what do we know about trileptal?

[broK]

for the last 2 days ive been taking 150 mg trileptal, 2X/day.
dr perscribed to me along with my strattera (80 mg) & wellbutrin XL (450 mg)
he did this because i was very frustrated , down, & just in general p***ed off.
he explained to me that it was to help level my mood & that it would help with my bipolar.
all i know is its made me really drowsey & ive found nothing on the internet that would hint at roughly how long until it starts working, how long side effects lasts, etc.
dr told me that it was a very low dose, but hes the guy that starts out small & increases gradually.
many thanks
k

[rogerj1]

try crazymeds.org

[broK]

thanx Roger1

[Andi]

Trileptal (oxcarbazepine) is a drug used to stabilize the levels of electrical activity in the brain. It is currently FDA-approved only for use in treating certain seizure disorders. However it is often used as a mood stabilizer for patients with bipolar disorder and has recently began to be prescribed for use in patients with ADHD and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD). Trileptal itself has not been proven in controlled studies to be effective for those with ADHD or ODD, however another anti-seizure medications called valproate has been found useful in children with various types of aggressive behaviors. This includes a few studies in children with ODD.

Trileptal Side Effects

Headache, Fatigue, Agitation, Diarrhea, Constipation, Nausea, Vomiting, Abdominal Pain, Visual Disturbances, Dizziness, Acne, Inflammation on the Liver (hepatitis), Chronic Inflammatory Disease, Shaky Movements, Low Blood Sodium Levels, Hair Loss, Unstable Moods, Sleepiness, Weakness, Skin Reactions (rash and itch), and Concentration or Memory Difficulties.

Warnings trileptal adhd

* Trileptal may cause a decrease in the amounts of blood cells in the blood. Consult your doctor immediately if you experience unexplained bruising or bleeding, purple spots, sore throat, mouth ulcers, fever, feeling tired or general illness. Your doctor may want to take a blood test to check your blood cells. trileptal
* You should not suddenly stop taking this medicine unless your doctor tells you otherwise.
* This medicine may cause skin rashes and you should consult your doctor if you develop a rash, skin peeling, itching, or other unexplained skin reaction while taking this medicine. adhd
* This medicine can sometimes cause liver problems. Consult your doctor is you experience unexplained itching, yellowing of the skin or eyes, unusually dark urine, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pains, loss of appetite or flu-like symptoms. trileptal
* This medicine may cause low blood sodium levels (hyponatraemia), which can result in drowsiness, confusion, muscle twitching or convulsions. Consult your doctor if you develop any of these symptoms while taking this medicine.
* This medicine may cause fatigue and dizziness. Act with caution when performing potentially hazardous activites, such as driving or operating machinery until are sure you can perform such activities safely.
* This medicine is not recommended for children under six years of age.
* Exercise caution if you drink alcohol while taking this medicine because it may increase the risk of drowsiness.
* People with impaired kidney function and people taking other medicines that can reduce blood sodium levels should have regular tests to monitor the amount of sodium in their blood while taking this medicine.
* This medicine may decrease the effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives. It is recommended that women of childbearing age should use an additional non-hormonal form of contraception to prevent pregnancy.

Use with caution in...adhd

* Those with decreased kidney function
* Those with a defect of the heart's electrical message pathways resulting in decreased function of the heart (heart block)
* Elderly people
* Those with a history of allergy to carbamazepine
* Those with irregular heart beats (arrhythmias)
* Those who have experienced low blood sodium levels (hyponatraemia)
* Those with severely decreased liver function



Straterra side effects

The most common side effects from Strattera are:
*sleepiness,
*nausea and
*loss of appetite.

These side effects usually subside and go away after a few weeks.



Wellbutrin

Wellbutrin is a prescription pharmaceutical that is prescribed for the treatment of depression. Wellbutrin is also prescribed for the treatment of some other conditions as determined by your physician. Wellbutrin workds to help balance the chemistry in the brain's neurotransmitters. This imbalance is thought to be associated with the symptoms of depression.

Possible side effects of Wellbutrin are:

* Seizures
* Hypertension
* Rashes
* Itching
* Hives
* Fever
* Swelling of the lips, or tongue
* Chest pain
* Trouble breathing
* Unusual Thoughts or behaviours
* Loss of appetite
* dry mouth
* ringing in ears
* shakiness

As with any medication you can count on side effects to last a few weeks. In addition to this you should note that with each increase the side effects will continue. If after a few weeks of being on the meds you find that they have not dissipated, I would tell your doctor immediately and seek another treatment.

[broK]

WOW!!!, thank you Andi--between the site suggested by Roger1 & this info, this is much more than dr or pharmecest (i know thats not right) told me

lots more than i found on internet, & tho i work in a hospital, i hesitate to ask anyone at work. some there know bout my adhd,but im unwilling to share bout my bipolar or ocd for now.
again, thanx
k

[OldSchoolG]

trileptal really messes with my memory...and make me feel sleepy all the time...getting off of it soon...i hope these side effects go away...

[broK]

hope you find something that works, OldSchoolG, im now up to 300mg 2x/day & while im not noticing any side effects, im not real sure its working either.

[OldSchoolG]

Originally Posted by broK

hope you find something that works, OldSchoolG, im now up to 300mg 2x/day & while im not noticing any side effects, im not real sure its working either.

Brok I'm off the Trileptal and I'm back to my old self...I don't believe in moodstablizer/antidepressants BS anymore...I'm a true believer that time and effort will work everything out sooner or later...so I'm sticking with my Ritalin.. thats it for me...

[broK]

hey, OSG: thats great that the side defects didnt last too long & that the ritilan seems to do it for you