Posted by PB and J.C. (my dog) on July 15, 2000, at 18:33:34
Well - was discharged last week after 18 days at Johns Hopkins
Affective Disorders Unit. My meds had gotten
out of control: 8 ADs/Mood Stabilizers, + 4 alternating
sleep meds - all aimed at treating 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, and to assess my polypharmacological state. The pdocs
at JHopkins had me off ALL my meds within 3 days - retaining
only my 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 (currently at the "therapeutic" dose of
400 mg day). After I did not sleep for 4 days, they reluctantly acquiesced
to my request to use chloral hydrate for sleep.So now I'm back in the "real" world, working with my pdoc of 7 years
and find myself on the two mood stabilizers and the one AD - I've
been through the Novartis Tegretol Package Insert (is it just me, or do
all package inserts read the same and always list even the most remote
side-effects? - I guess we can thank the FDA and (no offense) attorneys).
I've also read other info on Tegretol I've found on the web -- but I was
wondering if any Dr. Bob Psycho-Babble participant can give me some
first-hand accounts with their experience with Tegretol. Effective or not?
What about side effects -- I've been experiencing
dizziness and drowsiness, and lethargy on top of those two (if that's possible)
The JHopkins pdocs and my pdoc say that these side effects will
go away. Do they? What about others like weight gain or - the one I'm very
concerned about - that terrible "zombie" feeling I got with Depakote? (I swear
I "lost" my personality for about 8 months on Depakote).I'd appreciate your experiences, comments or anecdotal information.
Thanks,
PB
poster:PB and J.C. (my dog)
thread:40584
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000708/msgs/40584.html