Posted by psychosage on May 21, 2004, at 23:35:16
In reply to Re: Trileptal, posted by sgomez01 on May 21, 2004, at 13:37:04
> What kind of side effects do you have? How many mg are you on? I a little nervous about trying this one because I had such terrible side effects from topamax and depakote
if you know how to do a search, I have done a number of posts on Trileptal. I have been on it for a year.
I have been on as high as 1200mg.
I have no real side effects now. What I do experience is the general dampening that is supposed to be theraputic for us bipolar folk.
It's much more tolerable than Zyprexa for maintenance.
It never added a minute of sleep except when I started I immediately had to take a nap after half of the first metabolite was eliminated which takes 2 hours. Side effects last a few days to a week and occur every time you increase the dosage. Start slow as directed at like 150mg or 300mg.
Generally, I have experienced drunken dizziness, but it;s odd because it stimulates you a little like alcohol. It's not quite the same sedation that you get from Zyprexa or a benzo.
I had some mild nausea, but it was entirely tolerable and not painful.
Basically, I have written what I have written in other posts, and other people will echo me.
I am not sure if it works because it is my first mood stabilizer, and the rest of my symptoms I address with other meds, exercise or therapy. It's hard to tell if you are just not having hypomanic symptoms because you are being normal or it's the drug.
I'm happy to have it on board though, since it's my first mood stabilizer. Looking at my illness through the bipolar lense is new for me.
I honestly do still have mixed moods and some depression still, but my body doesn't buzz and vibrate to the same extent it did when I was manic.
If my condition did get worse, I would have the Trileptal increased back to 1200mg. I am on 600mg.
I have had blood work done for my liver, my metabolics {sodium specifically for the Trileptal} and my oxcarbemazepine {trileptal} levels. That is what your doctor should order periodically.
Trileptal definitely interacts with other psych meds, so you have to adjust your dosing because it is likely it will be different than without Trileptal. That can mean Trileptal becomes stronger or the other drugs become stronger or weaker. I have not experienced another med making Trileptal weaker.
I have not had depakote or Topamax obviously, but from what I have heard from real-time friends is that both are sedating.
I consider Trileptal superior to antipsychotics and apparently favorable to other anticonvulsants as far as side effects.
The only skepticism I would have about it is whether it alone is strong enough to handle manic symptoms for me or anyone else. It's not commonly a drug that "overworks" or floors people over I interpret.
Dosing is twice a day, and perhaps you can do a 2:1 - night:day ratio or simply an even split dose {i.e. 600mg morning and 600mg at night}.
Good luck!
poster:psychosage
thread:349189
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040521/msgs/349474.html