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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 December 1, 2009, at 9:24:42
Does Tegretol help with anxiety, depression or both? Or, does Tegretol just make you feel flat?
I have BPII and am thinking of ditching the SSRIs and SNRIs due to awful side effects.
Trileptal tended to mess up my female hormones (which I guess it can do).
I can't take Lamictal.
Posted by Phillipa on December 1, 2009, at 10:43:28
In reply to Tegretol anxiety?, posted by SheilaC on December 1, 2009, at 9:24:42
As far as I know trileptal and tegretol are almost the same med. Trileptal have either an extra or l less oxygen molecule. I only took a baby dose of trileptal a few years ago noticed nothing but then it was low and for a booster. Phillipa
Posted by hopefullynow on December 1, 2009, at 10:50:59
In reply to Tegretol anxiety?, posted by SheilaC on December 1, 2009, at 9:24:42
Hello there,
I took carbamazepine retard - named Finlepsin, as an addon for my social anxiety for a few years.I had to stop it because it interacts to the antidepressant that i'm on now.I took it at 400-600 mg/day with Klonopin 2mg before bed and found it helpfull for anxiety, more with social and generalized than panic attacks.It helped me with sleep also.I have problems with early morning waking and it prologed considerably my sleep quality- i'd say to normal.
I read somewhere that carbamazepine have a tricyclic compound, more like tricyclic antidepressants and it had for me some antidepressant qualities.It was the only mood stabilizer that didn't made me suicidal or nervous and shakey(really - tried all), it helped me a lot, I miss it.Mild antidepressant, mellows anxiety, and to a lesser degree panic attacks, made me calm and peacefully.One drawback is that is a strong inducer of CYP3A4 cytocrome and you have to be carefully with your other drugs because carbamazepine can diminish their blood levels.I wish you all the best.
> Does Tegretol help with anxiety, depression or both? Or, does Tegretol just make you feel flat?
>
> I have BPII and am thinking of ditching the SSRIs and SNRIs due to awful side effects.
>
> Trileptal tended to mess up my female hormones (which I guess it can do).
>
> I can't take Lamictal.
Posted by SLS on December 1, 2009, at 11:53:10
In reply to Re: Tegretol anxiety?, posted by hopefullynow on December 1, 2009, at 10:50:59
Have you thought to try Trileptal (oxcarbazepine). It is a sister drug of Tegretol (carbamazepine) that does not have pharmacokinetic interaction issues with other drugs. It also does not carry the risk of agranulocytosis. Trileptal may not be as anxiolytic for you as Tegretol, but it might actually provide a more potent antidepressant effect. The only drawback of using Trileptal is that some people lose too much sodium and develop hyponatremia. I had no problem with it.
- Scott
Posted by hopefullynow on December 2, 2009, at 3:39:08
In reply to Re: Tegretol anxiety? » hopefullynow, posted by SLS on December 1, 2009, at 11:53:10
Scott,
Thanks for your advice.Actually I thought about Trileptal, from day one when I gave up on carbamazepine which I felt that interacts too much with Anafranil.I prefered lithium, hoping to a boost in clomipramine's effect.Like we discussed in another thread, lithium didn't too much to be a better alternative, so I think I'll give a chance to Trileptal.
> Have you thought to try Trileptal (oxcarbazepine). It is a sister drug of Tegretol (carbamazepine) that does not have pharmacokinetic interaction issues with other drugs. It also does not carry the risk of agranulocytosis. Trileptal may not be as anxiolytic for you as Tegretol, but it might actually provide a more potent antidepressant effect. The only drawback of using Trileptal is that some people lose too much sodium and develop hyponatremia. I had no problem with it.
>
>
> - Scott
Posted by Phidippus on December 2, 2009, at 14:08:09
In reply to Tegretol anxiety?, posted by SheilaC on December 1, 2009, at 9:24:42
Trileptal is basically Tegretol with an extra oxygen atom. The experience will be similar on both drugs. How about Lithium?
P
Posted by Phillipa on December 2, 2009, at 22:35:23
In reply to Re: Tegretol anxiety? » SheilaC, posted by Phidippus on December 2, 2009, at 14:08:09
Doesn't that make it cleaner with less side effects? Phillipa
Posted by Maxime on December 3, 2009, at 19:43:14
In reply to Tegretol anxiety?, posted by SheilaC on December 1, 2009, at 9:24:42
You were on Tegretol before. How did it make you feel?
Posted by SheilaC on December 4, 2009, at 13:01:02
In reply to Re: Tegretol anxiety? » SheilaC, posted by Maxime on December 3, 2009, at 19:43:14
> You were on Tegretol before. How did it make you feel?
Last time I just felt blah and really didn't feel anything.
This time around I am trying it in the evening and it helps me sleep and keeps me feeling relaxed.
I was thinking of possible adding a small dose of Wellbutrin with it.
Posted by Phidippus on December 10, 2009, at 18:48:41
In reply to Re: Tegretol anxiety? » Phidippus, posted by Phillipa on December 2, 2009, at 22:35:23
> Doesn't that make it cleaner with less side effects? Phillipa
So it seems. There are no warnings for agranucylotissisisisisisi - whatever it is that eats your blood and you don't have to monitor liver function with Trileptal.
P
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