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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 16 of 16. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Lawrence S. on December 30, 2002, at 13:00:35
I'm on 300mg a day. I'm wondering what the tipical dose is for mood stabilization, antidepressant or anticonvulsant effect.
My Pdoc prescribed to me for sleep. This is the only time I've heard of it used for sleep. Is anyone out there taking it for TLE, as I have wondered if I have had this also?
Posted by Peter S. on December 30, 2002, at 14:16:51
In reply to Trileptal: any positive experiences???, posted by Lawrence S. on December 30, 2002, at 13:00:35
Hi Lawrence,
Trileptal was a very negative experience for me- it increased my depression and really knocked me out.
Others on this board have had very positive experiences with it though.
Peter
> I'm on 300mg a day. I'm wondering what the tipical dose is for mood stabilization, antidepressant or anticonvulsant effect.
> My Pdoc prescribed to me for sleep. This is the only time I've heard of it used for sleep. Is anyone out there taking it for TLE, as I have wondered if I have had this also?
Posted by Ritch on December 30, 2002, at 15:09:54
In reply to Trileptal: any positive experiences???, posted by Lawrence S. on December 30, 2002, at 13:00:35
> I'm on 300mg a day. I'm wondering what the tipical dose is for mood stabilization, antidepressant or anticonvulsant effect.
> My Pdoc prescribed to me for sleep. This is the only time I've heard of it used for sleep. Is anyone out there taking it for TLE, as I have wondered if I have had this also?
It definitely has an antidepressant effect for me. I'm taking 150mg/day now and I stopped it for a few days and definitely got more depressed. Started it back up again and I feel better. It has a tendency to *reduce* my sleep duration however. I take the 150mg midday now and it definitely has an activating effect for me.
Posted by Vince on January 3, 2003, at 23:48:56
In reply to Re: Trileptal: any positive experiences??? » Lawrence S., posted by Ritch on December 30, 2002, at 15:09:54
> It definitely has an antidepressant effect for me. I'm taking 150mg/day now and I stopped it for a few days and definitely got more depressed. Started it back up again and I feel better. It has a tendency to *reduce* my sleep duration however. I take the 150mg midday now and it definitely has an activating effect for me.
>Would you say that you are Bipolar II ?
I'm wondering if I should try it for my condition. I cycle but I don't ever feel manic or hypomanic. Just sometimes I feel like I'm recovering and then a couple of days later I'll be back at the bottom of the bottomless pit. I don't know if many mood stablizers help with mostly depressed cycling.Vince
Posted by Ritch on January 4, 2003, at 9:51:35
In reply to Re: Trileptal: any positive experiences??? » Ritch, posted by Vince on January 3, 2003, at 23:48:56
> > It definitely has an antidepressant effect for me. I'm taking 150mg/day now and I stopped it for a few days and definitely got more depressed. Started it back up again and I feel better. It has a tendency to *reduce* my sleep duration however. I take the 150mg midday now and it definitely has an activating effect for me.
> >
>
> Would you say that you are Bipolar II ?
> I'm wondering if I should try it for my condition. I cycle but I don't ever feel manic or hypomanic. Just sometimes I feel like I'm recovering and then a couple of days later I'll be back at the bottom of the bottomless pit. I don't know if many mood stablizers help with mostly depressed cycling.
>
> Vince
>
Hi Vince, yes I have been "BP-II" for probably 25 years or so. It sounds like you are cyclothymic and you cycle fairly rapidly (mostly depressed). Are you on any meds now?---Mitch
Posted by Vince on January 5, 2003, at 19:00:09
In reply to Re: Trileptal: any positive experiences??? » Vince, posted by Ritch on January 4, 2003, at 9:51:35
>
> Hi Vince, yes I have been "BP-II" for probably 25 years or so. It sounds like you are cyclothymic and you cycle fairly rapidly (mostly depressed). Are you on any meds now?---Mitch
>Mitch, I,m on clomipramine for depression and anxiety; klonipin for anxiety; Zyprexa for cycling. But I wonder if trileptal works for non manic cycling or if it just takes away the highs?
Vince
Posted by Ritch on January 5, 2003, at 20:42:48
In reply to Re: Trileptal: any positive experiences??? » Ritch, posted by Vince on January 5, 2003, at 19:00:09
> >
> > Hi Vince, yes I have been "BP-II" for probably 25 years or so. It sounds like you are cyclothymic and you cycle fairly rapidly (mostly depressed). Are you on any meds now?---Mitch
> >
>
> Mitch, I,m on clomipramine for depression and anxiety; klonipin for anxiety; Zyprexa for cycling. But I wonder if trileptal works for non manic cycling or if it just takes away the highs?
>
> VinceVince, this is a new med. It is supposed to be "just like" Tegretol but "cleaner". I've never been on Teg for more than a few weeks in the past. I tried switching from lithium to Tegretol during a bipolar depressive episode about 12 years ago and it didn't work well (the depression deepened). In fact, the first switch from lithium to Depakote bombed somewhat during a similar bipolar depressive episode about five years ago (the depression worsened again). I am finding the Trileptal to be somewhat of an AD, but it seems to make me feel a *little* paranoid and seems to be aggravating some hypomania (nothing like TEG did). So, I am questioning its utility. What I am going to suggest to my pdoc next time is to flip from low-dose Trileptal back to low-dose Neurontin with Depakote/Effexor/Klonopin. I would like to go back on some lithium to be honest, but I only have half a thyroid left and experienced elevated serum calcium with lithium before I stopped it.---Mitch
Posted by Lawrence S. on January 5, 2003, at 22:29:55
In reply to Re: Trileptal: any positive experiences??? » Vince, posted by Ritch on January 5, 2003, at 20:42:48
Thank's for the info. I noticed I might be getting slightly more paranoid since starting the trileptal. I'm begining to have thoughts of stopping. I've had nothing but bad reactions to mood stabilizers.
Lawrence S.
Posted by Vince on January 6, 2003, at 14:34:40
In reply to Re: Trileptal: any positive experiences??? » Vince, posted by Ritch on January 5, 2003, at 20:42:48
Mitch, there is a web site that advertizes a kinder gentler "natural" nonprescription lithium for bipolars. It's not supposed to have any side effects. I don't know how it would work for you. I tried it and it seemed to make me a little more depressed.
Vince
Posted by Ritch on January 7, 2003, at 0:38:05
In reply to Re: Trileptal: any positive experiences??? » Ritch, posted by Vince on January 6, 2003, at 14:34:40
> Mitch, there is a web site that advertizes a kinder gentler "natural" nonprescription lithium for bipolars. It's not supposed to have any side effects. I don't know how it would work for you. I tried it and it seemed to make me a little more depressed.
>
> Vince
>
> http://www.findserenitynow.com/index.html?1037Thanks Vince, I am aware of these sorts of products. What matters is how many lithium ions makes it into your bloodstream. If you get a serum lithium level while taking something like this it will probably barely register. If the level of lithium ions in your blood isn't adequate enough there will be no therapeutic effect. I knew someone who was BPI about 15 years ago that tried something like this and it did diddly-squat for him. His wife was the one who pushed the idea. I told both of them that he needed to see a psychiatrist about his recurrent manias and told them about lithium (which I was taking at the time), and his wife latched on to this idea of a "lithium vitamin" instead of seeing a shrink and he continued to have his manias. He finally relented and saw a shrink and was put on 1200mg/day. He changed radically. His shrink even asked him if he wanted to reduce the dosage a little to get a "little high", and he refused. He had no side effects at all besides tiredness from the lithium.---Mitch
Posted by michael73 on March 9, 2003, at 14:22:52
In reply to Trileptal: any positive experiences???, posted by Lawrence S. on December 30, 2002, at 13:00:35
I tried 300 mg trileptal for 10 days and it just made me dizzy without relief from depression. Michael73
Posted by Paige K on March 10, 2003, at 13:00:06
In reply to Re: Trileptal: any positive experiences??? (nm), posted by Paige K on March 10, 2003, at 12:38:41
No positive experiences : I've given trileptal two tries in the past year. Both times a maximum dose of 900mg led to tiredness and noticeable hair loss (after washing and combing). More importantly, it didn't work to alleviate bipolar depression, even after a month or so...it disappointed me the same way as did depakote. I also took 100mcg selenium and 50mg of zinc which did nothing to combat the hair loss. Also, 600mg trileptal did nothing to prevent mania.
Posted by starlight on March 13, 2003, at 15:30:14
In reply to Re: Trileptal: any positive experiences???, posted by Paige K on March 10, 2003, at 13:00:06
I have had positive experiences with Trileptal. Much better than depakote, but I needed a supplemental dose of lamictal to help with my depression. The big bonus for me is not gaining any weight or feeling as if my cognition were thrown astray. No hair loss or bad experiences at all.
> No positive experiences : I've given trileptal two tries in the past year. Both times a maximum dose of 900mg led to tiredness and noticeable hair loss (after washing and combing). More importantly, it didn't work to alleviate bipolar depression, even after a month or so...it disappointed me the same way as did depakote. I also took 100mcg selenium and 50mg of zinc which did nothing to combat the hair loss. Also, 600mg trileptal did nothing to prevent mania.
Posted by morgain on May 1, 2003, at 21:00:31
In reply to Re: Trileptal: any positive experiences???, posted by starlight on March 13, 2003, at 15:30:14
I have only been on trileptal a week at a very low dose , the lowest in fact because i told the doc i was scared of side effects but we are slowly going to move me up. I have a very bad mood disorder with a lot of mania and im scared all the time . I am also very depressed ,i am already on ativan but still scared out of my mind of every hting and especially of being alone . I hope the trileptal helps me ,any thoughts out there that might help?
Michelle
Posted by Microkitty on May 14, 2003, at 23:43:33
In reply to Re: Trileptal: any positive experiences???, posted by michael73 on March 9, 2003, at 14:22:52
I have been on Trileptal for a while, 900mg 2x day
In many ways it has been extremely helpful. I am sensitive to meds that cause drowsiness, Trileptal
did not do this. I have had anger and impulse problems, much of that has changed. But I have a couple of concerns. Beyond the cost, my worry seems to have become worse, and if I miss a dose for 12-24 hours (usually due to financial reasons,
my doc has been giving me samples) I completely freak out. It really scares me. Has anyone else had the same results?? I also take Prozac and Serequel, Clonipin and Ritilin. My doc wants me to take Gabitril also. Where will it end? I have been diagnosed as Bipolar, but my biggest problem
has been anxiety and worry. That is where many of my troubles seem to go back to. I am not drinking
or taking questionable drugs. Mr. Stress
I feel really overloaded
Posted by Ritch on May 15, 2003, at 9:38:06
In reply to Re: Trileptal: any positive experiences???, posted by Microkitty on May 14, 2003, at 23:43:33
> I have been on Trileptal for a while, 900mg 2x day
> In many ways it has been extremely helpful. I am sensitive to meds that cause drowsiness, Trileptal
> did not do this. I have had anger and impulse problems, much of that has changed. But I have a couple of concerns. Beyond the cost, my worry seems to have become worse, and if I miss a dose for 12-24 hours (usually due to financial reasons,
> my doc has been giving me samples) I completely freak out. It really scares me. Has anyone else had the same results?? I also take Prozac and Serequel, Clonipin and Ritilin. My doc wants me to take Gabitril also. Where will it end? I have been diagnosed as Bipolar, but my biggest problem
> has been anxiety and worry. That is where many of my troubles seem to go back to. I am not drinking
> or taking questionable drugs. Mr. Stress
> I feel really overloaded
>If the Trileptal seems to have worked for the anger and impulse problems, perhaps you can talk to your pdoc about possibly getting rid of some of the other meds (which likely have been scripted for the same thing). Ritalin could be aggravating your generalized anxiety. Maybe if you ditched the Ritalin you wouldn't need to add on Gabitril?
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