—especially now that evidence is available for alternative medications, including quetiapine and lamotrigine."

I'd say that's a damn disturbing conclusion given that I've had a hell of a much worse time getting off Lamictal than I ever did an antidepressant....though I had all sorts of other problems with them...

oh---the day they simply start seriously looking at non-drug approaches to care is the day I will be happy....as long as they are replacing AD's with the likes of seroquel and lamictal we're still in a very very bad place.

I agree with Gianna, It's no good trashing antidepressants if it's only to turn to antipsychotics or Lamictal. Out of the frying pan into the fire. Let's just leave the neurotoxins behind -- period.

I'm not sure if they'd want to lean on Seroquel and Lamictal quite that hard since both drugs have serious problems of their own.

Aside from the Stevens-Johnson Syndrome rash, which is generally caused by titrating the dose up too quickly when started on the med, what other serious problems are associated with lamotrigine? And I mean demonstrated in controled studies. Not people's anecdotal claims.

LOL
LOL
I've opened the pop-up window to check what nonsense cairn wrote!
LOL LOL LOL lol lol
It's funny!
We have to get some fun from some comments!
"have no idea where you got the message, "Anti-Depressants Again Found Bad For Bipolar Disorder." The ....
lol lol lol lol lol
It's already common knowledge.
They forgot to send the memo to cairn.
{laughing a lot.........}

Thank you so much for the information. This helps me have an informed discussion with my p-doc. Your efforts to provide a collection of research about mental health is appreciated. Annie

There's a big debate going on at the FDA as to whether all the anticonvulsants should receive warnings for risk of suicidality. Believe me, it's real, at least for Lamictal, "approved for bipolar depression." Another Glaxo wonder.

To further address cairns question:

Nervous System:

Frequent: Confusion and paresthesia.

Infrequent: Akathisia, apathy, aphasia, CNS depression, depersonalization, dysarthria, dyskinesia, euphoria, hallucinations, hostility, hyperkinesia, hypertonia, libido decreased, memory decrease, mind racing, movement disorder, myoclonus, panic attack, paranoid reaction, personality disorder, psychosis, sleep disorder, stupor, and suicidal ideation. Rare: Cerebellar syndrome, cerebrovascular accident, cerebral sinus thrombosis, choreoathetosis, CNS stimulation, delirium, delusions, dysphoria, dystonia, extrapyramidal syndrome, faintness, grand mal convulsions, hemiplegia, hyperalgesia, hyperesthesia, hypokinesia, hypotonia, manic depression reaction, muscle spasm, neuralgia, neurosis, paralysis, and peripheral neuritis.

Respiratory System:
Infrequent: Yawn.
Rare: Hiccup and hyperventilation.

Special Senses:

Frequent: Amblyopia.

Infrequent: Abnormality of accommodation, conjunctivitis, dry eyes, ear pain, photophobia, taste perversion, and tinnitus.

Rare: Deafness, lacrimation disorder, oscillopsia, parosmia, ptosis, strabismus, taste loss, uveitis, and visual field defect.

Urogenital System:

Infrequent: Abnormal ejaculation, breast pain, hematuria, impotence, menorrhagia, polyuria, urinary incontinence, and urine abnormality.

Rare: Acute kidney failure, anorgasmia, breast abscess, breast neoplasm, creatinine increase, cystitis, dysuria, epididymitis, female lactation, kidney failure, kidney pain, nocturia, urinary retention, urinary urgency, and vaginal moniliasis.

lamictal rx list dot com.

I also believe anecdotal stories are worth more than gold at times. Take a look at the Lamictal withdrawal thread on this blog that people add to almost daily,and that post has been up since July 07.

Antidepressants can CAUSE bipolar.

Lilly... check your DSM IV. A medication-induced manic episode is specifically cited as NOT being true bipolar disorder. Antidepressants don't cause bipolarity, however, it can exacerbate the condition that wasn't previously (or most times correctly) diagnosed.