Comments on: My sweet Lamictal http://blogs.philadelphiaweekly.com/trouble/2007/10/08/my-sweet-lamictal/ A blog about mental health Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:55:48 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Larry Parker http://blogs.philadelphiaweekly.com/trouble/2007/10/08/my-sweet-lamictal/comment-page-1/#comment-2580 Larry Parker Sat, 13 Oct 2007 07:58:51 +0000 http://trouble.pwblogs.com/2007/10/08/my-sweet-lamictal/#comment-2580 Liz: Lamictal is now officially FDA-approved for maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder. Liz:

Lamictal is now officially FDA-approved for maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder.

]]> By: Helen http://blogs.philadelphiaweekly.com/trouble/2007/10/08/my-sweet-lamictal/comment-page-1/#comment-2579 Helen Fri, 12 Oct 2007 04:47:28 +0000 http://trouble.pwblogs.com/2007/10/08/my-sweet-lamictal/#comment-2579 Herb, I couldn't have said it better myself. We each come from a unique genetic pool, have one-of-a-kind brain chemistry and our life experiences and environment are so personal. A treatment that reeks havoc on one person can be a miracle for another. Like Liz, Lamictal has been a godsend for my daughter. Of course, we need to be cautious about big Pharma and there are some awful and tragic stories out there. Thank you for your balanced viewpoint and for your open-mindedness. Herb, I couldn’t have said it better myself. We each come from a unique genetic pool, have one-of-a-kind brain chemistry and our life experiences and environment are so personal. A treatment that reeks havoc on one person can be a miracle for another. Like Liz, Lamictal has been a godsend for my daughter. Of course, we need to be cautious about big Pharma and there are some awful and tragic stories out there. Thank you for your balanced viewpoint and for your open-mindedness.

]]> By: Herb http://blogs.philadelphiaweekly.com/trouble/2007/10/08/my-sweet-lamictal/comment-page-1/#comment-2578 Herb Tue, 09 Oct 2007 01:02:34 +0000 http://trouble.pwblogs.com/2007/10/08/my-sweet-lamictal/#comment-2578 “I know Lamictal can have dangerous side effects upon initial treatment; maybe those are intensified with the long-acting version. I've been taking it for years -- knock wood -- with excellent results.” --- Liz Spikol Now just imagine if those patients who did experience the “dangerous side effects” of this drug and their support people decided to request the banning of this medication. It is similar to groups that want to see ECT banned even though there are other patients who benefit. Just imagine where you would be if other patients were successful in banning Lamictal from which they had serious side effects. I can assure you I read similar advocacies for banning numerous medications. Imagine if I had lobbied and successfully campaigned to ban Lamictal because of my spouse’s serious and life threatening side effects from the drug; how happy you’d be now. The point is I have an understanding that all medications should be properly tested and certified for reasonable safety and efficacy and any patient taking any medication or therapy should be reasonably educated to make informed decisions in collaboration with an attending physician and weigh the benefits against the risks. From my personal experiences as a support person I’m well aware there is a price to pay whether short-term or down the line from the use of any psychotropic medications. The fact that my spouse encountered serious side effects from Lamictal does not cloud or anger my feelings toward the medication knowing full well that others are more fortunate and are benefiting from the same medication. What properly have to be addressed are the shortcomings and improprieties on the part of the sponsors of these various therapies to fudge test results and/or promote off label use without proper testing in my opinion. Warmly Herb VNSdepression.com “I know Lamictal can have dangerous side effects upon initial treatment; maybe those are intensified with the long-acting version. I’ve been taking it for years — knock wood — with excellent results.” — Liz Spikol

Now just imagine if those patients who did experience the “dangerous side effects” of this drug and their support people decided to request the banning of this medication. It is similar to groups that want to see ECT banned even though there are other patients who benefit.

Just imagine where you would be if other patients were successful in banning Lamictal from which they had serious side effects.

I can assure you I read similar advocacies for banning numerous medications. Imagine if I had lobbied and successfully campaigned to ban Lamictal because of my spouse’s serious and life threatening side effects from the drug; how happy you’d be now.

The point is I have an understanding that all medications should be properly tested and certified for reasonable safety and efficacy and any patient taking any medication or therapy should be reasonably educated to make informed decisions in collaboration with an attending physician and weigh the benefits against the risks.

From my personal experiences as a support person I’m well aware there is a price to pay whether short-term or down the line from the use of any psychotropic medications. The fact that my spouse encountered serious side effects from Lamictal does not cloud or anger my feelings toward the medication knowing full well that others are more fortunate and are benefiting from the same medication.

What properly have to be addressed are the shortcomings and improprieties on the part of the sponsors of these various therapies to fudge test results and/or promote off label use without proper testing in my opinion.

Warmly
Herb
VNSdepression.com

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