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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 17 of 17. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Nickengland on May 3, 2005, at 8:15:01
Hello there : )
I have very recently started taking Trileptal/Oxcarbazepine and am very happy to report that the effects on my mood have been fantastic!..far better than I could have ever imagine a mood stabiliser could make me feel without sending me to *up* I'm feeling very level and normal.
But...and why is there always a BUT!.. I have been experiencing a general discomfort, would even go as far to say a mild pain in my lower back on both sides, definately has to be the kidneys, its not muscular or anything like that.
So that is the only side-effect, just the discomfort/pain from what i'm 99% sure is coming from my kidneys in the lower back area. I have no problems going to the toilet or anything like that.
I'm not on any other medication and before the Trileptal I was on Tegretol - and from that I remember having this maybe very slightly from the Tegretol, but its far more noticeable from the Trileptal.
I am slightly concerned as after trying all the classic mood stabiliers and they not really making my mood any bettter, THIS ONE HAS BEEN A GOD SEND for my mood : )...So after trying all these drugs since auguest last year and finally improving the last thing I want to do is come off of this one!
I read that Trileptal is excreted from the kidneys - could this be it?
Has anyone taking this drug ever had anything like this and what was the outcome?
I havent been on it long, only 4 days now so will it go away?
Is this anything to do with low sodium/hyponatraemia?
Many thanks to anyone who can offer advice help on this matter. I normally wouldn't be so concerned but as its possibly my kidneys it does worry me.
Kind Regards
Nick
Posted by SLS on May 3, 2005, at 9:33:12
In reply to Trileptal Causing Kidney Pains/Discomfort?????????, posted by Nickengland on May 3, 2005, at 8:15:01
I'm sorry that I can't answer your question. However, I am very interested to know how you have benefited from Trileptal.
I started Trileptal recently to treat the depression that comes with bipolar disorder.
Does Trileptal help with depression? This is my main concern.
In what other ways do you feel you benefit from Trileptal?
Thanks for taking the time to reply.
- Scott
Posted by tygereyes on May 3, 2005, at 14:44:40
In reply to Trileptal Causing Kidney Pains/Discomfort?????????, posted by Nickengland on May 3, 2005, at 8:15:01
CALL YOUR DOCTOR, ASAP.
Hyponaetremia is fatal and kidney pain could be a sign of it. You need to have blood levels tested, STAT.
Posted by Nickengland on May 3, 2005, at 16:06:24
In reply to Re: Trileptal Causing Kidney Pains/Discomfort????????? » Nickengland, posted by SLS on May 3, 2005, at 9:33:12
Hello Scott
I suffer from bipolar too so I know how you feel about wanting it to work for the depression side of things. I am recovering from a severe depression myself but am over the worst of it now.
I don't feel that the Trileptal has strong anti-depressant qualities to it, but bearing in mind anti-depressants can be tricky when given to people for bipolar, I think this is a good thing. I have mostly found SSRI's etc to be useless overall for my treatment of depression and I won't go near them at all now and even lamotrigine for depression. But thats me, and I guess everyone is different.
For me personally I definately feel it has helped for depression. My psychiatirst usually gives me low doses of medication and I feel this effect from just 300mg a day. I don't think that it has a dramatic effect on making you feel very happy, but it has helped me. Compared to other mood stabilsers I have tried whilst in depression at low doses, i.e lithium, the anti-manic effect was too strong and made my depression worse.
The other ways which im benefiting from Trileptal I think, indirecting are helping me with the depression too. My anxiety level seems to be much better and anxiety is a big problem for me. Also I get off to sleep fine and sleep soundly for a good 7 - 8 hours and awake without feeling too drowsy or a druged up feel if you know what I mean. I don't feel to much drowsyness in the day either.
I am lucky in some respects to the intial side effects of this medication as I made the switch to this straight from Tegretol/carbamazepine. So I think managed to avoid the common dizzyness, sickness etc... If you've just started Trileptal and your experiencing this sife effects (I did with the Tegretol) then you should find they greatly reduce/disappear after a couple of week then you can see more of the benefits.
I hope this is helpful and hopefully your get some benefits with regards to your depression from Trileptal : )
How long have you been taking it and hows it going so far?
Kind Regards
Nick
Posted by Nickengland on May 3, 2005, at 16:23:45
In reply to Re: Trileptal Causing Kidney Pains/Discomfort?????????, posted by tygereyes on May 3, 2005, at 14:44:40
> CALL YOUR DOCTOR, ASAP.
>
> Hyponaetremia is fatal and kidney pain could be a sign of it. You need to have blood levels tested, STATI am going to wait 1 week and if this is still here i'm going to call the doctor.
You say kidney pain *could* be a sign of Hyponatremia....from what i've read I couldnt find this a symptom of Hyponatremia???
I was thinking maybe it was something to do with the way its excreted via the kidney as thats where the pain is.
Oh well I hope it goes away as its the best medication so far for my mental symtoms, just didn't expect a whole new problem!
Posted by Phillipa on May 3, 2005, at 17:32:51
In reply to Re: Trileptal Causing Kidney Pains/Discomfort?????????, posted by Nickengland on May 3, 2005, at 16:23:45
Maybe it's my computer but I can read all the replys to your Thread but not the initial Thread. It keeps saying can't find page. If it's me that's okay. But if it's not, then I'd repost it. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by SLS on May 3, 2005, at 19:59:29
In reply to Re: Trileptal Causing Kidney Pains/Discomfort?????????, posted by Nickengland on May 3, 2005, at 16:06:24
Hi Nick.
Thank you so much for answering my questions.
> I hope this is helpful and hopefully your get some benefits with regards to your depression from Trileptal : )
Thanks. Your response has been very helpful. It gives me a little more hope that perhaps Trileptal will help open the door to remission.
> How long have you been taking it and hows it going so far?
Not even a week. I started it last Thursday. I have titrated up at a moderate pace. I am currently taking 600mg, and will probably stay there for another 10 days before seeing my doctor next. So far, I am encouraged by the way I am feeling. I'm taking a combination of two antidepressants plus Lamictal in addition to the Trileptal.
What dosage of Trileptal do you find works best for depression? Have you ever taken more than 300mg?
Be well.
Sincerely,
Scott
Posted by tygereyes on May 3, 2005, at 21:39:40
In reply to Re: Trileptal Causing Kidney Pains/Discomfort????????? » Nickengland, posted by SLS on May 3, 2005, at 19:59:29
Re: the kidney pain ... because this is the site of the sodium/water balance, I am assuming that it would be relevant. Generally, though, I am a hypochondriac about side effects - and good thing, too, because I developed the Lamictal rash and discovered a heart murmur from a TCA!
Be safe and please contact your doctor if this continues. You should be having periodic sodium levels drawn anyway with this med.
Posted by tygereyes on May 3, 2005, at 21:41:58
In reply to Re: Trileptal Causing Kidney Pains/Discomfort????????? » Nickengland, posted by SLS on May 3, 2005, at 19:59:29
> Hi Nick.
>
> Thank you so much for answering my questions.
>
> > I hope this is helpful and hopefully your get some benefits with regards to your depression from Trileptal : )
>
> Thanks. Your response has been very helpful. It gives me a little more hope that perhaps Trileptal will help open the door to remission.
>
> > How long have you been taking it and hows it going so far?
>
> Not even a week. I started it last Thursday. I have titrated up at a moderate pace. I am currently taking 600mg, and will probably stay there for another 10 days before seeing my doctor next. So far, I am encouraged by the way I am feeling. I'm taking a combination of two antidepressants plus Lamictal in addition to the Trileptal.
>
> What dosage of Trileptal do you find works best for depression? Have you ever taken more than 300mg?
>
> Be well.
>
>
> Sincerely,
> ScottScott,
Sorry to jump in ... but I take 600 mgs Trileptal currently. I used to take 1200 mgs and it was WONDERFUL for me, mood-wise (I have borderline personality disorder and MAYBE bipolar II) but the cognitive side effects were too much to bear.
I can't say if it has done anything for my depression, really, since I take an anti-depressant as well. My anger episodes have certainly decreased, and I feel so much more "even" than I did before.
Posted by Nickengland on May 4, 2005, at 9:03:53
In reply to Re: Trileptal Causing Kidney Pains/Discomfort????????? » Nickengland, posted by Phillipa on May 3, 2005, at 17:32:51
Hello Phillipa
Is it still not working?..Jues thought i'd check and if not i'll repost it.
Thanks for letting me know : )
Kind Regards
Nick
Posted by Nickengland on May 4, 2005, at 9:21:10
In reply to Re: Trileptal Causing Kidney Pains/Discomfort????????? » Nickengland, posted by SLS on May 3, 2005, at 19:59:29
Hello Scott,
Your welcome, glad I can help and it sounds like your getting some benefit from the Trileptal too.
I only started taking it last Saturday and the only doesage i've had is 300mg, so I could'nt say if I increased I'd feel any better or not.
I mostly get given what seems to be very low dose's of meds in general. Also unless I make an appointment sooner myself (which isnt that easy) I see my psychiatrist every 3months, but thats the NHS for ya! So really its hard for me to increase the dosage in the near future to see if I get more benefits.
To be honest, what with this kidney discomfort i wouldn't want to go any higher at the moment. That aside, I think i'm doing fairly ok with the 300mg and going any higher might add more unwanted side effects like drowsyness and inturn not help with the depression so much?
Are you taking yours in divided doses, am and pm? I have been, but today im going to try it all at night before i go to bed. I think sometimes slightly changing the timing of the dose can help too, its a case of trial and error to see what works best.
Stay in touch, it'll be good to compare notes seeing as we both started roughly the same time.
Take care,
Nick
Posted by Nickengland on May 4, 2005, at 9:30:04
In reply to Re: Trileptal Causing Kidney Pains/Discomfort?????????, posted by tygereyes on May 3, 2005, at 21:39:40
Hello tygereyes,
Yes what you say definately makes sense, far better to be safe than sorry. I'm glad to say its not getting any worse, but its still there so i'll check with the doctor and get a blood test done soon.
In general how often should you get them done? I was thinking about every 6 months - thats what my Gp said for the carbamazepine. I should say i'm always on low dose, only 200mg for the carbamazepine and im currently on 300mg for the oxcarbazepine.
Thanks for your advise : )
Posted by Phillipa on May 4, 2005, at 9:55:51
In reply to Re: Phillipa, posted by Nickengland on May 4, 2005, at 9:03:53
Just responded to your post to me. Had no trouble getting your post under the Thread. When I clicked on the first post by you again I got page cannot be found. I don't know how the others answered it unless it was working earlier and then wasn't. Or as I said it's some glich in my computer, but I'm not having trouble with any other posts. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by tygereyes on May 4, 2005, at 11:59:03
In reply to Re: Trileptal Causing Kidney Pains/Discomfort?????????, posted by Nickengland on May 4, 2005, at 9:30:04
I usually have blood tests every three months but I have a complicating nutritional factor (anorexia) that requires it more frequently - every six months is probably fine. Good luck!
Posted by mrt23 on May 5, 2005, at 2:19:54
In reply to Trileptal Causing Kidney Pains/Discomfort?????????, posted by Nickengland on May 3, 2005, at 8:15:01
> Many thanks to anyone who can offer advice help on this matter. I normally wouldn't be so concerned but as its possibly my kidneys it does worry me.
>
> Kind Regards
>
> NickI was on trileptal for about 1 month at 1200mg and also had this side effect. It was very worrysome for me, so I quit. It's too bad because it was a pleasant medication to be on. Right now I'm taking neurontin 2400mg and I'm sleeping way too much, lol.
Posted by Nickengland on May 5, 2005, at 3:47:03
In reply to Re: Trileptal Causing Kidney Pains/Discomfort?????, posted by mrt23 on May 5, 2005, at 2:19:54
Hello there, thanks for replying.
Yes it is a pretty unpleasent side effect. I really don't want to have to quit this as it seems the only one that works for me out of all the others!
When you was experiencing this from taking the Trileptal, did you go and see your doctor to get it checked out? If so, did he suggest you stop it and tell you what it was?
Many thanks if your able to reply : )
Kind regards
Nick
Ps. How are you finding the effectiveness of Neurontin, are you bipolar?
Posted by Nickengland on May 5, 2005, at 3:49:41
In reply to Re: Phillipa » Nickengland, posted by Phillipa on May 4, 2005, at 9:55:51
I'm going to post the original thread again...
Thanks for letting me know : )
Kind regards
Nick
This is the end of the thread.
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