Two things

[shadesong]

I get to see sunyata__ tomorrow! And I get to keep her through Tuesday morning! *squee!!!*

Is Lamictal supposed to have an antidepressant effect. Because I dunno, I've been cheerier lately, more so than one would expect with regards to recent trauma. Then again, it's a bit of a relief to have that all-consuming, jitters-inducing, superhorrible stress and uncertainty hanging over my head for the past month or so. There are still other issues, but that was The Big One other than the sick hippo. And I'm sure part of the perkiness is my most excellent secret news, and part my fabu weight loss, and part sunyata__'s visit, but still.

Comments

[brother-bliss.livejournal.com]

It could. Also it could be your brain feeling better and starting to produce all those happy chemicals.
Pboy better watch out.

[elfwench.livejournal.com]

From what I've researched, it's an effective mood stabilizer as well, and is often used for treating bipolar disorder.

[daonnan.livejournal.com]

When I was on it my Doctor liked it because he considered it to have antidepressant effects as well as the anti mania ones I was taking it for.

[remotesensing.livejournal.com]

Lamictal is frequently used as a mood stabilizer in bipolar patients (received official FDA approval this year, apparently).

Off-label prescribing of Lamictal for bipolar patients/depression "isn't unheard of," according to my family doctor (part of a larger practice).

[ardaniel]

Lot of antiepileptics in use in that fashion. I had Depakote for a while, not for epilepsy, but for serious affective disorders.

Also, 'Song, I was reading an issue of Fit Pregnancy at tarzxf's doctor's office today, and it did make a side reference to studies having shown that women who experience domestic violence during pregnancy have a higher incidence of asthma and epilepsy. Food for thought; you can probably do a Medline check for the precise literature.

[shadesong.livejournal.com]

I'll take a look - thanks!

[mycroftca.livejournal.com]

Ah. No surprises then. The local Psych teams just aren't using it that way then....see my post below.

[gaeirin.livejournal.com]

Lamictal is a mood stabilizer. So it might keep you happier and from going into a slump.

[callumf.livejournal.com]

In case you don't already have all this info this is the BNF entry (http://www.bnf.org.uk/bnf/bnf/current/doc/9832.htm) for lamotrigine.

[shadesong.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[mycroftca.livejournal.com]

A number of anti-seizure medications have smoothing effects on folks who have variable emotional states; it may be smoothing down the bell curves. I haven't seen Lamictal used for that; usually it's Depakote or Neurontin. Occasionally Tegretol. That doesn't mean that it wouldn't work that way, just that I haven't seen a psychiatrist use it that way.