Carolly: I just re-read your post. I'm certainly not a doctor, but I do believe that we have to trust our own instincts. If you're unhappy with the Lamictal, please discuss it with your doctor again. It makes me upset and sad to read that you feel shame and self-hatred! Please: call your doctor(!), and in the meantime, take advantage of this wonderful, wonderful site and the awesome support of its participants. You are not alone. Sue.

Sue and Summersun,
Thanks for your kind words and feedback. I admire you for being able to wean yourself from Lamictal - I am thinking of going back to my family doctor and have him help me with getting off of at least the Lamictal. I find my moods so variable! I felt great yesterday and then started feeling down in the dumps today! Of course, I am tired a lot and don't sleep real well, so that could be why I kinda started losing it today. My job is extremely emotionally draining and the last two days have been the sort that make me frustrated and unhappy! Anyway, I really think we have to become more strong and focused on believing in ourselves, giving ourselves permission just to be ourselves (moods, flaws and all that stuff). Maybe we women just take too much on and expect too much of ourselves and lets face it, we are always taking care of everyone else (at least in an emotional sense if not in a daily living sense). Men seem so concrete to me - they just do what they want to do...if they have any kind of mid-life thing, they don't really want to talk about it (at least that is the way I see it). My husband admitted that he thought maybe mid-life stuff was affecting him... but he doesn't/won't elaborate.
And here we women are - worrying about worrying!!!
Love to all - keep the dialogue going
Carole

Dear Iamsueml:

How long have you been on the Zoloft and what reason did you start taking it??
I have been on Zoloft for 7 years (since I was 43) for severe PMS/PMDD and maybe the beginnning of Peri (severe anxiety and depression).

Red

Garnet,
Hi i was wondering what dose of zoloft do you take ? I have been on it since july of last yr. but can only take 25mg. If i try to up it, Then it causes me more anxiety.
Has anyone every had this happen to them ? I thought it was to treat anxiety, and depression.
Thanks,
Teresa

Dear Tweety82:

I am on 100 mgs. My doctor started me on 50 mgs. then went on to 75mgs. which worked for me for a long time. I then decided to wean off the Zoloft and went back to 50mgs. and my symptoms started up again (PMDD-severe depression/anxiety) so I upped it to 75mgs. but still felt the same way so I had to increase it to 100mgs. BTW, it did help both my anxiety and depression.

Hope this helps.

Red

Hello, everyone! Carole - I was very happy to read your post. Sounds like you've got a lot on your plate with your job and everything (I can relate to that), but you seem generally more upbeat than when you posted on 4/13. I was concerned about you! I agree that men seem to be able to sail through things more smoothly than we can. They just don't pay attention to things the way we do (I know my husband doesn't, anyway), and I think they're actually better off plodding through that way. With respect to the Lamictal, the more I think about my psychiatrist prescribing it for me when I do not have manic/depressive episodes, the angrier I get. I'm not bipolar; I'm perimenopausal! I just don't think it's good to mess with our brain chemicals so cavalierly. But since even so many gynecologists are in the dark about peri, I suppose I shouldn't expect a shrink to know any better. I don't miss the Lamictal at all, and am so glad it's out of my system. If you still don't think it's helping (I'm convinced the mood swings are just a natural part of the peri/meno process), I would push your doctor to wean you from it. I took it such a short time that I think it was easier for me to do it myself. Good Luck !!
Red - I've been taking Zoloft (100 mg.) per day, since 1995. I don't remember what dose I started at. I have a strong family history of depression, and at least for me, the Zoloft has been a blessing. I don't even think about stopping it. I look at my major clinical depression as a chronic illness that requires lifetime treatment (such as diabetes may require insulin), and I've come to accept my dependence upon it. I found it interesting that when I saw my gyno two weeks ago, she suggested Zoloft to help treat the emotional symptoms of peri I described to her. When I reminded her that I am already taking it, she just laughed and said "oh well, then, good luck"! I can only imagine how I'd feel without it. I think all we can do is hold on tight and endure the ride as best we can! Sue

Dear Sue:

Thank you for your response. Do you ever worry about the long term effects of being on Zoloft???? I do, especially when I read Dr. Shipko's transcripts on PS about them.

Thanks for your imput.

Red

Sue and Red,
First of all, Sue, Thanks, so much for your reply I feel the same way about being called "bipolar" - it is so ridiculous given what women go through in mid-life. I too have a strong family history of depression. When I first went on Zoloft - it was a miracle... I wish I still had that feeling... I too felt that taking the medicine was like having Diabetes and that I was content to take it for the rest of my life, because it gave me and and my family a better quality of life (back then, my husband noticed the change in my moods before I did). Can you believe I am now taking 300 (is it mg's) of Effexor and 200 of Lamictal and I am still dysthymic! This is crazy!!! And all because of a mid-life crisis! (which is a story in and of itself - but I'll save that for another time)... and another thing, my 18 year old son in on Effexor (not near as much as I am) and started with Celexa when he was only 11... the long term effects for him really scare me I'm hoping we can talk about weaning this summer. (I really think it serves more as a placebo now) - he takes it because he was having what he calls "panic-attacks"; when he was younger his fears and the behavior that we had to deal with as a result, was unbelievably stressful, but he has been in college for a year and has done so incredibly well emotionally that we can't believe it!
Anyway - it is great to hear from others who are coping with the physical and mental side effects of our struggles as we deal with this meno stuff!
Carole