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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Kookiecola on June 14, 2003, at 0:29:30
This is probably going to be long, but I am curious and mostly worried. I will start off telling you the midications I am taking and what for. For epilepsy I am taking 225 mg of Topamax, 100 mg of Lamictal and 200 mg of Phenytek every day. For depression I am taking 10 mg of Lexapro, and for pseudo tumor cerebri I am taking Imitrex.
The problem I am currently having is that I am bleeding. I won't say from where, but it is from a place where no one should bleed. (guess that kinda gives it away...sorry) Anyway, I have had blood tests done, and everything showed normal except my platelets were very low, and that means my blood isn't clotting the way it should. Since my liver and all checked out fine, my doctor said it was probably a side effect from all of the medications I have been taking. I have one more test to go through next week, a CT Scan, but if that doesn't give a reason for all this, and if it IS the medication, I was wondering if anyone out there had possibly had something similar happen to them and what happened with them.
With all the blood loss I am exhausted all the time. I sleep too much and it's like my body has weights all over it. I am so groggy. I hate feeling like this. It's almost like I am sleeping my life away.
I would appreciate anyone's thoughts.
Thank you.
Mary
Posted by avid abulia on June 14, 2003, at 12:16:35
In reply to Has Anyone Else Had This Problem?, posted by Kookiecola on June 14, 2003, at 0:29:30
um, no, actually, by saying a place no one should be bleeding from that doesn`t give it away, to me anyway... i am thinking ears or eyes (EMT experience and all) have you had a recent head injury? how often are you taking imitrex, and how certain is the dx of pseudo tumour cerebri? as imitrex is a powerful vasoconstrictor it can cause some hemorraeging from any blood vessel you can think of.
some AEDs can cause blood thinning (i have the blood clotting time of a haemophiliac on aspirin--well, not *that* bad, but... ) in particular phenytoin can cause bone marrow suppression leading to blood thinning and lamictal can interfere with prostaglandin action in the platelets because it is a p/q- and n- type calcium channel blocker.
~AA
Posted by Kookiecola on June 14, 2003, at 14:58:15
In reply to Re: Has Anyone Else Had This Problem?, posted by avid abulia on June 14, 2003, at 12:16:35
> um, no, actually, by saying a place no one should be bleeding from that doesn`t give it away, to me anyway... i am thinking ears or eyes (EMT experience and all) have you had a recent head injury? how often are you taking imitrex, and how certain is the dx of pseudo tumour cerebri? as imitrex is a powerful vasoconstrictor it can cause some hemorraeging from any blood vessel you can think of.
>
> some AEDs can cause blood thinning (i have the blood clotting time of a haemophiliac on aspirin--well, not *that* bad, but... ) in particular phenytoin can cause bone marrow suppression leading to blood thinning and lamictal can interfere with prostaglandin action in the platelets because it is a p/q- and n- type calcium channel blocker.
>
> ~AAThank you for the response. This isn't bleeding from the eyes or ears...think further down and to the back.
No, I haven't had any head injuries. I've been diagnosed with epilepsy since I was 9 years old and was diagnosed with pseudo tumor cerebri 7 years ago. I have the severe headaches that are associated with that...some where I go blind for periods of time...some where I can't feel my arms and legs, I can't walk, etc.
Posted by avid abulia on June 14, 2003, at 17:32:13
In reply to Re: Has Anyone Else Had This Problem?, posted by Kookiecola on June 14, 2003, at 14:58:15
oh... i don`t really know what to say except for the stuff about some anticonvulsant thinning the blood.
eyes or ears *are* places people shouldn`t be bleeding from, though. ;)
Posted by afatchic on June 14, 2003, at 23:03:16
In reply to Has Anyone Else Had This Problem?, posted by Kookiecola on June 14, 2003, at 0:29:30
Your problem is a serious one and if your doctor isn't taking it seriously, you need to find a new one.
> This is probably going to be long, but I am curious and mostly worried. I will start off telling you the midications I am taking and what for. For epilepsy I am taking 225 mg of Topamax, 100 mg of Lamictal and 200 mg of Phenytek every day. For depression I am taking 10 mg of Lexapro, and for pseudo tumor cerebri I am taking Imitrex.
>
> The problem I am currently having is that I am bleeding. I won't say from where, but it is from a place where no one should bleed. (guess that kinda gives it away...sorry) Anyway, I have had blood tests done, and everything showed normal except my platelets were very low, and that means my blood isn't clotting the way it should. Since my liver and all checked out fine, my doctor said it was probably a side effect from all of the medications I have been taking. I have one more test to go through next week, a CT Scan, but if that doesn't give a reason for all this, and if it IS the medication, I was wondering if anyone out there had possibly had something similar happen to them and what happened with them.
>
> With all the blood loss I am exhausted all the time. I sleep too much and it's like my body has weights all over it. I am so groggy. I hate feeling like this. It's almost like I am sleeping my life away.
>
> I would appreciate anyone's thoughts.
>
> Thank you.
> Mary
Posted by Questionmark on June 16, 2003, at 4:08:25
In reply to Has Anyone Else Had This Problem?, posted by Kookiecola on June 14, 2003, at 0:29:30
The severity of this depends on how much you are bleeding. You might want to see a gastroenterologist.
i've noticed that i've had the same problem (i hope no one i know reads this-- hah) occur the day or day after taking a stimulant like Adderall or Ritalin-- i imagine from the vasoconstrictive effects, as you said. Could be coincidence, but i dont think so. Anyway, see what your pdoc says, and see a gastro if bad enough. Could just be hemorroids, made worse by the imitrex or whatever else-- but probably best to make sure.
This is the end of the thread.
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