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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by disney4 on December 30, 2002, at 13:54:05
I am currently on Neurontin and Klonopin for Bipolar Disorder and OCD. I can't tolerate SSRI's and I have tried almost all of the newer AD's on the market. I need something to help with depression. The large quantity of fish oil I take just isn't enough. I am considering adding imipramine to my current regimen or substituting trileptal for the neurontin, since I have heard it is an activating mood stabilizer. I suffer from constipation now, so I am concerned about the imipramine, although my Dr suggested a very low dose. It also seems like the trileptal has a much safer profile, but I am not 100% sure of it. Any comments or help is greatly appreciated!
Elsie
Posted by Ritch on December 30, 2002, at 15:13:16
In reply to Help Pleeeze..trileptal or imipramine for depress, posted by disney4 on December 30, 2002, at 13:54:05
> I am currently on Neurontin and Klonopin for Bipolar Disorder and OCD. I can't tolerate SSRI's and I have tried almost all of the newer AD's on the market. I need something to help with depression. The large quantity of fish oil I take just isn't enough. I am considering adding imipramine to my current regimen or substituting trileptal for the neurontin, since I have heard it is an activating mood stabilizer. I suffer from constipation now, so I am concerned about the imipramine, although my Dr suggested a very low dose. It also seems like the trileptal has a much safer profile, but I am not 100% sure of it. Any comments or help is greatly appreciated!
>
> Elsie
I haven't had much of an "anxiolytic" response to Trileptal. I would suggest Clomipramine instead of imipramine. Also, I have heard that stopping Neurontin can *aggravate* OCD symptoms greatly in some folks. Be careful.
Posted by BrittPark on December 30, 2002, at 15:15:53
In reply to Help Pleeeze..trileptal or imipramine for depress, posted by disney4 on December 30, 2002, at 13:54:05
I don't know much about trileptal but I have been taking imipramine for 20 years. It's worked for me, your mileage may vary. Many find the side effects of TCAs to be unpleasant: constipation, dry mouth, sedation, postural hypotention, and others. None of these have ever been a problem for me but I'm also almost never bothered by drug side-effects.
Another thing to consider might be lamictal. According to my psychiatrist lamictal is the most antidepressant of the mood stabilizers.
Best of luck,
Britt
Posted by polarbear206 on December 30, 2002, at 16:37:32
In reply to Help Pleeeze..trileptal or imipramine for depress, posted by disney4 on December 30, 2002, at 13:54:05
> I am currently on Neurontin and Klonopin for Bipolar Disorder and OCD. I can't tolerate SSRI's and I have tried almost all of the newer AD's on the market. I need something to help with depression. The large quantity of fish oil I take just isn't enough. I am considering adding imipramine to my current regimen or substituting trileptal for the neurontin, since I have heard it is an activating mood stabilizer. I suffer from constipation now, so I am concerned about the imipramine, although my Dr suggested a very low dose. It also seems like the trileptal has a much safer profile, but I am not 100% sure of it. Any comments or help is greatly appreciated!
>
> Elsie
Elise,
I have been on imipramine for 14 years. I'm now on a very low dose (25mg) since I went up to 200mg of Lamictal. I was on SSRI's before, but I can't tolerate higher doses. I'm taking 10mg of paxil for now. I'm hoping to stop it soon. Lamictal is a very good antidepressant/mood stabilizer. I have weined down from 100mg of imipramine since starting Lamictal. I was cosidering trileptal next if Lamictal failed. I was on lithium and depakote before and didn't like how I felt or the side effects that went with them. From what I have read about neurontin, it is a weak mood stabilizer.If you go with a low dose of imipramine and change your mood stabilizer, this just might be a good combo for you. I have no side effects with imipramine at a lower dose. Initial side effects will subside in time. Good luck and keep me posted.
Laura
Posted by disney4 on December 30, 2002, at 21:06:48
In reply to Re: Help Pleeeze..trileptal or imipramine for depr » disney4, posted by BrittPark on December 30, 2002, at 15:15:53
Thanks to all of you answering my post. It really helps to have some human interaction when it comes to making med decisions! I am going to ask for a med change for sure now. I am very medication sensitive, and I will keep you posted on how things go.
Posted by JohnL on December 31, 2002, at 8:14:54
In reply to Help Pleeeze..trileptal or imipramine for depress, posted by disney4 on December 30, 2002, at 13:54:05
Hi,
If the Neurontin isn't doing the trick, then it should probably be changed. I agree with other posters that Lamictal sounds like a good alternative for you. It would be more stimulating too.
I would like to suggest something totally different though. Something that a lot of doctors around the country are having good success with...Zyprexa. Zyprexa is a great all around medication to deal with a bunch of different psychiatric things. Side effects would probably be much easier to handle than Imiprimine.
> I am currently on Neurontin and Klonopin for Bipolar Disorder and OCD. I can't tolerate SSRI's and I have tried almost all of the newer AD's on the market. I need something to help with depression. The large quantity of fish oil I take just isn't enough. I am considering adding imipramine to my current regimen or substituting trileptal for the neurontin, since I have heard it is an activating mood stabilizer. I suffer from constipation now, so I am concerned about the imipramine, although my Dr suggested a very low dose. It also seems like the trileptal has a much safer profile, but I am not 100% sure of it. Any comments or help is greatly appreciated!
>
> Elsie
This is the end of the thread.
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