Finally got a reply from my doctor

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Autumn Breeze

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He said "yep, that looks like a seizure to me" re: the video my husband captured.

He's increasing my Lamictal from 100 to 200mgs.

He did NOT give me instructions on increasing. Nor do I think he got my reply that I have 11 days left of meds at 100mgs/day.


ANYWHO, at least I heard back.
 
Progress! :)

Here's instructions on increasing: low and slow! No more than 25mg per week. And I would advocate for every two weeks, and an even smaller increment: 12.5mg. Those were the instructions from my neuro when I ramped up on Lamictal. I had to slice the 25mg pills in half with a razor blade.

Call the doc first thing Monday to get the new rX for the lamictal -- and it wouldn't hurt to confirm the ramp-up instructions at the same time.
 
Thank you. Since I just went back on it, and I kinda went back up to the 100mg quickly (50 in the am, 50 in the pm) I will try to go super slow.

I will likely have to get my husband to just drive me up there on Monday, if I call I could be waiting another week at this rate.
 
Hi Chargingbird,
Good luck with the med increase.

Nakamova said:
I had to slice the 25mg pills in half with a razor blade.
Click to expand...
If you have to half your pills a pill splitter is great. My best friend got me one years ago which I use each time I have to take half a tablet.
I'm using my pill splitter now because in March last year my neurologist at the epilepsy clinic lowered my Tegretol from 400mg - 200mg. I had plenty of 400mg repeats still left so got the all clear from my neuro to split them in half.
When I saw my neurologist at the clinic in September he gave me script for 200mg Tegretol which I haven't filled yet because I still have 400mg tablets left over which I'm still splitting in half.
 
We use a pill cutter for Jon's meds because he has to take 1/2 of pills or even 1/4 of his thyroid meds. Most pharmacies carry these -- just ask for one when you pick up your new prescription.
 
Thanks!

I have a very easy time snapping my 100mgs in half. So, as long as he doesn't prescribe another bottle of 100s I can probably take the increase as slowly as I should. I hate cutting pills, so I'm looking forward to eventually being able to pop my 100 in the am and 100 in the pm.
 
Nakamova said:
Progress! :)

Here's instructions on increasing: low and slow! No more than 25mg per week. And I would advocate for every two weeks, and an even smaller increment: 12.5mg. Those were the instructions from my neuro when I ramped up on Lamictal. I had to slice the 25mg pills in half with a razor blade.

Call the doc first thing Monday to get the new rX for the lamictal -- and it wouldn't hurt to confirm the ramp-up instructions at the same time.
Click to expand...

Of course, I find it after I PM you. :rolleyes: :D
 
I'm glad you finally heard back! When I was titrating Lamictal up my neuro had me do it 50mgs a week (25mg in morning, 25 at night). You may want to call again and verify. I know it took a while for him to get back to you but persistence can go a long way with some doctors. I basically had to badger my old neuro cause he wasn't listening to my concerns. He finally got the message.
 
Well, I went IN to his office to ask for the RX papers instead of waiting on him to call it in. I was too paranoid with less than a week's worth of pills left.

I got him to give me one for 60 - 100 mg which says twice a day, but for titrating up I also got him to give me a bottle of 25mgs. I tried to cut it in half, and it just crumbled. The generic don't seem to hold together as well. So, while I WANTED to do 12.5 for at least 3 days. I might have to go with 25 starting today. I'll have my husband try to cut one more for me before I do that.

I hate badgering people, it's so not part of my personality. I have to leave myself notes and ask my husband/mother/friends to remind me to call AGAIN. I usually let it go to the third day before I call back, even though I know I shouldn't.
 
I used a straight-edge razor to cut my generic lamotrigine, and it seemed to work okay. You should be able to buy a pill-splitter at the drugstore, that might help. Or just add the 25mg, and stay at that level for two weeks before moving to the next. You'll probably be fine.
 
I thought id chirp in on this.
When my dose went from 100 to 200 I was told to add 25mg at night for a week then 25mg in the morning too for a week. And then the other 25mg in the night for a week to make that the max dose at night and then top the morning one up.
If that makes any sense like it does in my head!
It worked fine for me and didnt take too long I thought :)

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
 
That does make sense, and that was our fall back. But these seem to be splitting now. I just have to get my husband to do it. This will be day 3 of an additional 12.5. I need to count again to see when I need to go up. Hopefully we requested enough of the 25mg tablets.
 
Yes, many people are fine ramping up faster. Going slow is just one way to guard against the Lamictal rash and potentially minimize side effects.
 
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