[VanGore28]

I am schizoaffective. I'm on Seroquel and two anti depressants but I'm still low so I bought carbamazepine after extensive investigation.
Does anyone have experience with this drug, how safe is it?
I am using it to substitute lithium I have been taking as a mood stabilizer, because I know that lithium isn't supposed to be used for more than roughly 3-5 years as it is a salt and can mess with the thyroid as well as liver

Is carbamazepine/tegretol have a high success rate with the depression in affective disorders?? Any input gratefully appreciated

[TicTacGo]

You bought carbamazepine, or a doctor prescribed it for you? It is a Rx (prescription only) medication.

Either way, you did research- okay good and you know that it can substitute as a mood stabilizer for bipolar/schizoaffective.

Yes, there are researchers showing a correlation, and therefore possible direct relation between lithium use and renal impairment.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov says that: "Unfortunately the potential side effects of lithium have always been an issue, and among these the possible impact of long-term lithium treatment on renal function has given rise to considerable concern. Lithium is known to affect renal concentrating ability, and lithium-induced polyuria is not uncommon, estimated to affect approximately 20% of patients, but this is rarely clinically significant. It is less clear, however, whether or not the protracted use of lithium can cause progressive deterioration in renal function, culminating in renal failure. Results of several long-term studies suggest that this is not the case, and the consensus of literature has been that in the absence of lithium toxicity, long-term sequelae are rare. On the other hand there are a number of case reports which describe instances of renal insufficiency in lithium treated patients with no other obvious cause. At the present time regular monitoring of renal function is still recommended."

Therefore, I would not stray from the lithium unless you specifically were directed to do so by a doctor with sufficient knowledge of the two drugs at hand, and their effects. I have been there, had some issues with lithium and tried to fix it on my own. Like many other plans, could either go really well or prove to be a significant issue.

[still_crazy]

hi. tegretol can mess up the metabolism of other drugs a whole lot. have you ever tried trileptal? Its a safer, less toxic version of tegretol. I take it for my...problems. I take 600mgs x 2 daily, which is on the high end of standard dosing. The only required blood work is a sodium check at baseline and then again I think at 12 weeks.

Hope this helps.

[VanGore28]

I have obviously not been diligent enough with my resesrch as quetipine interacts majorly with it. Damn. I will look at trileptal thanks a lot to you both!

I bought the lithium online same as tegretol. No prescription. When i had check up otherday they found protein in my urine so the lithium is allready not kind to my kidneys.

[*Laurie*]

When you have check-ups doesn't the doctor ask from where you are getting medication?

[VanGore28]

I am prescribed quetiapine. Mirtazapine and venlafaxine but he wont give me anymore. But they were suspicious as they found protein in urine thats not meant to be there so only time will tell x

[Foucault pendulum]

Originally Posted by TicTacGo

You bought carbamazepine, or a doctor prescribed it for you? It is a Rx (prescription only) medication.

Either way, you did research- okay good and you know that it can substitute as a mood stabilizer for bipolar/schizoaffective.

Yes, there are researchers showing a correlation, and therefore possible direct relation between lithium use and renal impairment.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov says that: "Unfortunately the potential side effects of lithium have always been an issue, and among these the possible impact of long-term lithium treatment on renal function has given rise to considerable concern. Lithium is known to affect renal concentrating ability, and lithium-induced polyuria is not uncommon, estimated to affect approximately 20% of patients, but this is rarely clinically significant. It is less clear, however, whether or not the protracted use of lithium can cause progressive deterioration in renal function, culminating in renal failure. Results of several long-term studies suggest that this is not the case, and the consensus of literature has been that in the absence of lithium toxicity, long-term sequelae are rare. On the other hand there are a number of case reports which describe instances of renal insufficiency in lithium treated patients with no other obvious cause. At the present time regular monitoring of renal function is still recommended."

Therefore, I would not stray from the lithium unless you specifically were directed to do so by a doctor with sufficient knowledge of the two drugs at hand, and their effects. I have been there, had some issues with lithium and tried to fix it on my own. Like many other plans, could either go really well or prove to be a significant issue.

Hi!

Thanks for the precise information I was looking for. I am a 41 yo. male with 13 years of BP1 diagnosis. My psychopharma in the present are nearly a lithium monoprescription (1200 mg as a whole: 1-0-2). It is funny to say that I have never raised decent blood levels. Due to I live abroad in respect to my main psychiatrist, I have but not use any antipsychotic (aripiprazol or quetiapine), sleepingpill (clonazepam, alprazolam), or pseudoantidepressant as hypericum. Maybe due to my lithium intake for 7 years, I have had developed a (subclinical) hypothyroidism which is compensated with 73 µg of levothyroxin. Just because I live in a country with little sun and that is important for common bipolar people, I also take vitamin D (0.622 mg twice a month). And that's all. My current problem begins half a year ago. Each time more urine production (although apparently not lighter), thirst, tiredness, hunger and sleepiness. The worst part at nights, unable to keep my sleeping cycle in order to do not wet the bed (which for my shame happened twice).

Reading your link I start to think in the idea that whether lithium causes my problem or not, it is high time to visit a doctor.

Besides, I it also true that carbazepine helps the antidiuretic hormone on its work and could be a way to solve my specific problem.

When I was your age I was interested in anything but biotechnology information.