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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 17 of 17. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Nickengland on March 18, 2005, at 12:06:59
This message is to any Uk members who can hopefully inform me if they have had any luck getting either Topamax or Neurontin prescribed to them by a Nhs psychiatrist.
So far my current psychiatrist has been ok with what ive i asked him for, but I am now slowly running out of options and feel the 2 above maybe worth a try and all I have left to try!
My history is, im bipolar 22 years old and male. Since last Auguest I have tried:
Sodium Valproate - Couldn't hnandle long-term
Lamotrigine - Too much of anti-depressant, no good
Lithium - Put me down too much, side effects cant handle long-term.
Currently giving carbamazepine a go, but Im having doubts about this one too and wondering what my chances of getting trileptal will be.
An important note is, it may sound like im very fussy with these medications and looking like im not giving them a fair enough trial, however I have a skin condition which is hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) which has been made worse by some of these medications, and therefore they had to be ceased.
The biggest problem I seem to be facing is I try a medication that improves my mood - but in turn it makes my sweating problem worse - which in turn makes my mood worse and round and round it goes!..im getting sick of it right now, im out of work and my domestic life is pretty bad and being ruled by this illness(s)
From what I have researched, Topamax seems to decrease sweating which would be ideal as a side effect for me.....million dollar question can i get it???
Anyway any thoughts or input about the 2 above medications and my chances of getting them would be greatly appreciated
Many Thanks for taking your time for reading this and for any replys or advice
Nick
Posted by Slinky on March 18, 2005, at 13:26:13
In reply to Topamax/Neurontin..in UK ???, posted by Nickengland on March 18, 2005, at 12:06:59
Hi..I'm also in UK.
I'm prescribed Neurontin for bipolar..it is recognised as being helpful for rapid cycling as an add on.
I don't think Tripetal is prescribed but I do know Topamax is (under a different brand name).
I hope you and your doc can work something out and all the best.
Posted by Nickengland on March 18, 2005, at 15:10:26
In reply to Re: Topamax/Neurontin..in UK ??? » Nickengland, posted by Slinky on March 18, 2005, at 13:26:13
Thank you very much for your post. Im happy as that gives me some hope. Do you know what brand name that use for the topiramate? I thought is was just topamax?
How has the neurontin been for you, side effects wise?
Nick
Posted by Slinky on March 18, 2005, at 16:11:26
In reply to Re: Topamax/Neurontin..in UK ???, posted by Nickengland on March 18, 2005, at 15:10:26
> Thank you very much for your post. Im happy as that gives me some hope. Do you know what brand name that use for the topiramate? I thought is was just topamax?
Sorry my previous doc called Topomax Topiramate -I thought Topiramate was the UK brand name.
> How has the neurontin been for you, side effects wise?
Neurontin can cause drowsiness at first and some forgetfulness and bad spelling .
Posted by Nickengland on March 19, 2005, at 8:15:18
In reply to Re: Topamax/Neurontin..in UK ??? » Nickengland, posted by Slinky on March 18, 2005, at 16:11:26
Which other medications are you using?
I've just recently started carbamazepine...thought maybe I read you are on this too? (tegretol)
If so I wondering if this makes you feel sick alot?
Posted by Slinky on March 19, 2005, at 21:45:18
In reply to Re: Topamax/Neurontin..in UK ???, posted by Nickengland on March 19, 2005, at 8:15:18
Hi
I'm on Paroxetine and Neurontin and just started Tegretol..
I'm getting transient nausea with the Tegretol..and don't feel like eating much. I feel sleepy even though my doc said it doesn't cause sedation.
Posted by Nickengland on March 20, 2005, at 10:21:54
In reply to Re: Topamax/Neurontin..in UK ??? » Nickengland, posted by Slinky on March 19, 2005, at 21:45:18
Yes thats exactly how i feel on the tegretol especially with the eating, i just feel a constant sickness. Although I must add im not actually taking the tegretol brand of carbamazepine...mine just says carbamazepine on the box and its made from Alpharma. This drug kinda reminds of lithium, i can't imaigine my mood going up, mainly because its leaving me in a semi depressive state.
Posted by Slinky on March 20, 2005, at 13:34:15
In reply to Re: Topamax/Neurontin..in UK ???, posted by Nickengland on March 20, 2005, at 10:21:54
My Tegretol pill is the same as yours.
Maybe you need to add an anti depressant later if you continue to feel so low...
Posted by Slinky on March 20, 2005, at 14:04:24
In reply to Re: Topamax/Neurontin..in UK ??? » Nickengland, posted by Slinky on March 20, 2005, at 13:34:15
Maybe someone else could advise you about an anti depressant that doesn't cause sweating as a side effect..
Posted by Nickengland on March 21, 2005, at 11:38:05
In reply to Re: ps » Slinky, posted by Slinky on March 20, 2005, at 14:04:24
> Maybe someone else could advise you about an anti depressant that doesn't cause sweating as a side effect..
Thanks for the advice Slinky, yes it would make sense to add an anti-depressant.
Unfortunatley I've learnt in the past that anti depressants or anything that tend to make my mood go up makes my overall condition worse. It basically just sets me up for another crash into depression and will make me continue to cycle.
Although my highs aren't too extream ive come to the conclusion that if I keep my mood from going high in any form, hopefully this will stop me from crashing back down into depression and in turn make the overall condition better - if that makes sense?!
I guess its all trial and error and I know theres no perfect cure, but I will stay patient for as long as I can till I find something comfortable I can take long-term...
Hows are things for you at the moment? and how long have you been taking medication for if you dont mind me asking?
Kind Regards
Nick
Posted by Slinky on March 21, 2005, at 17:33:24
In reply to Re: ps, posted by Nickengland on March 21, 2005, at 11:38:05
For some including myself it's a very fine line between low and high..but I've been mostly low for over a year..maybe two.
I know the coctail is hard to make especially when UK docs are reluctant to prescribe more than one or two meds.
I've been taking medication for over 10 years..sadly.
My dx changed from depression to bipolar..even that dx maybe questionable.
I've been taking Tegretol for a week now..just keep falling asleep .
Posted by Nickengland on March 22, 2005, at 14:33:05
In reply to Re: ps » Nickengland, posted by Slinky on March 21, 2005, at 17:33:24
Yes I think you and myself are probably in the same boat with regards to a high and a low. My diagnosis was originally depression for 5 years.
It was only changed to bipolar as I explained to the psychiatirst that when my depression does/did lift I go through a period of a few months where I feel full of energy, full of confidence and high sexual libdo if you know what I mean. I did spend money recklessly too which got me into debt. I have never been in hosptial though and the highs Ive had are not full blown text book mania. I guess this is what they call hypo-maina. Still it does seem silly in some ways that just feeling very good in yourself is considered an illness.
Your dead right about uk doctors giving out combos.
Its seems funny the coincidence between us...I only started tegretol last wednesday and like yourself am sleeping far too much.
I think i'm going to now go through the very hard task to call up and get another appointment and discontinue this tegretol as this is just making me feel too far down. Did you try and get trileptal when you asked for the tegretol and was refused?
I'd like try the neurontin too, for anxiety/mood stablilser...LoL snap with the medication coctail with you!
I hope you feel some relief from the tiredness soon, I sure do know exactly how you feel at this moment in time...
Kind regards,
Nick
Posted by Slinky on March 22, 2005, at 22:11:45
In reply to Re: ps, posted by Nickengland on March 22, 2005, at 14:33:05
My hypo/or manias often it would turn into anger..but mostly I just laughed at anything..I couldn't eat or sleep properly and got panic attacks..the doc in them days just thought it was teenage stuff so I self medicated with booze for 15 years.
I've never been in hospital either.I didn't ask for tripetal but mentioned it to the doc and gave him some info on paper..he probably did origami with it.
I'm kind of scared cause he mentioned an anti-psychotic if all else failed...don't know why cause that wouldn't heal the depression.I've been on one before -dark days.
I'm going to continue with the tegretol another 3 weeks and see if things improve..sometimes the effect is like having a couple of drinks but without the pleasurable feelings.~~~Slinky
Posted by Nickengland on March 26, 2005, at 6:46:30
In reply to Re: Nick » Nickengland, posted by Slinky on March 22, 2005, at 22:11:45
I hope the tegretol works out for you in the next the couple weeks. Seeing as your symptoms are pretty similar to mine I can't see how an anti-psychotic would help. Although I can't comment too much as I've never tried one, but I can imagine that would just put me in a far worse state than this anti convulsant stuff as that kind of medication seems to be the strongest psychiatric stuff there is - complete zombie land. I hope that you don't have to go down that road and it probably makes sense like you say that it would help you anyway.Maybe you could reserve the trileptal next as a reserve?...You certainly have the right to refuse any anti-psychoctic.
With the neurontin you take have you had any weight gain from it?
Kind regards
Nick
Posted by Slinky on March 27, 2005, at 12:11:00
In reply to Re: Nick, posted by Nickengland on March 26, 2005, at 6:46:30
Hi..
The Tegretol tiredness is lifting for me a bit.
Hows it doing for you?
Yes Tripetal would be my next option or Topomax.
I don't know if my persistant sore throat is tegretol related but I have no fever so maybe not an allergic reaction.
In my experience Neurontin at high doses - 600mg tabs can make you feel hungry but not intensively.. mainly this happens to me if I take it on an near empty stomache.
I don't think it causes alot of weight gain I read here somewhere it may cause some water retention..more noticable with women.
I can't say if I've gained weight from it..the little weight I've gained is probably from the paroxetine and being idle so I wouldn't say it piles on the pounds.
~~Slinky
Posted by Nickengland on March 27, 2005, at 13:53:34
In reply to Re: Nick » Nickengland, posted by Slinky on March 27, 2005, at 12:11:00
Hello there,
Happy to see the Tegretol tiredness is easing up for you : )
Yes i'm doing better on the tegretol now come to think of it. The sickness has more or less gone and the tiredness has lifted too...I was having to take a daytime nap, but not anymore so thats good.
Thats good news about neurontin and weightgain..
I havent had any problems with a sore throat and the teg....maybe its not medication related?
I feel at long last I maybe getting somewhere with these medications now. Once I get the meds finally sorted then all I have to do is get my work, friends and life back!..slowly looking forward to that at long last.
Keep in touch and let me know how things are going...
Nick
Ps Thanks for your replys to my questions, when I first posted I was in a bit of a state, but now i'm feeling far more hopeful about things.
Posted by Slinky on April 1, 2005, at 19:56:57
In reply to Re: Slinky, posted by Nickengland on March 27, 2005, at 13:53:34
Hello..
Hope you find the med coctail..
Tegretol is strange..it may be helping me but I can't really tell.
I'm still miserable and using a spell checker for the simplist words.~~Slinky
This is the end of the thread.
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