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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Cindylou on September 8, 2002, at 13:55:59
Hi all,
I feel I've been a big pest lately. No help to anyone, just asking a bunch of questions. But I'm really struggling lately.The newest trial is Tegretol -- I just stopped Geodon because I couldn't tolerate more than 20 mg. and it seemed to be making the depression and agitation worse instead of better.
I have tried virtually everything out there (Zyprexa, Risperdal, SSRIs, SNRIs, stims, benzos, blah blah blah.) I am very med-sensitive and cannot tolerate high doses.
SO, onto Tegretol. My questions:
- can it help agitation and anxiety?
- can it help depression?
- will it zonk me out, like Zyprexa, Risperdal, Librium, and Lithium did? (and many others?)
- I am starting at 100 mg. at night. Should I cut the dose in half?I also take Klonapin for anxiety as needed; about 1-2 mg. daily.
Thanks so much in advance for your help!
cindy
Posted by bark23 on September 9, 2002, at 0:28:10
In reply to New trial - Tegretol. Please help., posted by Cindylou on September 8, 2002, at 13:55:59
Well I am on trileptal, close relative to tegretol, but they are almost identical, both chemically and pharmacologically. It has helped me with depression probably even more so than with mania. It also helped with agitation while actually giving me a bit of a boost! I have heard/read similar things from others on either drug. And 100mg should be ok, even in sensitive people.
matt
Posted by Cindylou on September 9, 2002, at 6:53:47
In reply to Re: New trial - Tegretol. Please help., posted by bark23 on September 9, 2002, at 0:28:10
Thanks, Matt!
I went ahead and tried the 100 mg last night, and it didn't affect me at all (that's a good thing.) If it did affect me, it gave me MORE energy. I couldn't get to sleep, and ended up having to take Klonapin to sleep.I'm wondering now if I should try 200 mg. -- I'll call the pdoc on that today.
How much trileptal do you take? Are the dosages the same as with tegretol?
Thanks so much for responding!
cindy
> Well I am on trileptal, close relative to tegretol, but they are almost identical, both chemically and pharmacologically. It has helped me with depression probably even more so than with mania. It also helped with agitation while actually giving me a bit of a boost! I have heard/read similar things from others on either drug. And 100mg should be ok, even in sensitive people.
> matt
Posted by zero on September 9, 2002, at 17:58:39
In reply to New trial - Tegretol. Please help., posted by Cindylou on September 8, 2002, at 13:55:59
Hi Cindylou,
With diagnosis of Bipolar II (plus lots of comorbid anxiety) I am also very med-sensitive and have been unable to tolerate even "normal" doses of many meds.Tegretol has been one of the few successful meds. for me (both low-dose and higher more "normal" doses).
As to your questions (from my experience):
1. very helpful w. agitation and especially w. anxiety,
2. at higher doses, it helped me with depression,
3. I felt pretty zoned out when 1st starting it (I started at 200mg. a day), but that passed quickly as I got used to it, and
4. 100mg. at night is an easy low-dose way to start with Teg.As a point of interest, I've tried Trileptal (cousin to Tegretol) and I react very differently to it than to Teg. (I get very "wired" on Tri., whereas Teg. is "calming").
Best of luck,
zero
Posted by Cindylou on September 9, 2002, at 22:09:57
In reply to Re: New trial - Tegretol. Please help. » Cindylou, posted by zero on September 9, 2002, at 17:58:39
Hi --
Thanks for your response! Here are a few more questions for you ....1. Can I ask what the higher dose was that helped you with depression? (was that the 200 mg, or higher?)
2. Also, did you take it all at night, or split the dose?
3. And one more question ... does it take awhile to work, or does it kick in right away? (I still felt quite anxious today, and had to supplement with Klonapin.)
Thanks again. I am surprised that I felt virtually no side effects with 100 mg. except that I couldn't sleep. I would have expected the opposite effect. My pdoc said I could increase to 200 mg, but I just took 150 mg tonight to be cautious.
Are you still on Tegretol now?
Thanks again,
cindy
> Hi Cindylou,
> With diagnosis of Bipolar II (plus lots of comorbid anxiety) I am also very med-sensitive and have been unable to tolerate even "normal" doses of many meds.
>
> Tegretol has been one of the few successful meds. for me (both low-dose and higher more "normal" doses).
>
> As to your questions (from my experience):
> 1. very helpful w. agitation and especially w. anxiety,
> 2. at higher doses, it helped me with depression,
> 3. I felt pretty zoned out when 1st starting it (I started at 200mg. a day), but that passed quickly as I got used to it, and
> 4. 100mg. at night is an easy low-dose way to start with Teg.
>
> As a point of interest, I've tried Trileptal (cousin to Tegretol) and I react very differently to it than to Teg. (I get very "wired" on Tri., whereas Teg. is "calming").
>
> Best of luck,
> zero
>
Posted by zero on September 9, 2002, at 22:36:57
In reply to Re: New trial - Tegretol. Please help. » zero, posted by Cindylou on September 9, 2002, at 22:09:57
Hi Cindylou,
Hope that info. helped.On to your followup questions:
1. It was higher doses (600-800mgs. per day range) that helped me with the depression,
2. Split into 3 equal-spaced doses (morning, mid-day & bedtime),
3. Definitely took a bit of time w. me to do its thing (at the start I felt mostly spaced-out, but after about a week and definitely by 2 weeks, it was helping w. anxiety, agitation, and then later it started helping w. depression).Yes, I still take it (low-dose now). I tried Trileptal, but didn't get much benefit, so went back to Tegretol.
Everyone is different, but with me, when I tried to escalate the dose quickly, I got much too spaced-out and I got bad headaches. What your pdoc says makes sense to me.
Good luck w. the Tegretol,
zero
Posted by bark23 on September 10, 2002, at 6:30:34
In reply to Re: New trial - Tegretol. Please help., posted by bark23 on September 9, 2002, at 0:28:10
Im on 900mg of trileptal (= 600mg of tegretol) right now. I was on a higher dose, but my doc recently added depakote so he lowered it (I make it very clear I don't like being on mood stabilizers any more than neccessary). Still get the same effects from this dose of trileptal, though maybe less energy. Hope things are working out for you, though I know its probably too soon to tell.
matt
Posted by Cindylou on September 11, 2002, at 17:26:58
In reply to Re: New trial - Tegretol. Please help. » Cindylou, posted by zero on September 9, 2002, at 22:36:57
Thanks Matt and Zero --
You were of great help to me. I am doing okay on 150 mg (but was very tired today -- could be a number of things, so I won't blame the Tegretol yet.) My anxiety is better already -- I am not needing as much Klonapin. I'm hoping to taper off the Klonapin completely.Thanks again for your information and support!
cindy
This is the end of the thread.
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