I hope this helps. As with many psych meds things vary a lot as to the withdrawal. My suggestion would be to plan at least a 2 to 4 month withdrawal. The good news is that most saw a drastic improvement in withdrawal symptoms if the withdrawal was so bad they were forced to increase their dosage to get some releif.
Let me know if there is anything else you need on this subject and if I run across anything else I will let you know.
Posted by brzghoff on 08 April 2018 - 08:38 AM in Weaning Off Cymbalta
Wow. Been a few weeks past a year since i started this taper off lamotrigine/lamictal and i’ve still been holding at 100 mgs since last summer. Its been tough to even consider it. There is almost always a slight edge of anxiety that gives me pause. Overall life is good, but withdrawal, however so slight, is enough to seriously affect my self awareness - where i develop a total lack of it. I over-react, catastrophize and the physical flu like feelings and extreme fatigue are dibilitating whenever i try just a mild drop. I Just cant afford it with my current work situation. Its pretty much just like withdrawing from cymbalta. Totally different drugs, duloxetene and lamotrigine, so i have no idea why withdrawal is virtually the same.
A couple months ago i accidentally forgot to take my daily dose of lamotrigine, didn’t realize it til i got to work and felt sick all day. Took it when i got home, and as per normal therefafter and it took a week to recover. Cymbalta was never that bad. If i forgot a whole dose, when i would take it later that day or next morning i’d feel normal again within hours.
Im totally bewildered.
Posted by OogaBoo on 11 October 2017 - 01:30 AM in How to Find Support
This probably wasn't the best decision, but I quit Abilify, Lamictal, and Cymbalta all at the same time, about a week ago.
I had only been on Cymbalta for a few weeks at 20mg a day.
I've definitely had some withdrawal - mostly lightheadedness as well as nausea (no vomiting thank goodness) and near constant diarrhea.
While this isn't fun, it has been tolerable. Does it make sense to take some Cymbalta in very small doses now that I'm already a week out? I'm concerned that quitting cold turkey will lengthen my withdrawal cycle.
Posted by Muzumi on 24 September 2017 - 07:13 PM in ARE YOU NEW HERE? Words from the wise about Cymbalta
Thank you so much for all this information! I have to say I was so focused on Cymbalta that I didn't research Fetzima as much as I should have. You are right that in the case of Effexor XR -> Cymbalta the doses were somewhat equivalent whereas Cymbalta -> Fetzima was quite a drop. My psychiatrist gave me free sample boxes of Fetzima to see how I feel on it and they only come in 40mg. Having me stop the Cymbalta completely was very radical - she is usually good about increasing doses/weaning gradually (esp. with Lamictal which can be lethal if started at too high of a dose) but this time I think she really overlooked the transition.
Posted by gail on 04 April 2017 - 02:43 PM in Weaning Off Cymbalta
I have just withdrawn from Lamictal, it was a three or four weeks that I could barely go out as agoraphobia was through the roof. It's gone now mostly. Hold on, it will get better!
Posted by gail on 24 March 2017 - 06:50 AM in ARE YOU NEW HERE? Words from the wise about Cymbalta
I had kind of forgotten how it was in withdrawal, and now I am living through the same nightmare as you all with Lamictal withdrawal. Dear God, how challenging. I never thought that Lamictal would have such a pretty heavy withdrawal. As worst as the C.
Posted by gail on 04 March 2017 - 05:11 PM in Nutritional Support
Withdrawing from Lamictal is worsening the depression and anxiety. Pain where my kidney was removed, makes it hard to work. Both together, makes me wish that I would not be here. I sure did not expect Lamictal withdrawal. It never crossed my f$#@$#mind, I just had enough as it was.
Posted by PtldFrank on 25 January 2016 - 11:59 AM in Weaning Off Cymbalta
I was taking Lamictal for epilepsy, and the big concern for tapering off was triggering a seizure. That being said, the withdrawal process went very smoothly. No trouble.
Posted by PtldFrank on 24 January 2016 - 11:22 PM in Weaning Off Cymbalta
I also took a lot of Lamictal (700 mg/day) until I realized it was giving me pretty bad side effects. I spent 14 weeks going off that (and not driving) in 2014.
Posted by Michgirl on 27 December 2015 - 10:12 AM in ARE YOU NEW HERE? Words from the wise about Cymbalta
brz - I had no issues coming off of Lamictal that I know about. I did it slow though. Wish I had done this with Cymbalta. I have similar issues with driving as well.
Posted by brzghoff on 22 December 2015 - 10:33 AM in ARE YOU NEW HERE? Words from the wise about Cymbalta
i have heard mixed reports about lamictal withdrawal. the fact that you did it across 18 months sounds like it could be a doozy. was that your choice or did your doc map that out? i know that to avoid the possibility of developing stevens-johnson a taper is required, but i thought for that purpose the taper only needs to be across a month or less. as with most psychoactive drugs, docs seem to think any withdrawal - or discontinuation syndrome - only lasts 2-3 weeks. ha! survivingantidepressants.com recommends a much longer weaning process to minimize what some report as being a terrible withdrawal. i've heard others report it wasn't a big deal. but then for some that's how it is with cymbalta, no big deal. i'd love to get off lamictal, but i am not ready.
Posted by Michgirl on 22 December 2015 - 09:19 AM in ARE YOU NEW HERE? Words from the wise about Cymbalta
I was also on Lamictal 150 mg for the past 4 years and I slowly weaned down over the past 18 months to none around the time I went off Cymbalta.
lady2882Nancy, on 17 Apr 2015 - 3:12 PM, said:
I was on a mood stabilizer for a long time and found that it made me very depressed and lonely, and limited my intellectual capacity to solve problems. I was on lamictal from 2008-2012 and when I eventually did taper off over a month or so, I didn't experience any withdrawal effects.
Posted by MichCPA on 11 January 2014 - 01:23 PM in Weaning Off Cymbalta
I am also going off of Lamictal. I had been on 200mg 2x/day for over a year. He told me I could go off that quickly. He said to take 200mg 1x/day for 3 days, then half that for 3 days and then stop completely.
Posted by Gigi on 22 September 2013 - 11:57 PM in ARE YOU NEW HERE? Words from the wise about Cymbalta
I was on Lamcital with the Cymbalta. But it makes me spend money and I was getting into trouble. I tried the brain supplements while on the Lamictal and had a terrible reaction. So I started weaning off the Lamicatl at half the dose. 50mg I was able to try the supplements again and I felt really good & no spending money I do not have.
I weaned off Lamicatal totally. The right way. Like I do any medication.
Posted by Imdone on 29 August 2013 - 11:39 PM in Weaning Off Cymbalta
I MADE IT!!! It took me 2 years to get off my original cocktail of Risperdal, Lamictal, Cymbalta, Klonopin & neurontin.
Posted by DonMH on 27 September 2012 - 10:41 PM in Weaning Off Cymbalta
Prozac will work as you come off Cymbalta at the end rather than Effexor.
The bad news is Lamictal is almost as bad to come off. Do not try and come off both at once.
Posted by vsung on 18 June 2012 - 12:09 PM in ARE YOU NEW HERE? Words from the wise about Cymbalta
I cannot take off from work because I was just out for 2 months on disability coming off of Abilify and Lamictal. I thought it was horrible weaning myself from that!! Boy I was in for a big surprise since I've came off of Cymbalta.
Posted by Imdone on 24 March 2012 - 01:59 PM in Weaning Off Cymbalta
Often the last psych med you wean off of is the hardest, if you were on multiple, like I was. I got off Risperdal, Neurontin and Lamictal with ease (after being misdiagnosed as Bipolar) but getting off Cymbalta is tough after taking SSRI's and Cymbalta for a long time.
The subjective evidence is overwhelming in the blogs and forums as well as in advertisements for drug withdrawal programs that there is Lamictal withdrawal although as you may notice not a lot of medical research on this subject. Lamictal is often prescribed to Cymbalta patients if they develop seizures.
I also noticed that it is approved for seizures and not as an antidepressant as it is rarely effective on this condition.
"Immediately following the abrupt discontinuation of lamotrigine, RBD symptomatology was severely aggravated, with dreams becoming more vivid and frightening and occurring almost every night. RBD symptomatology gradually subsided over 2 months, reaching levels comparable to those before lamotrigine."
"Withdrawal syndrome caused by anti-epileptic drugs has been rarely reported. However, in our personal experience of patients monitored for epilepsy surgery, many patients complained of minor reactions when the treatments were quickly decreased. Severe reactions are exceptional and may be explained in this case by the pharmacodynamic effects of LTG. It has indeed been suggested that LTG could have psychostimulant and antidepressive effects."
From the drug insert from the manufacturer.
Discontinuation Strategy
Epilepsy: For patients receiving lamotrigine in combination with other AEDs, a re-evaluation of all AEDs in the regimen should be considered if a change in seizure control or an appearance or worsening of adverse reactions is observed.
If a decision is made to discontinue therapy with lamotrigine, a step-wise reduction of dose over at least 2 weeks (approximately 50% per week) is recommended unless safety concerns require a more rapid withdrawal [see Warnings and Precautions (5.8)].
Discontinuing carbamazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital, primidone, or other drugs such as rifampin and the protease inhibitors lopinavir/ritonavir and atazanavir/ritonavir that induce lamotrigine glucuronidation should prolong the half-life of lamotrigine; discontinuing valproate should shorten the half-life of lamotrigine.
Bipolar Disorder: In the controlled clinical trials, there was no increase in the incidence, type, or severity of adverse reactions following abrupt termination of lamotrigine. In the clinical development program in adults with bipolar disorder, 2 patients experienced seizures shortly after abrupt withdrawal of lamotrigine. Discontinuation of lamotrigine should involve a step-wise reduction of dose over at least 2 weeks (approximately 50% per week) unless safety concerns require a more rapid withdrawal [see Warnings and Precautions ].
From the FDA
Withdrawal and Rebound
Withdrawal and rebound were assessed during Trial SCA102833 by monitoring AEs in the OL and Double-blind Taper Phases. Few AEs were reported during the Taper Phases. In the OL Taper Phase, 14 (40%) subjects reported AEs. AEs reported in ≥5% of subjects included headache (20%), somnolence (6%), and suicidal ideation (6%). All
other AEs were reported in ≤5% of subjects.
In the Double-Blind Taper Phase, 18 (34%) subjects in the LTG group and 14 (25%) in the PBO group reported AEs. Headache was the only AE reported in ≥5% (8% in the LTG group and 7% in the PBO group). All other AEs were reported in ≤5% of subjects. One (3%) SAE was reported in the OL Taper Phase (bipolar disorder) and 2 (3%) subjects reported SAEs in the Double-blind Taper Phase (infectious mononucleosis,
152 Reference ID: 3702139 Clinical Review Francis E. Becker, M.D. NDA 22251 SD-220, 20764 SD-545, 20241 SD-1541 Lamictal (lamotrigine)
urinary tract infection, and suicidal ideation). Both of the subjects in the Double-blind Taper Phase were in the PBO group.
No seizures were reported in the taper phases of Trial SCA102833, however as with other AEDs, Lamictal should not be abruptly discontinued. In patients with epilepsy there is a possibility of increasing seizure frequency. In clinical trials in adult subjects with BPD, 2 subjects experienced seizures shortly after abrupt withdrawal of Lamictal; however, there were confounding factors that may have contributed to the occurrence of seizures in these BPD subjects. Unless safety concerns require a more rapid withdrawal, the dose of Lamictal should be tapered over a period of at least 2 weeks (approximately 50% reduction per week) (see Lamictal Prescribing Information).
From FDA
LAM20006 was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel-group study. It
followed an enrichment design. Patients were first enrolled in an open-label period.
Lamictal was added on to existing therapy (patients could be taking 1-2 concomitant
AEDs) and seizure diary data was collected. Patients who demonstrated a protocolspecified
percent reduction in seizures during this phase were eligible to be randomized
to 1) continue Lamictal, or 2) undergo a gradual withdrawal to placebo. The withdrawal
occurred over 3 weeks with a 25% reduction in dose each week (75%, 50%, 25%, then
discontinue). The double-blind phase that followed lasted 8 weeks.
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