Posted by Krysti on December 14, 2002, at 13:21:33
In reply to BP II peeps--Tegretol questions..., posted by fluffy on December 14, 2002, at 11:23:15
You guys are too great - thanks for missing me : )
It's hard sometimes to get on here with working during the day and then if I have things to do after work, but I'm always thinking of you : )
Fluffy - I would definitely look for another pdoc. The first one I went to was a complete jerk. Didn't listen to anything I had to say and was just always trying to rush me out of there to get onto his next patient. A pdoc should ALWAYS listen to what you have to say and base the treatment accordingly. After all, the only person that knows what is going inside your head is you. The pdoc I go to now is great. She is VERY knowledgable about all the meds and takes notes each time I'm in there about what I say so she can keep track of my moods and how they are corresponding with the meds we've tried. She ALWAYS listens to what I have to say and I feel very comfortable that she is trying her best to help me. It makes a big difference.
Here's a site I found on Tegratol. 100mg's is a very small dose - no wonder you are still cycling. Also, the level in your blood is supposed to be monitored - have you taken any tests? A test should show if you are in the therapeutic range.
http://www.healthyplace.com/medications/carbamazepine.htm
The Trileptal is still working very well. I don't remember all what my doctor said the differences were between Tegretol and Trileptal, but I know she said Trileptal is just a newer version and supposed to have fewer side effects and the level does not need to be monitored.
I agree with Mike about Lithium - personally I wouldn't want to be on at - only as a last resort. I wouldn't give up on the Tegretol yet - no medication is going to help if the pdoc doesn't put you on a sufficient dose. Again, I would see about finding a different pdoc, someone who really takes an interest in trying to help you. You might want to try to find the number of a bipolar support group in your area and call and ask them if they could recommend one to you. They would know best - that's how I found mine : )
Krysti
poster:Krysti
thread:131794
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021210/msgs/131819.html