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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 midwestgirl on November 18, 2004, at 21:38:20
I've been on Trileptal for awhile for boderline personality disorder. I'm taking 1800mg. It seems to be working but I can't really tell sometimes. I'm afraid I'm making it work in my head because I want it to work but maybe its not doing as much as it should. I don't know, I can't tell. It doesnt give my any side effects so thats good, but I'm afraid something else could do more. Anyone have any thoughts about it?
Midwestgirl
Posted by ed_uk on November 19, 2004, at 9:08:27
In reply to Any opinions about Trileptal?, posted by midwestgirl on November 18, 2004, at 21:38:20
Hello Midwestgirl!
Which symptoms of BPD do you find most troublesome?
Regards,
Ed.
Posted by midwestgirl on November 19, 2004, at 21:35:54
In reply to Re: Any opinions about Trileptal?, posted by ed_uk on November 19, 2004, at 9:08:27
Hi ed.
My most troubling symptoms are these crazy mood swings I have. I go from excited to mellow to crying hysterically to laughing to raging to zoned out to friendly to scared in an hour. It really hurts me the most at work. My boss knows whats up and is supportive of my therapy but other co-workers think I'm either a spoiled brat or or just plain nuts. I know they sometimes avoid me because they are afraid of how I will react to them. I hate that. I like these people and its not fair of me to do this to them but its like my emotions go on overdrive and I can't stop it. So sometimes I hide in my office with my door closed, but thats not right either. Its so exhausting being this hyper-sensitive, over-emotional freak - and not to mention how many times I have to redo my makeup - what a pain in the butt! The Trileptal seem to help, but doesn't stop the mood swings enough so people don't notice them. Thats why I'm afraid I might be on the wrong one. I'm scared of the big meds - Lithium, Clozapine , Depakote, Risperdal, Zyprexa - but maybe they would help more. I dont know. Aaack!
Midwestgirl (go bucks)
Posted by midwestgirl on November 20, 2004, at 0:40:42
In reply to Re: Any opinions about Trileptal?, posted by midwestgirl on November 19, 2004, at 21:35:54
And I forgot or just didn't want to talk about how much I hurt the people closest to me by being so obsessed with what I think they are doing to me because they are mad at me or hate me. I can't remeber how someone has helped the day before or the week before, all i focus is on that moment and if I think they are hurting me its like my world is ending. Its all black and white - no gray. Every little thing is a huge deal to me and its all about me. I hate thinking that i'm so selfish and I don't mean to be. My friends say I can be the greatest listener and advice giver and charitable person but then i turn into a crazy manipulative icky person. I hate that - especially because I only do it to the people I love and care about the most.
Midwestgirl
Posted by ed_uk on November 20, 2004, at 15:38:59
In reply to Re: Any opinions about Trileptal?, posted by midwestgirl on November 20, 2004, at 0:40:42
Hi midwestgirl!
Hope you are OK today! I've just logged on to dr bob.
Have you tried an SSRI. Fluoxetine (Prozac) is sometimes helpful for BPD. I know you're scared of lithium and Zyprexa etc. but I don't think you need to be. If you tried them and didn't like it you could stop.
Regards,
Ed
Posted by CraigD on November 20, 2004, at 20:22:03
In reply to Re: Any opinions about Trileptal?, posted by ed_uk on November 20, 2004, at 15:38:59
Seeing as the mood stabilizers, anti-psychotics, and antidepressants (and the disorders they treat) seem to be crossing over, you may want to consider Abilify , which has a low side effect profile, or Lamictal, which has good mood stabilizing and AD effects.
Of course, these are relatively uninformed suggestions, and your doctor can help you choose.
Cheers,
Craig
Posted by midwestgirl on November 20, 2004, at 20:55:01
In reply to Re: Any opinions about Trileptal?, posted by ed_uk on November 20, 2004, at 15:38:59
Hi Ed,
Thanks for talking to me. I'm pretty new to this site and I appeciate your responses. I am on Prozac b/c I have an eating disorder and it stops you from hacking physically. I don't know why, but it does. I'm also on trazedone - my magic pills - so I can sleep at night. Thank god for those things. I've always had sleeping problems, my mind races all night long, but trazedone makes me sleep. Granted, I have the craziest dreams, but I always have. I'm one of those people who remembers everything about their dreams - and who can change whats going on in the dream if its too scary. But trazedone makes me feel like I can't move my legs when I'm dreaming and that sucks,
Midwestgirl - WE BEAT MICHIGAN- YEAH!! Its an Ohio thing.
Posted by midwestgirl on November 20, 2004, at 20:57:04
In reply to Re: Any opinions about Trileptal? » ed_uk, posted by CraigD on November 20, 2004, at 20:22:03
Thanks Craig D,
I'm a bit scared of Lamictal and its side effects, but I will check out Abilify. I appreciate your help.
Midwestgirl
Posted by CraigD on November 21, 2004, at 8:07:09
In reply to Re: Any opinions about Trileptal?, posted by midwestgirl on November 20, 2004, at 20:57:04
> Thanks Craig D,
>
> I'm a bit scared of Lamictal and its side effects, but I will check out Abilify. I appreciate your help.
>
> MidwestgirlReally? Check into that because Lamictal is the cleanest psychofarm drug I've ever been on.
Posted by SLS on November 21, 2004, at 8:47:27
In reply to Any opinions about Trileptal?, posted by midwestgirl on November 18, 2004, at 21:38:20
> I've been on Trileptal for awhile for boderline personality disorder. I'm taking 1800mg. It seems to be working but I can't really tell sometimes. I'm afraid I'm making it work in my head because I want it to work but maybe its not doing as much as it should. I don't know, I can't tell. It doesnt give my any side effects so thats good, but I'm afraid something else could do more. Anyone have any thoughts about it?
> Midwestgirl
Tegretol and Trileptal are becoming recognized as treatments for poor impulse control, which is one of the features of BPD. It might not be a bad idea to keep taking it while trying other things. My guess is that Zyprexa is better for treating BPD than Abilify. If you do try Abilify, be aware that it can be agitating and produce anxiety and insomnia during the first week or two.Good luck.
- Scott
Posted by CraigD on November 21, 2004, at 12:09:46
In reply to Re: Any opinions about Trileptal? » midwestgirl, posted by SLS on November 21, 2004, at 8:47:27
Scott:
my doc gave me abilify as a prn for anxiety...I have n't tried it yet however.
Do you have experience with it?
Posted by SLS on November 21, 2004, at 13:48:52
In reply to Re: Any opinions about Trileptal? » SLS, posted by CraigD on November 21, 2004, at 12:09:46
> Scott:
>
> my doc gave me abilify as a prn for anxiety...I have n't tried it yet however.
>
> Do you have experience with it?
Hi.I am currently taking Abilify 10mg every day. Remembering how agitating it was when I first started treatment, I can't imagine that one would want to use it as a PRN for anxiety. Of course, your doctor might have very good reasons for choosing it. However, I would be inclined to use either Zyprexa or Seroquel in this fashion if an antipsychotic is required.
What is the nature of your anxiety, and what have you tried to treat it with so far?
- Scott
Posted by B2Chica on November 21, 2004, at 14:53:31
In reply to Re: Any opinions about Trileptal? » midwestgirl, posted by SLS on November 21, 2004, at 8:47:27
Hello midwestgirl!
welcome.gonna agree with scott on a couple things, trying out zyprexa and the recognition for Trileptal/moodstabilizers and BPD.
-i loved Trileptal. i'm ready to go back on it.
i have Dx of Bipolar,(adhd,ptsd,ED)and BPD. lately they are really looking at more BPD traits.
i was on Trileptal for many months and think it Really helped me,-i'm ready to go back on it. but if it's not working for you after a couple months you'll want to check out others. in the beginning i was on zyprexa and think that Really helped me- i actually had no problem with weight gain. i would think seriously about that. plus i actually slept back then.
am on risperdal right now. i think it may be controlling the physical hypo/mania aspects but the emotional mind racing speed has really not gone away. except i think i'm beginning a down slope now-so it's disappating on it's own.that right one/dose is out there, keep an active role with your medications and pdoc. And don't be too afraid of the 'big ones' (pot calling kettle black here), i hear again and again that moodstabilizers are best for BPD.
Best of luck.
B2c.
> > I've been on Trileptal for awhile for boderline personality disorder. I'm taking 1800mg. It seems to be working but I can't really tell sometimes. I'm afraid I'm making it work in my head because I want it to work but maybe its not doing as much as it should. I don't know, I can't tell. It doesnt give my any side effects so thats good, but I'm afraid something else could do more. Anyone have any thoughts about it?
> > Midwestgirl
>
>
> Tegretol and Trileptal are becoming recognized as treatments for poor impulse control, which is one of the features of BPD. It might not be a bad idea to keep taking it while trying other things. My guess is that Zyprexa is better for treating BPD than Abilify. If you do try Abilify, be aware that it can be agitating and produce anxiety and insomnia during the first week or two.
>
> Good luck.
>
>
> - Scott
Posted by CraigD on November 21, 2004, at 16:15:23
In reply to Re: Any opinions about Trileptal? » CraigD, posted by SLS on November 21, 2004, at 13:48:52
> > Scott:
> >
> > my doc gave me abilify as a prn for anxiety...I have n't tried it yet however.
> >
> > Do you have experience with it?
>
>
> Hi.
>
> I am currently taking Abilify 10mg every day. Remembering how agitating it was when I first started treatment, I can't imagine that one would want to use it as a PRN for anxiety. Of course, your doctor might have very good reasons for choosing it. However, I would be inclined to use either Zyprexa or Seroquel in this fashion if an antipsychotic is required.
>
> What is the nature of your anxiety, and what have you tried to treat it with so far?
>
>
> - ScottScott:
My Dx is complicated (in that it is not very decisive). My anxiety is GAD and social -backed mostly by obsessiveness and ruminations.
I am taking Celexa, which took care of the anxiety and depression (minus the rumination over social interaction), but it made me somewhat manic and self-destructive.
We added lamictal to control this and worked wonderfully as I titrated down to 20 mgs of Celexa.
Eventually, anger and rumination started to return . he suggested Zyprexa when I said I didn't want to return to the full dose of Celexa. I was also a little scared of Zyprexa and its weight gain potential, so he wrote a script for Abilify.
Posted by midwestgirl on November 21, 2004, at 16:25:43
In reply to Re: Any opinions about Trileptal?, posted by B2Chica on November 21, 2004, at 14:53:31
B2Chica,
Thanks for you advice. My pdoc told me Trileptal was best for me because there is a very small risk of weight gain as opposed to some of the other mood stabilizers. I am bulimic and I know any weight gain from meds would freak me out and I would stop taking them.
Maybe I need to up my dose a bit to 2400mg.I just cannot stand being an emotional wreck and getting pissed and then crying for no actual reason. Its really affecting my job. I have a great job that pays well and has incredible insurance and don't want to lose it. I will talk to my pdoc about Zypreza when I see him this week.
I appreciate your help.Midwestgirl
Posted by midwestgirl on November 21, 2004, at 16:32:00
In reply to Re: Any opinions about Trileptal? » midwestgirl, posted by SLS on November 21, 2004, at 8:47:27
Scott,
Thanks, I appreciate your advice. Sometimes its so hard to get a doctor to consider a different medicine for a condition when they already have their favorites. My pdoc's favorite is Trileptal and the only other one he's talked about is Tegretol. Another poster reccomended Zyprexa as well for my borderline PD. I am going to talk to my pdoc about it when I see thim this week.
Midwestgirl
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