Posted by chemist on July 24, 2004, at 18:01:22
In reply to Help!! Worried about taking so much medication., posted by BRC on July 24, 2004, at 10:58:40
hello there, chemist here...i can comment on trileptal, as i took the same dose you did a while back and it was when i was diagnosed bipolar I/II. i am about 7 years older than you, male, and also the same weight. that does not mean our biochemistry is the same, but your reaction to trileptal is almost identical to what was mine. assuming that your increased energy/lessened anxiety is attributable to trileptal alone, is worthwhile noting that this medication is prescribed off-label for mood disorders. you have remeron and klonopin on board, which might have been keeping you on the down side. again, maybe the upping of lexapro broke the dam, so to speak. as for long-term use of trileptal, it is quite safe, the caveat being to watch your sodium levels, as there is a significant (small) chance that sodium levels drop (resulting in hyponatremia), which is not good. as for your liver function, trileptal is metabolized by aryl ketone reductase, is not auto-inducing, and does not go the way of tegretol (via CYP450 enzymes), thus the intermediate (an epoxide, which is bad for your liver) is not encountered on the way to the active metabolite, the so-called monohydroxide derivative. nonetheless, i would suggest getting a blood test at the outset - the full panel, mind you - and check in 6 months or so, assuming no untoward effects. the nausea you describe is common and transient. finally, because you are seeking to reduce the numer of meds you take, you might discuss lowering or eliminating lexapro or remeron with your doctor. i would also suggest posting a thread for Sad Panda, SLS, or King Vultan, as they (in my opinion) can offer more information about lexapro and remeron that i can. also, you might post for Larry Hoover in re: interactions with the cholesterol med. as for klonopin, i am a fan of benzodiazepines and derivatives, and see no reason to drop it as it will keep your anxiety at bay, although the day may come when you are comfortable in reducing it as well. all the best, chemist
> Hi, I have been taking Lexapro 40mg, Remeron 30mg, and Klonopin 4mg for the past two years for major depression, generalized anxiety, and OCD. My pdoc. just upped my Lexapro to 60mg and. My family doctor put me on the cholesterol lowering medication Tricor for elevated cholesterol and triglycerides. Now my neurologist this week added Trileptal 600mg for nerve damage to my spine and lower leg.
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> I found that when adding the Trileptal I began to feel so much better. For the first time in over 4 years I went out with my friends last night. Previously I was housebound because of my anxiety and depression. When I went out I actually had a "great time". I laughed was able to go out to eat, went to bowl, and thourly enjoyed myself. Before I knew it was 2 a.m. in the morning.
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> I was just wondering was the medication was working or was I just "drugged" up because of all of the medication. The only side effects I experienced was a little feeling of nausea.
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> I am also concerned that if I continue taking this much medication it will do damage to my body. For instance are the liver and other organs at risk for damage. I am a 28 year old male and weigh approx. 160-165lbs and am otherwise in good health. I am just weary of all the different medication I am on. My room looks like a pharmacy with all of the prescription bottles. My doctors are all aware of the medications I am taking, but I am not sure they know how each medication reacts with one another.
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> Any comments or suggestions would greatly be appreciated. I wanted to ask people that actually have to take these medications and are familiar with how they work. Thanks
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> BRC
poster:chemist
thread:369924
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040724/msgs/370061.html