![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by sarahsundae on April 8, 2004, at 18:52:23
I have been taking it now since Sunday and after a few terrible days (after stopping my Topamax and starting the new med) I finally feel my moods are not so up and down again.
But HAS anyone taken or is anyone taking trileptal now? Can you give me any side effects you may have or have had?
And what about weight gain? I hear no but I'm still nervous (hey a girl doesn't lose 130+ pounds and not worry about weight gain-esp. after the 20 pounds I gained on the Effexor. I am .4 away from my weight when I started that nasty stuff).
TIA!
Posted by PsychoSage on April 9, 2004, at 1:45:35
In reply to Trileptal anyone?, posted by sarahsundae on April 8, 2004, at 18:52:23
> I have been taking it now since Sunday and after a few terrible days (after stopping my Topamax and starting the new med) I finally feel my moods are not so up and down again.
>
> But HAS anyone taken or is anyone taking trileptal now? Can you give me any side effects you may have or have had?
>
> And what about weight gain? I hear no but I'm still nervous (hey a girl doesn't lose 130+ pounds and not worry about weight gain-esp. after the 20 pounds I gained on the Effexor. I am .4 away from my weight when I started that nasty stuff).
>
> TIA!Dizziness, mild nausea, drunken feeling - need for a nap -, fogginess.
It definitely does not make you any hungrier or make you eat at strange hours in the night. It doesn't curb your appetite as well. I read Topamax does.
Side effects go away. I am on wellbutrin however, and i always had been while on trileptal. It may have countered some of the slowing down effects In the beginning I was on wellbutrin 150sr, so that is the low dose.
I moved from taking 300mg a day up to 1200mg. I am on 600mg right now because my new Provigil has made my Trileptal stronger.
I have not taken topamax or any other mood stabilizer.
You have to get your bloodwork done to keep track of your sodium on this. Mine has been fine.
You will learn to recognize Trileptal dizzy/drunkenness especially when your dose gets bumped up. It was like a mildly stimulating drunkenness when I was first on it I remember. I really wanted to walk outside even though I was really loopy.
Anyhow, the side effects should go away completely, and you will be left with the nice dampening qualities that it has.
It's supposed to have one of the better side effect profiles out there, so if you tolerate it then be happy. The only concern is the low sodium which affects not so many people.
Posted by sarahsundae on April 9, 2004, at 6:36:34
In reply to Re: Trileptal anyone? » sarahsundae, posted by PsychoSage on April 9, 2004, at 1:45:35
Thanks for the info.
I really really miss my Topamax right now.
The Trileptal seems to be working I guess but I don't know.
The scale has gone up since I started taking it and I can't figure out why. I'm still watching what I eat and exercising.
Oh well.
Posted by PsychoSage on April 9, 2004, at 11:22:47
In reply to Re: Trileptal anyone? » PsychoSage, posted by sarahsundae on April 9, 2004, at 6:36:34
> Thanks for the info.
>
> I really really miss my Topamax right now.
>
> The Trileptal seems to be working I guess but I don't know.
>
> The scale has gone up since I started taking it and I can't figure out why. I'm still watching what I eat and exercising.
>
> Oh well.well, the drug with the weight side effect is the topamax and not trileptal. Now you are normal. topamax curbs your appetite:
http://maillist.linuxmednews.org/pipermail/mednews/2003-April/000343.html
Quest for Weight-Loss Drug Takes an Unusual Turn
April 15, 2003
By DENISE GRADY nytimes.com
Posted by B2chica on April 9, 2004, at 12:00:35
In reply to Trileptal anyone?, posted by sarahsundae on April 8, 2004, at 18:52:23
> I have been taking it now since Sunday and after a few terrible days (after stopping my Topamax and starting the new med) I finally feel my moods are not so up and down again.
>
> But HAS anyone taken or is anyone taking trileptal now? Can you give me any side effects you may have or have had?
>
> And what about weight gain? I hear no but I'm still nervous (hey a girl doesn't lose 130+ pounds and not worry about weight gain-esp. after the 20 pounds I gained on the Effexor. I am .4 away from my weight when I started that nasty stuff).
>
> TIA!
I have been taking Trileptal now for about three weeks, i agree with the drunken/dizzyness factor, i take it twice a day and i only seem to get that effect when at night, when i'm ready for bed, it's like the beds spinning-i'm sure y'all know that feeling :)but am taking other drugs also so don't know what may be counter acting what. but i'll tell you this combo works Wonders for me -FINALLY
Trileptal 300mg 2x
Wellbutrin XL 300mg
Seroquel 100 mg at night only
Strattera 60mg morning only
and xanax 3x dailyHTH
B2c.
Posted by PsychoSage on April 9, 2004, at 15:33:06
In reply to Re: Trileptal anyone? » sarahsundae, posted by B2chica on April 9, 2004, at 12:00:35
> > I have been taking it now since Sunday and after a few terrible days (after stopping my Topamax and starting the new med) I finally feel my moods are not so up and down again.
> >
> > But HAS anyone taken or is anyone taking trileptal now? Can you give me any side effects you may have or have had?
> >
> > And what about weight gain? I hear no but I'm still nervous (hey a girl doesn't lose 130+ pounds and not worry about weight gain-esp. after the 20 pounds I gained on the Effexor. I am .4 away from my weight when I started that nasty stuff).
> >
> > TIA!
>
>
> I have been taking Trileptal now for about three weeks, i agree with the drunken/dizzyness factor, i take it twice a day and i only seem to get that effect when at night, when i'm ready for bed, it's like the beds spinning-i'm sure y'all know that feeling :)
>
> but am taking other drugs also so don't know what may be counter acting what. but i'll tell you this combo works Wonders for me -FINALLY
> Trileptal 300mg 2x
> Wellbutrin XL 300mg
> Seroquel 100 mg at night only
> Strattera 60mg morning only
> and xanax 3x daily
>
> HTH
> B2c.B2c,
how did you get on high dose strattera with the wellbutrin 300XL? I asked to be switched from wellbutrin to strattera, but my pdoc said they really have similar effects. She said that it wasn't a good idea, but I am interested in strattera.
I read on crazymeds.org {under wellbutrin and strattera} that mixing them could be overkill.
Posted by Minnie-Haha on April 9, 2004, at 19:14:12
In reply to Trileptal anyone?, posted by sarahsundae on April 8, 2004, at 18:52:23
I agree with most of the other feedback. My main side affects have been a little dizziness, sometimes headaches or a little nausea. They've gotten better as I've been on it. I have not gained weight. (Depakote -- ohmigod -- that'll put the weight on you.) I don't like having to take any drug, but as they go, Trileptal isn't bad.
Posted by platinumbride on April 10, 2004, at 0:18:39
In reply to Trileptal anyone?, posted by sarahsundae on April 8, 2004, at 18:52:23
I really have found trileptal to be pretty weight neutral, so I am kind of inclined to agree with psychosage about the topamax.
btw: congrats on losing that much weight!
I hope that things stablize soon in the weight department. Could there be any other cause of temporary weight gain, like, say water retention from a certain time of the month? Or is it possible that you lost a bit of weight while on topamax and are now returning to where you began before topamax was in the picture?
I'm routing for you....
Diane
Posted by katia on April 10, 2004, at 17:45:36
In reply to Re: Trileptal anyone?, posted by platinumbride on April 10, 2004, at 0:18:39
Anyone out there benefit on low doses of Trileptal? Im at 300mg and considering upping it. feel a little down so started the Lamictal now at 50mg and am agitated and tearful. I also take 25mg of Seroquel for sleep.
any comments on success at 300mg?
thanks-
Katia
Posted by Minnie-Haha on April 10, 2004, at 21:26:43
In reply to Low doses of Trileptal? Success?, posted by katia on April 10, 2004, at 17:45:36
I always seem to respond to lower doses than typical therapeutic doses myself. I am taking 450mg Trileptal right now, but I thought I felt pretty good at 300. My docs always seem to want to keep stepping doses up, I guess from that school of thought that you keep going up until you get bad effects, and then you back off to last dosage. Anybody out there able to explain this?
I think: Why not take the lowest dose that makes you feel better. Then, if you have to go up, you've got plenty of room to work with.
Posted by katia on April 11, 2004, at 3:38:23
In reply to Re: Low doses of Trileptal? Success?, posted by Minnie-Haha on April 10, 2004, at 21:26:43
> I always seem to respond to lower doses than typical therapeutic doses myself. I am taking 450mg Trileptal right now, but I thought I felt pretty good at 300. My docs always seem to want to keep stepping doses up, I guess from that school of thought that you keep going up until you get bad effects, and then you back off to last dosage. Anybody out there able to explain this?
>
> I think: Why not take the lowest dose that makes you feel better. Then, if you have to go up, you've got plenty of room to work with.
>
Great! someone responded!
And you too had some sucess at 300mg. I think I have too. It's so hard to tell w/ mercurial moods! It's not like it's flat line and then boom! a med works. There are so many factors to put into place!!!!
What's been happening for you at 450mg? I'm thinking of going to that and NO MORE. after that. BTW, what is the max and min. therapeutic dose for Trileptal?
Are you on any other meds? Does anyone out there get funny feeling fingers - like they are bloated in a way?
thanks!
Katia
Posted by Minnie-Haha on April 11, 2004, at 13:00:25
In reply to Re: Low doses of Trileptal? Success? » Minnie-Haha, posted by katia on April 11, 2004, at 3:38:23
> What's been happening for you at 450mg? I'm thinking of going to that and NO MORE. after that. BTW, what is the max and min. therapeutic dose for Trileptal?
> Are you on any other meds?
> KatiaSide effects for ME going from 300 to 450 were about the same as going from 0 to 150, or 150 to 300: a little dizziness, sometimes headaches or a little nausea. These wore off after a week or two. There was a very little irritability, too, and a sort of itchy feeling on cheeks (like sunburn or windburn), but I have very sensitive skin anyway and I've been battling anxiety off-and-on since last fall. (This has been weird for me, BUT I recently learned I have 3 thryoid nodules and my TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) is in the LOW normal range, which could indicate hyperthyroidism. That would explain the anxiety, insomnia and nausea - in the past, I was more prone to depression, somnolence and weight gain.)
So what am I on now? I've been on Trileptal 4 months now and I'm at 450mg (150/a.m., 300/p.m.). I've been taking Ativan about 6 months, 0.50 - 1.0mg (at bedtime, for the anxiety/insomnia). I've only been on Levothyroxine 1 month now, 50mcg (MICROgrams - early a.m.) to try to shrink thyroid nodules; it kinda aggravated my anxiety symptoms the first week, but I've adjusted now.
I would love to get off the Ativan, because it messes with my memory and my cognitive abilities. However, when I try to not take it at all, I hardly get any sleep and wake with varying degrees of anxiety. Maybe once I get my TSH up a little (not a lot, I hope) that will help?
This is completely off the top of my head, but I think a typical therapeutic dose of Trileptal is 600 to 1200mg. Anybody know for sure?
Posted by platinumbride on April 11, 2004, at 15:05:59
In reply to Re: Low doses of Trileptal? Success?, posted by Minnie-Haha on April 11, 2004, at 13:00:25
I am on 1200 mgs. I read somewhere that the max dose is 1800.
Don't go by me, though...I always have to go to the max doseage of every stupid med I take!
I know that neurontin, which I also take, makes me feel bloate, so katia, I don't think there is any more bloating than usual for me.
Sometimes I think the stuff is working, sometimes I think not....
Moodswings are such fun....
They make my husband say, at times, "I just wish you could SEE yourself..." This is because I am ragging on him....Diane
Posted by B2chica on April 13, 2004, at 10:35:23
In reply to Re: Strattera+WellbutrinXL? » B2chica, posted by PsychoSage on April 9, 2004, at 15:33:06
> > but am taking other drugs also so don't know what may be counter acting what. but i'll tell you this combo works Wonders for me -FINALLY
> > Trileptal 300mg 2x
> > Wellbutrin XL 300mg
> > Seroquel 100 mg at night only
> > Strattera 60mg morning only
> > and xanax 3x daily
> >
> > HTH
> > B2c.
>
> B2c,
>
> how did you get on high dose strattera with the wellbutrin 300XL? I asked to be switched from wellbutrin to strattera, but my pdoc said they really have similar effects. She said that it wasn't a good idea, but I am interested in strattera.
>
> I read on crazymeds.org {under wellbutrin and strattera} that mixing them could be overkill.PsychoSage
-actually i was on the strattera first (for ADHD) and was working my way up to 80 when i landed in the hospital, after one "freak-out" session right in front of my pdoc (which required a nice shot in the a$$ of Ativan) they decided to up the WellbutrinXL from 150 to 300, cuz apparently it wasn't working. Now they are afraid to up the strattera to 80 cuz their afraid those two together at those dosages might make me manic. Though i'm willing to take that chance to at least try it out cuz i don't think the strattera is working that well at that level.
HTH
B2c.
Posted by Tom Grimes on April 15, 2004, at 11:46:06
In reply to Re: Trileptal anyone? » PsychoSage, posted by sarahsundae on April 9, 2004, at 6:36:34
Hi. Trileptal: 1200 is the standard dose. Up to 2400 has been tried, but 1800 is usually the max.
My feeling has always been: take the lowest effective dose of any med. What works for you. And only you will know that.
300 is probably too low, but 450-900 may work with Trileptal. You just need to see.
The side effects seem to go away after a week if you increase slowly 150-300 mg at a time.
Finally, I'm the author who did the book thing a month or so ago on this site. My take on all meds is: one pill should solve your problem. If it doesn't, you're probably on the wrong pill. Doubling mood stabilizers probably just means doubling your confusion about what's working or isn't.
Good luck.
Tom Grimes
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.