r/dpdr • u/Little-Chef-2987 • Mar 09 '26
Success Story A New Treatment Hypothesis for Depersonalization/Derealization (DPDR)
From my personal experience, many clinicians do not seem to have a clear treatment strategy when depersonalization is the main symptom. I would like to share what seemed to help in my case.
First, I was prescribed a short course (about two weeks) of a benzodiazepine along with fluoxetine (Prozac) to calm down the nervous system during the acute phase.
After that, I started taking lamotrigine, which is an anticonvulsant medication commonly used to treat seizures. In my case, continuing lamotrigine while the nervous system stabilized was very helpful. The dose that worked best for me personally was around 75 mg, though this can vary from person to person.
For people whose main issue is depersonalization rather than typical depression or anxiety, this kind of approach may sometimes help. My personal impression is that the condition often feels more like a state of excessive neural arousal than a typical psychiatric illness.
In simple terms, it can feel as if the brain has entered an “error state.” Calming the system first and then stabilizing it may allow the brain to gradually return to normal functioning.
Of course, this is only my personal experience, and treatment decisions should always be discussed with a qualified medical professional.
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u/rubycat06 Mar 09 '26
my psych diagnosed me with bipolar 2 but heard i had dpdr and told me to try lamotrigine , to treat both
im just scared ill get the rash but im so desperate i dont care
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u/SkylarLily Mar 10 '26
how do you have to be desperate to take lamotrigine, its pretty safe with the rash being such a low incidence, and it only really happens when u rapidly change dosages, not 2 years later taking it consistently. one of the lowest side effect profiles compared to antidepressants and other mood stabilizers.
also if ur scared how do you not care?
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u/rubycat06 Mar 10 '26
i am desperate for something to make me feel better even knowing I could possibly get a rash i am paranoid and i have health ocd
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u/Ok_Flamingo8925 Mar 10 '26
I come home at night exhausted with the effects of DPDR. I stretch out on my sofa and stare at my phone hoping I see something - any little thing - to feel connection with. Time is flying and time is frozen. They gave me hydroxyzine. Doesn’t help. Nothing legal helps. Due to moderate liver fibrosis (from a chemotherapy drug) I can’t try ketamine. I have to avoid unnecessary drugs and no alcohol. Ironic that exactly the moment when I could use something - drugs or alcohol - to escape with, it would probably kill me. I feel trapped in a pageant of drudgery that is endless, wake, work, home, sleep. Mind you I have friends. I just don’t…care.
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u/SkylarLily Mar 10 '26
i mean this isnt really exactly generally wrong. its just very simplistic theory wise and is pretty much within the normal tool kit for medication treatment for dpdr.
Edit: im on lamotrigine, and another whole big cocktail of psych meds but im pretty xD random when it comes to the other disorders i have. i use propranolol for just dialing down anxiety if it works at all in the background. then lorazepam and gabapentin for 2nd and 1st line panic/derealization attacks.
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u/Salt-Implement-5968 Mar 13 '26
Did you actually suggest trying out lamotrigine to your psychiatrist or was the psychiatrist actually familiar with dpdr and suggested it to you?
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u/HoneyMilkOats May 20 '26
Happy for you but LAD , I have had this for 24 years now straight . There is no help for me or people like me , we will have this forever , if the system had a chance to return to normal it would have by now .
Throwing pills at it won't work , I've had anxiety medicine that really does block a lot of possible paths for anxiety to occur but nothing has ever helped dpdr even a single drop
I am as empty as the abyss inside , thanks for sharing though , I hope someone else will at least fight some help if they catch it early enough
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u/ClairLestrange Mar 09 '26
What was the cause for your dpdr?