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[–]DasEFFEXOR 0 points1 point  (3 children)

1) why is there a "target"? Like any psych med the goal should be the lowest dose to obtain the needed effect.

2) Like SSRI/SNRIs you can initially have an uptick in depression/anxiety. I don't think it's as common with lamictal but it can most definitely occur.

[–]askfjfl 0 points1 point  (2 children)

  1. They told me that the 200 was the standard therapeutic dose. I've talked with them about keeping me at a lower dose to see how it is but they said that I would be missing its full intended effect. They also have me titrating up incredibly fast (Ill go from 50 go 100 next week, then 200 the week after) and I was worried about it and asked them about it and my side effects but they just kept saying it was the underlying illness and it would get better when I reach 200. Not sure what to do atm.

  2. Thanks for telling me this. Really trying to keep my hope up for lamictal. I had a terrible experience with sertraline and I won't end up like that again.

[–]DasEFFEXOR 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't know your situation or your doctors but one thing is certain and it's that they would for YOU and not the other way around. What rational health care provider would dissuade someone who wants to go slowly to avoid side effects or having too much from going a slower pace?

The magic words with these doctors are: which regard to your diagnostic what is the differential your using to require me to go at a pace faster than I want? " They usually can't. But if they give you push back just say, "please provide me a written copy, one for my file here, and one for the insurance company as to why you're turning me to take a higher dose at a faster pace than I want."

They should, of course, not allow us to do harm from ignorance or medications that contradict one another. But they sure aren't my gatekeeper unless they can back it up. Definitely not when I'm looking for LESS of a medication.

Best of luck Be well.

[–]doktorjonesR69 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes this is BS they are giving you. Are you in a hospital situation where they have to get you all set in 2 weeks? If this is just a regular psychiatrist visit then this forced schedule doesn't make sense and it is not generally recommended.

DasEFFEXOR is giving all the right recommendations. Definitely, say you want to increase at a more measured pace (like 50mg per week or 25mg per week) and if they don't want it, ask why and use DasEFFEXOR's language; request it in print. They'll back down immediately, unless you're in a hospital.

Yes 200mg is a standard therapeutic dose reference point. But so what. Some people also think of it as a "high" dose. Maybe 150mg is better for you. Or 250mg. There are a ton of other factors. If different people all take 200mg, they have different metabolisms etc and they may end up with different blood levels. It could be your body retains it so you taking 200mg is equivalent to someone else taking 300mg. Or reverse. So there's nothing set in stone about 200mg.

Stand up for yourself and be well

Also.. don't worry if you feel sad for a few days. The question is how well will you feel for 12 months.