OXCARBAZEPINE questions

[jst4shanell]

I just started OXCARBAZEPINE.  I am really sick.  I am on 600mg at night.  I woke up this morning with a headache and I have felt like I have the flu all day.  I cannot eat or drink anything.  I'm exausted.  Does anyone have experience with this med?  How long will these symptoms last?  I have to somehow work tomorrow.  I am getting so tired of being sick and tired.  I'm not depressed.  I'm just coming back from hell.  I had major surgery.  It made me have a severe manic episode.  They upped my dosage of Lithium and I spent 4 days in the hospital for Lithium toxicity because of a very restricted diet.  I just sort of feel at my wits end.  It's non stop.  My family is so sad for me and i'm actually sad for myself.  I can't take this medication s h i t anymore.  Just when things start looking up, I have a major set back.  what's up????  I'm the healthiest I have been in my entire life.  My life is dedicated to getting better and I can't do anymore.  There's nothing left for me to do.  I have no control.

Sorry, this was supposed to be a question about a medication, not a therapy session.   Any insight would be great.  Thanks

[jst4shanell]

I have been off Lithium for about 3 weeks?  Time is hard to tell for me these days.  Right this second I feel o.k.  I think it's because I need to take another dose.  I think I am going to hold off on the medication and wait till Monday and talk to my Pdoc about the side effects.  I have only taken two days worth so I don't think it should be a problem.  Round and round in circles I tell ya.  Thanks for the advice.  I always appreciate it.

[ILADVOCATE]

I would see the doctor if I were you. That sounds more serious even if its not from the Trileptal. I don't remember having any side effects of that severity on Trileptal. Just some cognitive confusion and sedation. Same as many other medications I've been on. Are you still taking Lithium? And if not how long were you off the Lithium? I believe Trileptal can increase the dose of Lithium in the bloodstream and if you had problems with Lithium and was taken off it perhaps it remains to some degree. Regardless, it may be none of those things but most people I know who take Trileptal don't have those kind of side effects. And it may have nothing to do with it. But ask the doctor exactly what is going on and as I suggested if they can't figure it out get some bloodwork done. This sounds of concern. If something is going on you have many other options anyway.

[Boise Idaho]

Yes, I know what it is like to want to give up on meds!
Are you drinking water?
Hang in there!
Take your meds!
Do you like a shake - milk, banana, frozen strawberries, & maybe protein vanilla flavored powder????  It goes down easy and is good for you - a good way to start your day.
Take care!

[jst4shanell]

I cannot hold any food down.  I am dizzy and nauseas (mispelled).  I basically feel like I have the flu.  I didn't work today because of it.  I feel guilty about that (I miss so much work due to this disease).  I am supposed to go snowboarding tomorrow with friends.  I am the driver so I have to go.  I am thinking of not taking it for the night so I don't feel so bad tomorrow.  I don't know if that would be a good idea.  Right now it sounds good though.  I am soo tired.

I don't have many bowel movements.  Once or twice a week.  I know it sounds bad, I just don't feel the need for food anymore.  My pdoc knows about this.  I hope this goes away.  I havn't really gotten out of bed for 2 days now.

Thanks for the advice.  It is so appreciated.  I really need support right now.  I feel like i'm ready to just give up on meds (I know I can't).

[Boise Idaho]

Oxcarbazephine has really made me constipated . . . isn't that fun!  I am taking a "stool softner", drinking a lot of water and eating fiber (my diet isn't that healthy - could be better).
You said you didn't feel like eating . . .
You need to - I think it would help you to feel better.
My doctor told me to take mine with food to help with the side effects.
Please, post how you are doing.

[Boise Idaho]

Yes, I am taking Oxcarbazephine.  I have taken so many medications in the past 3+ years.  I was weaned off all of them and put on this drug.  I started with 600 mg, upped to 1200 mg.  I had "break through" depression and was upped to 1600 mg. (I took myself back to 1200 mg thinking I would be just fine . . . mistake!) The last couple of weeks, I was slipping back into mania, but didn't realize it.  Last Sunday, I woke up in the pits of a very dark depression - very dark.  My husband didn't leave my side.  Called the doctor early Monday - went in - looked at all the options - went with a conservative approach - upped the Oxcarbazephine 300 mg - now, I take 600 mg in the AM and 1200 mg at night.  Long story short . . . when I started this drug . . . I didn't feel very well - right after I would take it, it was like I was dizzy and tired . . . yucky (funny medical term, but it sure fits) . . . my body got used to it and it didn't feel as strange.  It did take a while, but mentally and mood wise I felt better.  With the recent increase, I am feeling a bit "yucky" again, but want to hang in, adjust and see what happens.  I am followed closely by my doctor.  I also see a psychologist as well as this psychiatrist.  It has been quite the journey.
This is just a very brief comment . . . stay close to your doctor and let him know what is going on.  Sometimes you have to wait a while until the drug settles in to your body.
I hope this makes a little sense . . . this  business is so complicated!
I would be interested in any one else's experiences with this drug, too!

[ILADVOCATE]

Yes I took Trileptal (the brand name of what you are taking) years ago. It didn't work out for me but not for the reasons you said. Some people have found it tolerable and effective. It is clinically related to Tegretol which requires regular bloodtests to monitor for loss of white blood cells (which does not often occur but still must be tested for). It rarely happens with Trileptal, unlike Tegretol but it can on occasion. What you are experiencing may very well be something else but I'd suggest you go to your doctor and get complete bloodwork done to rule out anything but of course in the mean time leave the dose the same. It may not be the case but it is worth following up on regardless.