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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by ChicagoKat on January 15, 2013, at 11:48:00
Hi, I've been back in the hospital, but home now. My anemia is steadily getting worse.
I know Tegretol can cause aplastic anemia. I just started Tegretol about a week ago.
Can anemia from Tegretol kick in that quickly? I did have a case of fairly severe rectal bleeding (fun, fun) last Friday, and had been thinking that was the casue, but as I said, hemoglobin keeps dropping.
It's a shame if it is b/c of the Tegretol b/c it has really, really helped me psychologically. I know Trileptal does not carry the same risk, but does it work as well psychologically?
Hope you all are well. Thanks,
Kat
Posted by Phillipa on January 15, 2013, at 15:06:02
In reply to Kat back, Q about Tegretol, posted by ChicagoKat on January 15, 2013, at 11:48:00
Kat you are back!!! Trileptal I took once low dose for boost for ad. From what I understand it' has either one more or one less molecule of O2. I had no side effects. My husbands Brother has been on Tegretol for seizures for over 20 years and has had no bleeding. As far as I know the stroke he had was unrelated and clot. As the time window wasn't met to administer the clot busting meds. I'd think it was too soon for it to cause bleeding. But this is my opinion only. Phillipa
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on January 15, 2013, at 17:06:12
In reply to Re: Kat back, Q about Tegretol » ChicagoKat, posted by Phillipa on January 15, 2013, at 15:06:02
Given the problems you're having kat, I think a change to trileptal would be a sensible course - it might not help, but it is very unlikely to make anything worse.
Are you taking some iron and vitamin supplements?
Posted by ChicagoKat on January 15, 2013, at 19:09:11
In reply to Re: Kat back, Q about Tegretol, posted by jono_in_adelaide on January 15, 2013, at 17:06:12
> Given the problems you're having kat, I think a change to trileptal would be a sensible course - it might not help, but it is very unlikely to make anything worse.
>
> Are you taking some iron and vitamin supplements?Yep, taking iron and vitamin supplements. Also spoke to pdoc who was sure the anemia was not caused by Tegretol. I've read that to be diagnosed with aplastic anemia you have to have low hemoglobin, but also low platelets and low neutrophils. The latter two in my case are fine.
GI docs think I have some sort of occult bleeding in my gi system - probably a polyp or something. I see my official GI doc tomorrow morning, so we can schedule the delight known as a coloonoscopy :)
Posted by ChicagoKat on January 15, 2013, at 19:10:18
In reply to Re: Kat back, Q about Tegretol » ChicagoKat, posted by Phillipa on January 15, 2013, at 15:06:02
> Kat you are back!!! Trileptal I took once low dose for boost for ad. From what I understand it' has either one more or one less molecule of O2. I had no side effects. My husbands Brother has been on Tegretol for seizures for over 20 years and has had no bleeding. As far as I know the stroke he had was unrelated and clot. As the time window wasn't met to administer the clot busting meds. I'd think it was too soon for it to cause bleeding. But this is my opinion only. Phillipa
Did Trileptal help you at all Phillipa? Glad to be back, missed you all!
Kat
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on January 15, 2013, at 20:03:09
In reply to Re: Kat back, Q about Tegretol » jono_in_adelaide, posted by ChicagoKat on January 15, 2013, at 19:09:11
Yes, i was thinking that what you were describing didnt sound like aplastic anemic, but somthing else.
You havent been taking aspirin or NSAID's for pain have you?
Posted by Phillipa on January 15, 2013, at 20:47:35
In reply to Re: Kat back, Q about Tegretol » Phillipa, posted by ChicagoKat on January 15, 2013, at 19:10:18
Noticed nothing but was only 150mg and new out and very expensive. Took for a few months at this dose. Then stopped. Phillipa
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on January 15, 2013, at 22:03:26
In reply to Re: Kat back, Q about Tegretol » ChicagoKat, posted by Phillipa on January 15, 2013, at 20:47:35
Hows your depression and anxiety going kat, are you tolorating the Welbutrin?
Posted by ChicagoKat on January 16, 2013, at 7:54:52
In reply to Re: Kat back, Q about Tegretol, posted by jono_in_adelaide on January 15, 2013, at 20:03:09
> Yes, i was thinking that what you were describing didnt sound like aplastic anemic, but somthing else.
>
> You havent been taking aspirin or NSAID's for pain have you?Nope, no nsaids...they originally thought the bleeding was from hemorrhoids, which would make sense b/c I was sitting on my butt for weeks in the hospital. But the bleeding has stopped and the Hbg keeps going down. I'm seeing a GI doctor this morning. And I'm actually feeling a bit better (physically at least ha ha) so maybe things are improving.
Kat
Posted by ChicagoKat on January 16, 2013, at 7:56:28
In reply to Re: Kat back, Q about Tegretol » ChicagoKat, posted by Phillipa on January 15, 2013, at 20:47:35
> Noticed nothing but was only 150mg and new out and very expensive. Took for a few months at this dose. Then stopped. Phillipa
I'm only on 100mg at this point, but already it is helping so much. Really controls the anxiety I get from Ritalin. And luckily it is dirt cheap now :)
Kat
Posted by ChicagoKat on January 16, 2013, at 7:59:36
In reply to Re: Kat back, Q about Tegretol, posted by jono_in_adelaide on January 15, 2013, at 22:03:26
> Hows your depression and anxiety going kat, are you tolorating the Welbutrin?
It makes no sense, I know, but Wellbutrin makes me wayyyyy more anxious than Ritalin. So we stopped it, switched me back to Ritalin (ER this time) and started Tegretol. It's a combo that seems to work well for me, at least in the morning. I see pdoc tomorrow and I bet he'll increase the Tegretol dose. But what I'd like to know is Trileptal as efficacious as Tegretol? Cos Tegretol has so many more scary side effects.
How about you Jono? Got the anxiety monster tamed?
Kat
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on January 16, 2013, at 16:55:06
In reply to Re: Kat back, Q about Tegretol » jono_in_adelaide, posted by ChicagoKat on January 16, 2013, at 7:59:36
I wouldnt say its tamed, but its better than it was, and its probably as good as its going to get - I certainly dont want to add more drugs to the cocktail I'm already on.
Hopefully as the weeks go by, the higher dose Zoloft will work some more magic - it does seem to be making a difference.
Re the Welbutrin making you more anxious than the Ritalin, i guess it just goes to show that there is still a lot about brain chemistry that we dont understand.
Posted by Phillipa on January 16, 2013, at 20:10:48
In reply to Re: Kat back, Q about Tegretol » Phillipa, posted by ChicagoKat on January 16, 2013, at 7:56:28
Kat really dirt cheap? That's the tegretol right not trileptal? I couldn't tolerate wellbutrin either . One week at the time and ended up hospitalized. So how did the GI doc go today? Phillipa
Posted by ChicagoKat on January 17, 2013, at 8:10:34
In reply to Re: Kat back, Q about Tegretol, posted by jono_in_adelaide on January 16, 2013, at 16:55:06
Hey Jono,
Glad to hear the anxiety is at least a little better. Hopefully the Zoloft will start really kicking in and completely tame that monster!
Kat
Posted by ChicagoKat on January 17, 2013, at 8:13:51
In reply to Re: Kat back, Q about Tegretol » ChicagoKat, posted by Phillipa on January 16, 2013, at 20:10:48
> Kat really dirt cheap? That's the tegretol right not trileptal? I couldn't tolerate wellbutrin either . One week at the time and ended up hospitalized. So how did the GI doc go today? Phillipa
Maybe dirt cheap is an exaggeration, but definitely cheaper than it was. I bet Trileptal, being a newer drug, would be more expensive.
GI doc appt went OK. Basically answered a few questions from her, scheduled a fun colonoscopy for 2/7, and had some blood drawn. I'm starting to think I am anemic b/c I've had so many blood draws!!!!
Kat
This is the end of the thread.
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