Posted by PB and J.C. (my dog) on July 7, 2000, at 1:55:44
Well - was just discharged from 18 days at Johns Hopkins
Affective Disorders Unit in Baltimore. My meds had gotten
out of control: 8 ADs/Mood Stabilizers, + 4 alternating
sleep meds, to treat my Bipolar II. Started rapid-cycling
@ 10-12 weeks ago (often 4 or 5 times within the same day).
My pdoc was in the process of introducing new meds and
eliminating others from my daily med regime, but we couldn't
move too fast because of dangerous side-effects in stopping
meds quickly.Finally landed me on the psych ward because of the rapid-
cycling, but mainly to assess my medications. The pdocs
at JHopkins had me off ALL my meds within 3 days with the
exception of the lithium (Eskalith CR - 1800 mg day) and
my Remeron (they bumped it up from 60 mg to 80 mg day).
They then added in Tegretol (now at my therapeutic dose of
400 mg day), and reluctantly acquiesced to my request to
use chloral hydrate for sleep (only after I didn't sleep for
4 nights).So now I'm on the 2 mood stabilizers and the one AD - I've
been through the Tegretol Package Insert and some other
info I've found on the web, but I was wondering if any
Dr. Bob Psycho-Babble participant can give me some
first-hand experience with the Tegretol. Effective or not?
What about side effects -- I've been experiencing
dizziness and drowsiness, but the pdocs say this will
go away. Does it? What about others like weight gain or
that terrible "zombie" feeling I got with Depakote?I'd like to be prepared before I see my pdoc middle of
next week! Thanks.Although my medication regime is much simpler now - I want
to make sure both the depression and hypomania (almost always
dysphoric hypomania) aspects of my illness are covered.Thanks,
PB
poster:PB and J.C. (my dog)
thread:39635
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000630/msgs/39635.html