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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by sheilac on September 23, 2012, at 16:41:27
Ok - Lamical kept making me hypomanic. It helped with depression, but just wasn't helping with stability.
Added 300mg a day of Trileptal and felt great. Nice, even and not depressed.
BUT - I am having terrible sweats and hot flushes. I didn't have this before when I took Trileptal. This happened a long time ago when I took Trileptal.
What can I do? I really want to stick with Trileptal.
How to I get around this awful side effect? It's keeping me up at night.
Should I cut down to a very low dose and slowly work up? Do I tough it out and it will go away?
I don't want to drop Trileptal because I REALLY need it for stability.
If I fail, my doc will put me on Depakote, and I don't want to do that.
Any suggestions?
Posted by phillipa on September 23, 2012, at 17:10:15
In reply to Need help with Trileptal..., posted by sheilac on September 23, 2012, at 16:41:27
Are you menopausal? Is it some side effect of trileptal. If so haven't heard of this before. Stick with it. Phillipa
Posted by SLS on September 23, 2012, at 22:24:56
In reply to Need help with Trileptal..., posted by sheilac on September 23, 2012, at 16:41:27
What about keeping the Lamictal and increasing the Trileptal to a dosage that you know is therapeutic: 600 - 800 mg/day. It looks to me like you would experience both antidepressant and mood stabilizing effects.
It seems to me that you need to exercise more patience. I don't think you will ever get well without it.
My only concern for you with Lamictal is SJS. If in doubt, see a doctor.
- Scott
Posted by Sheilac on September 24, 2012, at 6:03:31
In reply to Re: Need help with Trileptal... » sheilac, posted by SLS on September 23, 2012, at 22:24:56
I love Lamictal /trileptal combo, but I am having sweats from trileptal. Will this go away? Do I need to reduce the dose and go low and slow with trileptal?
I didn't have this problem last time I took trileptal. I think it is a great med, even combined with low dose Lamictal.
Yes, I am in surgical menopause and take estrogen. Maybe trileptal is reducing estrogen now?
I can deal with the hot and cold during the day, but at night I can't sleep.
Will this go away?
Posted by SLS on September 24, 2012, at 10:44:21
In reply to Trileptal sweats..., posted by Sheilac on September 24, 2012, at 6:03:31
> I love Lamictal /trileptal combo, but I am having sweats from trileptal. Will this go away? Do I need to reduce the dose and go low and slow with trileptal?
>
> I didn't have this problem last time I took trileptal. I think it is a great med, even combined with low dose Lamictal.
>
> Yes, I am in surgical menopause and take estrogen. Maybe trileptal is reducing estrogen now?
Trileptal will reduce the effectiveness of birth control drugs.
> I can deal with the hot and cold during the day, but at night I can't sleep.
>
> Will this go away?I think you should tell your gynocologist about your drug treatment. Perhaps he can develop a dosing strategy that would offset the reduction in hormones that Trileptal causes.
In the meantime, I would like to see you remain on Trileptal 600 mg/day along with Lamictal.
> Will this go away?
It can get better.
Make this thing work! Get on with life! It is within your grasp. Don't let this opportunity pass you by.
- Scott
Posted by phillipa on September 24, 2012, at 19:14:21
In reply to Trileptal sweats..., posted by Sheilac on September 24, 2012, at 6:03:31
Are you taking hormones? If not please ask your obgyn for bioidentical hormones. And your hormone levels can be tested. There are now precription hormones for all three. Pill for progesterone, spray for estrogen, not sure about the testerone. I personally used bioidentical prescriptions hormone creams. Phillipa
Posted by sheilac on September 24, 2012, at 19:51:25
In reply to Re: Trileptal sweats... » Sheilac, posted by SLS on September 24, 2012, at 10:44:21
Thank you Scott! I am doing so much better with the Lamictal / Trileptal combo. Its getting colder outside so I hope the hot flushes won't bother me so much and I can also adjust my hormones if need be.
I really like both meds together - good combo. I still have Seroquel for sleep if I need it.
Thanks for your support. It has been hard finding a good combo. It really makes a difference.
Posted by phidippus on September 26, 2012, at 13:30:11
In reply to Need help with Trileptal..., posted by sheilac on September 23, 2012, at 16:41:27
>Should I cut down to a very low dose and slowly work up?
Going slowly up on the dose won't do much at this point. I like how you do describe your 'very low dose'-900mg to 2700 mg is what's usually prescribed for bipolar disorder.
>How to I get around this awful side effect?
The side effect is probably temporary.
>Do I tough it out and it will go away?
I would do that and keep on upping your dose. See what you feel at 1200 mg.
>I REALLY need it for stability.
What happens if you're off a mood stabilizer?
>If I fail, my doc will put me on Depakote, and I >don't want to do that.
Why are you afraid of the Depakote?
Eric
Posted by sheilac on September 29, 2012, at 15:00:42
In reply to Re: Need help with Trileptal..., posted by phidippus on September 26, 2012, at 13:30:11
I found my sweet spot. I can only tolerate 75mg of Lamictal for my depression. If I go higher I get manic.
450mg of Trileptal is perfect. If I go to 600mg I get depressed.
So, I have to use de-caff coffee in the morning and stick with this regime.
I have tried going to 100mg of Lamictal and 600mg of Trileptal, but I experience too many mood fluctuations - depression, hypo-mania.
I am a low dose gal. Plus I always have 1mg - 2mg of Klonopin to use as needed, but with the Trileptal it seems like I don't need the klonopin.
I have been using 50mg of Seroquel for sleep, but the 300mg of Trileptal at night makes me sleepy and I think I can cut back or cut out the seroquel soon.
Things are good now, thank goodness. Long road.
Posted by phillipa on September 29, 2012, at 21:20:19
In reply to Doing much better - Trileptal..., posted by sheilac on September 29, 2012, at 15:00:42
Congratulations!!!! Phillipa
This is the end of the thread.
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