[robosuplex]

Hi guys,

I was recently diagnosed again as a mild bipolar ii, a diagnosis that's been thrown around since I was 15. I was put onto Tegretol XR a week ago and while the drowsiness has been pretty awful, the mood swings have been even worse. I'm 99% of the time very in control of my emotions, especially anger, and I actually injured myself punching something on the first day of medication! The other time I felt something similar was when I was starting Lamictal a few years ago. I think the mood swings may be subsiding but the sleepiness is still very strong.

Is anyone on Tegretol as well? Similar experiences or any good things to say about it?

[Trippin2.0]

When I was initially medicated the Tegretol XR dosage was too high and I was sedated and loopy after each dosage.

When my dosage was lowered I was no longer loopy and drunken master like, but I was pretty much still wanting to sleep my life away and resorted to taking my daytime pills with an energy drink in order to not pass out at work. This lasted for about 3 months I think... Idk, maybe explain to your pdoc? Hopefully they have more definitive answers and solutions.

FWIW, I also experienced an intense spike in my symptoms both times I tried meds. I have no idea why that is.

[robosuplex]

Thanks! I really hope it doesn't last for 3 months. I get so disoriented sometimes I can't even think straight, even though I'm only taking one dose at night. Also, I don't do well with energy drinks or caffeine, it makes me very jittery and exacerbates my tic disorder. I get sleepy at what seems like various times throughout the day but I'm starting to realize I'm fighting it a lot. I do end up passing out around 4 or 5 every day though...

I don't see my pdoc until next Monday but maybe I will call them with my concerns. My job is wanting to know what's up @_@

[wildflowerchild25]

Never tried tegretol but I do have a lot of weird reactions to meds. It is possible your dose is too high, and also possible that it's just not the right med for you. I would definitely talk to your pdoc about it. You can't be falling asleep all day. Sometimes the side effects wear off when you get used to the med and sometimes not.

It may also be the XR part of it. I was taking Seroquel XR and had the same drunken, disorienting effect. I stopped taking it with no real detriment to my mood so I haven't asked to try regular Seroquel. I don't know if regular would change the effects.

[robosuplex]

Hmmm. My doc did mention that drowsiness was a side effect but I wasn't expecting it to be this intense the whole time? I was thinking the XR could be a part of it too... Well, 2 weeks is how long he predicted the side effects to last but I may give him a call tomorrow since it's not getting much better.

Thanks for the reply!

[robosuplex]

I think I did a 180 from the first week. I've been anxious, angry, talkative, extremely productive, powering through drowsiness, optimistic about treatment. Now I'm really down, it's a struggle to do anything, I either want to sleep or lay around and do nothing, nothing matters. There are short periods where I feel normal and I'll get excited or laugh at something but it'll fade in an hour max. There is also the underlying urge to be extremely angry, anxious or cry because I've been holding it in this whole time. I want to spend money because I think it will make me feel better and I think it will make me a better person.

I will tell my pdoc this, I just needed to get it out I think.

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[FaithlessCat]

I know we hear this over and over but it's so true. Some meds suit one and not the other person.

I had awful lack of energy on Lithium but switched to Tegretol and doing much much better. I had some problems with forgetting words for the first couple of weeks but thats settled down now, I'm still a bit hyper moody and agitated but hoping that settles too.

Give it time ( until you really can't stand the side effects anymore ) then consider a switch

[robosuplex]

Thanks so much.

I did call my pdoc and he wants me to stop medication because I am on the absolute lowest dose and we were initially planning to get up to at least 400mg, possibly 600 in the long run. The tiredness is interfering with my job but I can at least work for most of the day. Well, I would if I hadn't injured myself in that anger outburst. I think it's mostly bearable since the outbursts are subsiding.... but since he wants me to stop I'm afraid starting something new will give me a new break in period and, considering we are starting our busiest season at work in just one week, I may have to take a leave of absence.

Again, will definitely bring this up to him tomorrow. This is all so confusing and scary, sometimes I wonder if I made the right choice to take medication again @_@ I feel like I can't afford to try different things (because of my job) but at the same time I was almost at my breaking point before.

[wildflowerchild25]

I felt the same way last year. Definitely didn't want to start meds again but I would have lost my job either way, since both ends of the spectrum were totally out of hand. I had bad reactions to celexa, abilify, and Prozac - they sent me into a mixed state (except the abilify, that just left me in a desperate depression). It can take awhile to find meds that work. I was extremely lucky and found trileptal after just six months - but I also tried dozens of meds when I was 19 so I was knew that those didn't work. Really narrowed down the pool.

If you feel like things were unmanageAble without them, then try to stay on the ride for a little while. Being patient is hard when you're in so much distress but it's unfortunately a requirement for us.

As for the tegretol the drowsiness might wear off but if you've seen a significant negative change in your mood I would say it's probably not goig to be good for you. Especially if you're on a really low dose.

[FaithlessCat]

sounds like its def not the right med for you and you know that's perfectly ok, how many of u have all said we had to take XYZ before we found the right combo. Its better to recognise quickly what isnt working and make the switch than to struggle on and let it affect your work and daily life.
Most importantly at the end of the day this is your life, you have to do whats right for you and you alone. I hope you get there soon x

[robosuplex]

Thank you both so much! It really helps a lot to hear it from people who have gone through the same thing. I had a bit of a panic attack about it all but yes, you're right. I need to do what's best for me

My pool of meds is a bit smaller too. We won't look at any antidepressants because they gave me a tic disorder when I was younger. Which I still have @_@ but that does narrow the scope quite a bit. Thank you again guys. I'm really glad I joined this forum!

[FaithlessCat]

Personally I concentrated on getting the right med for my Hypomania, now I am addressing the anti depressant with a view to getting it to a dose that might help my pure O ( OCD ) and my musical Hallucinosis. I still have a ways to go in that respect and although I should be saying my BP med is sorted I am actually going through a Hypomanic phase right now but I seem to be in better control.

Think what I'm trying to say is deal with one thing at a time, sounds like the Mood stabiliser is most affecting you so get that sorted then worry about the next med

You are most welcome, we are all in this crazy world together so it only makes sense to reach out and share our experiences.

[robosuplex]

I think me and my pdoc were focusing on the hypo mania to get my anxiety under control. Or maybe evening the moods out if we could. He said my bipolar sounded on the mild side of type 2.

I met with him and he really wanted me off the Tegretol. We discussed trying Lamictal which I was on for five years then stopped because of my mother. When I tried to restart it I had intense suicidal thoughts but it was so great for me in the past and since I'm hypo manic rather than depressed right now I thought I'd give it a try.

Two days off Tegretol and I feel so great! The drugged up feeling is gone and it's such a relief. I am dealing with Intensified states from starting the Lamictal but I have Xanax for that. I never wanted to take it in the past but I did last night it actually worked!!!

Also my job supported my leave of absence. I'll have time to deal with the highs and lows and get everything back on track. I'm really optimistic about the future and I hope it's not the hypo mania talking lol

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