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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Oliver71 on February 10, 2012, at 11:02:41
Hi all,
I have a history of treatment-resistant depression. My psychiatrist suspects I have something on a bipolar spectrum, maybe bipolar 2. I'm currently trying Trileptal -- I've been on it now for about 2.5 weeks and am up to 900mg/day at this point. Maybe it's too soon to expect a change in symptoms, but I'm still experiencing significant depression. I wanted to see if anyone else has any experience with Trileptal that they could share. Thanks, --Oliver
Posted by tensor on February 10, 2012, at 12:41:31
In reply to Trileptal helpful for depression?, posted by Oliver71 on February 10, 2012, at 11:02:41
> Hi all,
>
> I have a history of treatment-resistant depression. My psychiatrist suspects I have something on a bipolar spectrum, maybe bipolar 2. I'm currently trying Trileptal -- I've been on it now for about 2.5 weeks and am up to 900mg/day at this point. Maybe it's too soon to expect a change in symptoms, but I'm still experiencing significant depression. I wanted to see if anyone else has any experience with Trileptal that they could share. Thanks, --Oliver
>Have no experience of Trileptal, but have you already tried Lamictal?
/t
Posted by raisinb on February 10, 2012, at 12:58:29
In reply to Re: Trileptal helpful for depression? » Oliver71, posted by tensor on February 10, 2012, at 12:41:31
I have been on it for a couple of months. I am also BP 2 with severe depression (at least, that's my current dx). I like it because I haven't experienced significant side effects, and it has controlled my depression well, but I am also on 75 mg Zoloft, which I believe is key. Are you also on an AD?
Have you had the blood tests? Your pdoc will need to check your level. If 900 mg is not enough, it will show up.
As far as I can tell, current thinking is that a history of severe depression that might respond initially to ADs but not for long is one thing that might indicate bipolar. In this case many pdocs think a mood stabilizer plus an AD might work out well.
Posted by Oliver71 on February 10, 2012, at 13:00:10
In reply to Re: Trileptal helpful for depression? » Oliver71, posted by tensor on February 10, 2012, at 12:41:31
> > Hi all,
> >
> > I have a history of treatment-resistant depression. My psychiatrist suspects I have something on a bipolar spectrum, maybe bipolar 2. I'm currently trying Trileptal -- I've been on it now for about 2.5 weeks and am up to 900mg/day at this point. Maybe it's too soon to expect a change in symptoms, but I'm still experiencing significant depression. I wanted to see if anyone else has any experience with Trileptal that they could share. Thanks, --Oliver
> >
>
> Have no experience of Trileptal, but have you already tried Lamictal?
>
> /tYes, I have been on Lamictal before, but it was always added on to an antidepressant, never by itself. SSRI + Lamictal didn't seem to work for me.
Posted by Oliver71 on February 10, 2012, at 13:31:28
In reply to Re: Trileptal helpful for depression?, posted by raisinb on February 10, 2012, at 12:58:29
> I have been on it for a couple of months. I am also BP 2 with severe depression (at least, that's my current dx). I like it because I haven't experienced significant side effects, and it has controlled my depression well, but I am also on 75 mg Zoloft, which I believe is key. Are you also on an AD?
>
> Have you had the blood tests? Your pdoc will need to check your level. If 900 mg is not enough, it will show up.
>
> As far as I can tell, current thinking is that a history of severe depression that might respond initially to ADs but not for long is one thing that might indicate bipolar. In this case many pdocs think a mood stabilizer plus an AD might work out well.No, I'm not taking an AD currently. Thanks for mentioning the blood test, I'll ask about that. My doc has advised me to hold at 900mg for 2 weeks, then raise it to 1200 if not seeing improvement.
Posted by SLS on February 10, 2012, at 14:09:41
In reply to Re: Trileptal helpful for depression? » raisinb, posted by Oliver71 on February 10, 2012, at 13:31:28
> No, I'm not taking an AD currently.
Trileptal is a good drug.
I guess the fewer the drugs, the better. Don't be too disappointed if the Trileptal by itself doesn't help, though. Bipolar II depression often needs an antidepressant to go along with a mood-stabilizer.
There are a great many alternative drug treatments. You should be optimistic.
- Scott
Posted by raisinb on February 10, 2012, at 14:22:49
In reply to Re: Trileptal helpful for depression? » raisinb, posted by Oliver71 on February 10, 2012, at 13:31:28
Blood tests are needed to check for hyponatremia, a rare but dangerous condition that can occur on Trileptal. Your doc will probably bring it up.
Posted by Phillipa on February 10, 2012, at 18:11:33
In reply to Trileptal helpful for depression?, posted by Oliver71 on February 10, 2012, at 11:02:41
I took 150mg of trileptal with an ad and no side effects at all. I was to go to 300mg but was too expensive so stopped taking it. Was an augment for an ad. Phillipa
Posted by Christ_empowered on February 13, 2012, at 22:30:56
In reply to Re: Trileptal helpful for depression? » Oliver71, posted by Phillipa on February 10, 2012, at 18:11:33
trileptal made me depressed and stupid. 1200mgs.
Posted by Phillipa on February 14, 2012, at 20:19:47
In reply to Re: Trileptal helpful for depression?, posted by Christ_empowered on February 13, 2012, at 22:30:56
That's a high dose!!! Phillipa
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