This is unbelievable. It just shows the that the psychiatric medication market is alive and well, and will do anything to make a buck off of innocent people. (your welcome Big Pharma).

I am glad I have an open-discussion with my psychiatrist, giving him details from my perspective as a patient on these 2 meds.

I am also appreciative that my psych agreed with my choice of using Lamictal, and how he told me Lamictal works well for bipolar depression.

Just in case a marketing rep for Astra Zeneca is reading this:

Don't get too excited. I for one, can tell you Seroquel sucks, and Lamictal works.(long term use is key here.)

"according to thought-leading psychiatrists"

What is a thought-leading psychiatrist?

Off the cuff here; but it is anyone who thinks with a degree framed on the wall behind their desk.
Or, a consumer with the same knowledge, and a degree behind their desk.

I consider myself a thought-leader in many topics.

Is there somewhere on your site that I can read your opinion and concerns over Seroquel?

Thanks

Ok, don't hate me.

I, um, "heart" Lamictal. (Mainly because of the weight-loss side effect.)

It was prescribed to aid in my depression, but instead, diminshed my mania. I haven't had a manic episode for the past month. (That's a helluva long time for me.)

I don't know about Lamictal being the "gold standard," but after comparing it to Seroquel — my doc prescribed this to treat my mania, ironically — it seems like a total gem. I also read somewhere that a Lamictal clinical trial lasted 18 months. (I'd have to dig up that info somewhere to back it up. I may be confusing it with Seroquel, but I certainly hope not.)

Don't get me wrong, here. I think all meds are dubious. But if a doc needs to prescribe a med for bp, I'd throw support behind Lamictal. However, it's not proven to treat psychosis since it's not an antipsychotic. I think my major issue lies with antipsychotics because the side effects are so outrageous that for some people, it's not even worth it.

If you want, you can see the side effect comparison I came up with a while ago (http://deepintro.typepad.com/depression_introspection/2007/01/quetiapine_come.html). That's basically how I figured out whether to go on Seroquel or Lamictal. My doc also gave me the option of choosing lithium, but I have no time to get my blood levels measured constantly.

None of these are a magic bullet, but it's the only med that's come close to helping me. But Effexor did too. Should I come off Lamictal, you'll certainly be hearing about the fun withdrawal symptoms. [/sarcasm]