Lamatcil alone for anxiety and depression

@mlpbob
My answer may not be pertinent to your situation, but I was on antidepressants for 30+ years before they stopped working or the newer ones made me sick to my stomach. I suffer from server depression and anxiety as well. I am on lamictal only as far as psych drugs go. I also have been taking alprazolam for my anxiety for decades. My psychiatrist says the lamictal is for mood stabilization, but I too am not bipolar so I really don’t know what it’s doing for me if anything. I’d give it a try if I were you. I’m on a very low dose and haven’t had any negative side effects. Good luck to you.

@mwendt54 Thank you!

I had a frightening reaction to antidepressants after long term use and had to get off of them. My psychiatrist switched me to lamictal, which effectively ended a lifetime of cyclic depression dating back to childhood, something antidepressants never really did, they just softened it until they amplified it. I'm pretty thankful for the medication.

I have received a bipolar 2 diagnosis, so I'm in a different place than you, and also, everyone responds in their own way to each medication. But I have had better luck with it and at 61 am more stable than I've ever known.

Just my experience.

Thank you so much!

@mwendt54
I’m curious if the Lamictal has made a positive difference in your mood. I’m trying to get off Paxil in a cross taper to Lexapro. Paxil discontinuation syndrome is horrible and uncomfortable in the cross taper. I’d be like to feel normal again. I am not bipolar but my sister is. My psychiatrist has never suggested the drug.
HAS ANYONE HAD TROUBLE TAPERING IFF IF PAXIL??
Mjdennis

@maryjjeandennis
I think it does somewhat. Mood stabilization is an off use treatment of lamictal if that makes sense. It’s actually an anti seizure medication at higher doses. I’ve been anxious and severely depressed for over 50 years. I cycle through major depressive episodes and then periods of time where I am depression free but the extreme anxiety never lets up. I am also not bipolar.
I too in the past gave gone off Paxil which was a nightmare I agree. I don’t remember what it was replaced with since it was years and years ago. I’ve been on more antidepressants than I can count with varying degrees of success and some which made me feel suicidal.
I do hope that you feel better soon. No one understands what depression and anxiety feel like if they haven’t experienced it themselves. I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.
I have been off all antidepressants for about 5 years, and my depression has improved for the past couple of years now. The last one I was on was Trintellex which made me so sick to my stomach and also did nothing for my depression yet I remained on it for a few years.

@mwendt54 I’m glad you are doing well now!