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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Nixon on March 5, 2005, at 17:59:45
Hi,
Just looking for some people with experience on Trileptal. Onset of action time, initial side effects and chronic ones, effectiveness on mania, anxiety and depression. Thanks Everybody. JN
Posted by ed_uk on March 5, 2005, at 18:19:07
In reply to Trileptal Experiences Opinions, posted by Nixon on March 5, 2005, at 17:59:45
Hi John,
Are you feeling more motivated now? Do you still need a med change? Are you back to Librium?
Ed.
Posted by Nixon on March 5, 2005, at 18:34:58
In reply to Re: Trileptal Experiences Opinions » Nixon, posted by ed_uk on March 5, 2005, at 18:19:07
> Hi John,
>
> Are you feeling more motivated now? Do you still need a med change? Are you back to Librium?
>
> Ed.Hi Ed,
Yes, I am back on the librium 10mg x 2 pday. The switch to valium in hindsight was meaningless. I am seeing my pdoc on Monday. I really am looking for something more effective than depakote. Although Depakote definetly works it can induce some sluggishness and apathy. I still take the prozac although only every other day at 20mg. I know what I get out of Prozac at 20 a day and in my case the mood stabilizer is probably the most crucial drug. Remeron helps my sleep greatly and somewhat with depression but Trileptal is on my mind. I am going to ask for it, and get it, I just need some advice on titration and what to expect regarding side effects. I know you probably have some good advice so fire away. My goal is elimination of prozac with Trileptal while keeping Remeron & librium, hopefully gaining some AD effect even if it is slight while stabilizing hypomania. Depakote does not offer me this option. Thanks. John
Posted by Phillipa on March 5, 2005, at 19:22:52
In reply to Re: Trileptal Experiences Opinions » ed_uk, posted by Nixon on March 5, 2005, at 18:34:58
My old pdoc Rx;d a low dose of Trileptal l50mg at bedtime. he said it would help with mood and sleep. I know this was a very low dose, but I think it helped with sleep. So, do you think this can replace an AD. I also take remeron with l0valium for sleep. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by MM on March 6, 2005, at 2:30:17
In reply to Re: Trileptal Experiences Opinions, posted by Phillipa on March 5, 2005, at 19:22:52
Right now I'm on a pretty high dose of Trileptal (1200mg) and I'm not totally sure why, however, I don't seem to have many side effects. The only one is sedation when I take it, so that's why I take it at night. It is good for helping with sleep, which might partially be why I'm prescribed so much. The only other MS I have taken was Depakote and that made me gain weight so I got off of it. Trileptal has been pretty weight neutral I think. I think I might have a little cognitive dulling from it (but it could be from something else too)...mainly not being able to find the exact word I want to; having it on the tip of my tongue. I've been on it for quite a while and haven't had much trouble. There is a combo of vitamins you can take to prevent hairloss, but I'm not sure if Trileptal is one of the ones that causes that (selenium and zinc I think, but not sure what doses). I say go for it, but that's because I've had no real trouble with it...maybe others have. I know there have been some posts on this so you could search the board for them too. Good luck and HTH (and hope I made sense as I am post-taking my Trileptal and Klonopin).
MM
Posted by ed_uk on March 6, 2005, at 10:05:57
In reply to Re: Trileptal Experiences Opinions » ed_uk, posted by Nixon on March 5, 2005, at 18:34:58
Hi John,
>The switch to valium in hindsight was meaningless.
Lol, I never was sure why you wanted to do that!
>My goal is elimination of prozac
Are you sure you want to come off Prozac completely? Trileptal might not be very effective for depression on its own. A low dose of Prozac could be sufficient, in clinical trials of 5mg/day, some people apparantly did well. Low incidence of side effects at this dose.
>I just need some advice on titration.
I would start with a lower dose than the initial dose recommended for epilepsy. Once you've been on the Trileptal for a few weeks I'd attempt to withdraw the Depakote.
Regards,
Ed.
Posted by Nixon on March 6, 2005, at 11:00:14
In reply to Re: Trileptal Experiences Opinions » Nixon, posted by ed_uk on March 6, 2005, at 10:05:57
> Hi John,
>
> >The switch to valium in hindsight was meaningless.
>
> Lol, I never was sure why you wanted to do that!
>
> >My goal is elimination of prozac
>
> Are you sure you want to come off Prozac completely? Trileptal might not be very effective for depression on its own. A low dose of Prozac could be sufficient, in clinical trials of 5mg/day, some people apparantly did well. Low incidence of side effects at this dose.
>
> >I just need some advice on titration.
>
> I would start with a lower dose than the initial dose recommended for epilepsy. Once you've been on the Trileptal for a few weeks I'd attempt to withdraw the Depakote.
>
> Regards,
> Ed.Hi Ed,
No I am not sure I want to stop Prozac completely and probably will never do so. My idea is a good antimanic ie:Trileptal without weight gain/hair loss issues etc. I like the sodium and calcium channel action(possibly potassium) without the effect on GABA. Be the first to respond to my new post on Depakote/Trileptal equivalency. You will set a good pace.lol. John
Posted by Maxime on March 6, 2005, at 11:36:46
In reply to Trileptal Experiences Opinions, posted by Nixon on March 5, 2005, at 17:59:45
> Hi,
>
> Just looking for some people with experience on Trileptal. Onset of action time, initial side effects and chronic ones, effectiveness on mania, anxiety and depression. Thanks Everybody. JNHi. I am bipolar Type 2, although at one point I was diagnosed Type 1 because I had a psychotic episode. I find it helpful at keeping mixed episodes at bay as well as irritability and rage and hypomania. For full blown mania, I am not sure if it would be sufficient.
Side effects I had at the beginning were dizziness and nausea. They went away quickly. I take it at night. It is weight neutral for most people. And as you probably know it is close to Tegretol in its chemical make-up with only an oxygen atom added on. This is why it has less side effects than Tegretol and less contraindications with other meds you might be taking. It's expensive. It can lower the sodium in your body so if you are already on a low sodium diet you will want to be careful as too low a sodium level can mess up your heart.
I hope this helps.
Maxime
Posted by Maxime on March 6, 2005, at 11:49:49
In reply to Re: Trileptal Experiences Opinions, posted by Phillipa on March 5, 2005, at 19:22:52
I don't think Trileptal can replace an AD. It's not like Lamictal which can do both (mood stabilisation and AD). Its properties are:
Na+ channel inhibition
Ca2+ channel inhibitionMaxime
Posted by Minnie-Haha on March 6, 2005, at 12:23:00
In reply to Trileptal Experiences Opinions, posted by Nixon on March 5, 2005, at 17:59:45
I have mild BP2 and mild OCD. Trileptal has been a good drug for me, though not for monotherapy. It just doesn't have enough of an antidepressant effect. Depakote made me gain 30 lbs in 2 years. Lamictal brightened my mood a bit, but after 6-8 weeks I got a rash and my pdoc made me quit. I'm not sure if it might have started to activate me a little, or make me a little agitated or anxious by that time, too. Wasn't on it long enough to be sure. If you tend more toward depression, it might be a good choice.
Posted by Nixon on March 6, 2005, at 13:18:13
In reply to Trileptal Experiences Opinions, posted by Nixon on March 5, 2005, at 17:59:45
Hi,
Thanks alot for the feedback. Interesting stuff. Trileptal, here I come. JN
Posted by tygereyes on March 6, 2005, at 17:11:31
In reply to Re: Trileptal Experiences Opinions, posted by Minnie-Haha on March 6, 2005, at 12:23:00
I have Bipolar II Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, and am in recovery from Polysubstance Dependence and Anorexia Nervosa. I take Trileptal.
Last year, I was taking 1050 mgs but this dose caused a lot of cognitive problems (memory issues - i.e. could not remember conversations or events after they happened, as well as feeling "stupid"). Now I am on 600 mgs and those issues are much better. The hypomania is non-existant but the BEST thing about it is that it has completely taken away my dysphoric mania/severe anger.
However, neither 1050 mgs or 600 mgs were enough to take away the depression. Trileptal is rather ineffective for depression. So I take a tricyclic antidepressant (Desipramine) as well, and Seroquel to augment the effects of Trileptal, so I can be on a lower dose without any return of hypomania or anger.
This is the end of the thread.
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