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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Sheilac on February 12, 2014, at 11:33:52
I stopped the Trileptal due to the pain and swelling in my legs and feet. Miraculously, the pain is gone! For some reason Trileptal was causing the swelling and joint pain.
My doc gave me some depakote to try, but it is making me depressed. It's not helping sleep. I miss the Trileptal.
I'm guessing my options are to stay with depakote and add back Geodon for depression. Or, go to a low dose of Trileptal and add in a low dose of Lamictal for depression.
I wish I could stick with Trileptal and not have the swelling and pain.
I'm not sure which is worse, crippling physical pain from Trileptal or depression and mood instability without Trileptal.
Posted by Christ_empowered on February 12, 2014, at 11:50:01
In reply to Stopped Trileptal / Depakote..., posted by Sheilac on February 12, 2014, at 11:33:52
Hmmm....ever tried Lyrica?
Posted by Sheilac on February 12, 2014, at 11:57:03
In reply to Re: Stopped Trileptal / Depakote..., posted by Christ_empowered on February 12, 2014, at 11:50:01
I really want to go back to Trileptal, but I don't know what to do about the pain and swelling. She said it effects white blood cells or something?
Posted by Christ_empowered on February 12, 2014, at 13:05:57
In reply to Re: Stopped Trileptal / Depakote..., posted by Sheilac on February 12, 2014, at 11:57:03
I don't know what trileptal does, honestly. I think it can significantly lower blood sodium levels. They're supposed to test for that every now and then.
Posted by Phillipa on February 12, 2014, at 13:50:45
In reply to Re: Stopped Trileptal / Depakote..., posted by Sheilac on February 12, 2014, at 11:57:03
Sheila then if your white blood cells are the reason for the pain & swelling then it sounds like not a med for you. So the doc said the stop the trileptal? Phillipa
Posted by Sheilac on February 12, 2014, at 15:10:31
In reply to Re: Stopped Trileptal / Depakote... » Sheilac, posted by Phillipa on February 12, 2014, at 13:50:45
Yes, I didn't quite get what the heck she was saying about the white blood cells, but I did stop the Trileptal a few days ago and the pain & swelling is gone.
However, I really miss the Trileptal.
Posted by Phillipa on February 12, 2014, at 19:58:50
In reply to Re: Stopped Trileptal / Depakote... » Phillipa, posted by Sheilac on February 12, 2014, at 15:10:31
I know I wonder if tegratol has the same side effect. Good thing you did drop the med. Sorry that you had to. Phillipa
Posted by phidippus on February 13, 2014, at 22:48:14
In reply to Stopped Trileptal / Depakote..., posted by Sheilac on February 12, 2014, at 11:33:52
Why don't you try Tegretol?
Eric
Posted by SLS on February 14, 2014, at 9:27:03
In reply to Stopped Trileptal / Depakote..., posted by Sheilac on February 12, 2014, at 11:33:52
Hyponatremia can cause edema, muscle spasms and cramps. Although both Trileptal and Tegretol can produce hyponatremia, it is more problematic with Trileptal.
Depakote can be a great anti-manic drug, but it often leaves people somewhat depressed. You could try Topamax. Most people complain of cognitive impairments as a side effect of Topamax. I had none at all. However, I started at 25 mg/day and titrated very slowly. Some people with hypomanic mixed-states experience a satisfactory response to as little as 100 mg/day. I reached a dosage of 200 mg/day. It helped a little with depression, but not enough to justify continuing with it.
Perhaps combining Depakote with Geodon or some other drug with antidepressant properties would produce the desired result.
- Scott
Posted by Sheilac on February 14, 2014, at 9:53:47
In reply to Re: Stopped Trileptal / Depakote..., posted by SLS on February 14, 2014, at 9:27:03
Actually, after not sleeping for 3 nights I added back 150mg of Trileptal at bedtime and am finally getting sleep!
You're right, even 150mg of Depakote made me depressed so I had to add back low dose Geodon.
I'm on pediatric dosing and it seems to work. My combo is goofy now: 40mg Geodon, 150mg Depakote and 150mg Trileptal. But it's working. I didn't really know how much the Geodon helped my depression, but it works.
I consulted with my old neurologist and he said that I should go up to 1200mg on the Trileptal instead of the 600mg I was originally on with him if the pain and swelling didn't go away! This makes absolutely no sense to me. If 300mg causes pain and swelling, why would I up the dose and figure the pain and swelling would go away?
My pdoc knows how sensitive my body is and works with me.
A little bit of everything and no side effects.
Posted by Christ_empowered on February 17, 2014, at 12:52:09
In reply to Re: Stopped Trileptal / Depakote... » SLS, posted by Sheilac on February 14, 2014, at 9:53:47
I take 1200/trileptal and its awesome. Maybe switch to Seroquel xr and throw in Adderall xr in the AM?>
This is the end of the thread.
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