koali777 Posted April 12, 2014 Share Posted April 12, 2014 Is anyone taking this? How has it worked for your bipolar? Does it make you a zombie? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crtclms Posted April 12, 2014 Share Posted April 12, 2014 My husband takes it. He has no real issues with it, although he struggles to keep his sodium levels high enough (so, I guess that *is* an issue, but it doesn't interfere). No noticeable side effects. He takes it for epilepsy, though. He is not a zombie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiaB Posted April 12, 2014 Share Posted April 12, 2014 (edited) I've been on twice - the first some years ago and most recently up until a month or so ago. It didn't make me a zombie and I thought it worked well as a second mood stabiliser - I have always had the impression that it isn't necessarily as effective on its own. I liked it in terms of the fact that it had few noticeable side effects, but was pulled off it by my pdoc when my most recent set of blood tests raised concerns about liver damage. I believe that's a rare side effect though. Edited April 12, 2014 by miab Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koali777 Posted April 12, 2014 Author Share Posted April 12, 2014 What is dangerous about low sodium? How can it be remedied? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crtclms Posted April 12, 2014 Share Posted April 12, 2014 I am not going to be able to put this scientifically, but sodium is an electrolyte, and once your electrolytes are out of balance, your heart can kind of freak out, up to and including arrest. DH is on two anticonvulsants that affect his sodium levels, and he now takes a supplement (about which I know nothing more than that). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WinglessFaery Posted April 13, 2014 Share Posted April 13, 2014 trileptal has had basically no obvious side effects for me..which is a big deal because im super sensitive to side effects and have been through alot of meds because of it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keaton Posted April 16, 2014 Share Posted April 16, 2014 I've never heard of someone being on just Trileptal and Trileptal alone for a mood stablizer. I was on another mood stabilizer when I took Trileptal along with it. It seemed to work fine for me. It does nothing for depression though, apparently. Overall I've heard that Trileptal is more of a second-line mood stabilizer but it certainly works for some people. But mania's never been my main problem, either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koali777 Posted April 18, 2014 Author Share Posted April 18, 2014 Well, I'm on Latuda which is apparently a mood stabilizer as well as an antipsychotic. But I'm guessing you mean another med that is just a mood stabilizer? I'm really just hoping it'll all make sense, like maybe she really is only changing one thing at a time. I don't think Latuda is helping a all. I still hear voices and dissociate and hurt myself. I don't know if the combo may make it better. I don't wanna rush it but I want to start feeling better. It's only been a week, however. So if it had started working hard core, I probably wouldn't trust it lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiaB Posted April 18, 2014 Share Posted April 18, 2014 I know the frustration of the early days of being on a new med (after all, I'm currently crawling up to 400mg of lamotrigine, and I'm only at 25mg atm) - as I said on your other thread, my therapeutic dose of Trileptal was 1200mg. I would be extremely surprised if your pdoc leaves you at such a low dose, because in my experience it only really kicks in as you start going higher. Obviously I don't know if adding it to your current mix is going to do the trick, but I very much hope for your sake that it does. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt07 Posted April 18, 2014 Share Posted April 18, 2014 As I mentioned in your other thread, my doctor used a blood test to determine my therapeutic dose of Tegretol (Trileptal's older brother). I was in the hospital at the time, and I was rapidly titrated up to 800 mg based on these blood tests. You aren't going to feel much of anything on such a low dose. As to your sodium, that too is monitored with blood tests (sometimes). If Trileptal gives you low sodium, your doctor might take you off it unless it is vital to your well being as it is for some people with seizures. When do you see your pdoc next? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koali777 Posted April 18, 2014 Author Share Posted April 18, 2014 Thank you guys. I see my pdoc tomorrow (Saturday) and I guess I'll mention that I don't think I feel much different. I hope she has plans to increase the dose because I was really happy when I found her but I want her to help me... She's actually a nurse practitioner...in this county, it's near impossible to be seen, usually they aren't taking new clients. But it shouldn't matter I don't think. It sucks to be on this low a dose! Another question though...it doesn't severely affect other meds like Tegretol does right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt07 Posted April 19, 2014 Share Posted April 19, 2014 Another question though...it doesn't severely affect other meds like Tegretol does right? It is an enzyme-inducing med like Tegretol so theoretically it will affect other meds, but the extent to which it does is unclear, at least to me. Most meds are tested against Tegretol (carbamazepine) and not so much Trileptal. I would ask your doctor (or nurse) this question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koali777 Posted April 20, 2014 Author Share Posted April 20, 2014 They have told me it affects birth control several times so I'm just glad I recently ended my relationship, cause I'm terrified of getting pregnant lol. I'm up to 300 mg and 300 mg at night. So you guys were right, she's slowly titrating me up. I like how she asked me if I'd like to do that, because even though she's the professional, she's giving me a choice. I'm more worried about my Latuda increase, but I'll post about that in the other forum. I feel happier but could be a placebo effect. Trileptal is supposed to suppress mania right? I will miss it, as bad as it sounds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velvet Elvis Posted April 20, 2014 Share Posted April 20, 2014 I've never heard of someone being on just Trileptal and Trileptal alone for a mood stablizer. I was on another mood stabilizer when I took Trileptal along with it. It seemed to work fine for me. It does nothing for depression though, apparently. Overall I've heard that Trileptal is more of a second-line mood stabilizer but it certainly works for some people. But mania's never been my main problem, either. I read a review article that found tegretol monotherapy for BP-I to be nearly as effective Li monotherapy. Trileptal is almost the same thing as tegretol so it could well work in some cases. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koali777 Posted May 2, 2014 Author Share Posted May 2, 2014 If you guys were interested, my signature has my new med dosages...after a nice stay in the mental hospital (heh). SOMETHING is making me restless but not sure what. I pace, or step in place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saranodamnedh Posted May 9, 2014 Share Posted May 9, 2014 (edited) I have always had heavy anxiety which manifests itself as mania. My first dose of Trileptal almost completely wiped it out. I'm on 1800mg now - 600, 3 times a day - and it has saved my life. I'm on a couple other things including Lamictal. Depakote didn't help me, nor have any ssris. I haven't tried li. No side effects either. 10/10 from me! It doesn't touch my Coumadin either which is kinda nice. No sodium issues. Nothing. I got lucky. Edited May 9, 2014 by saranodamnedh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stars Posted June 15, 2014 Share Posted June 15, 2014 (edited) I saw a new Pdoc and he put me on Trileptal and removed me from Strattera. That helped quite a bit. Then he added Abilify. On the second appt. he noted my legs/ feet were badly swollen and sent an order to my GP for sodium level. It came back I was told normal. He increased the Trileptal to 600 mg twice an day . I had to stop the day dose( per his ok) b/c it made me feel sort of like a zombie ( spaced out and lethargic ). So at this point it does appear it is the Trileptal. I found a side effects list and it is listed as uncommon but definitely can happen. so when I see him soon I plan to ask to stop this drug. The drug has provided some anxiety relief but it gives me headaches . I also feel sort of like I was hung over. It was providing mood stabilization until we added the Abilify. It is very activating. I am so worried as not sure where we go from here, maybe Ect. Edited June 15, 2014 by Stars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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