Trileptal-Oxcarbazepine

Does anyone take this med to treat their bipolar and how many mgs do you take daily.

Thanks for your time..

This is a new one to me. Though I am not familiar with a lot of bipolar meds.

I hope it is working for you if you have started it.

Love your signature.

Hugs, Karen...

sukay:

You asked about Oxcarbazepine to treat Bipolar Disorder:
(net says also known as: Trileptal, Oxtellar XR)

"Does anyone take this med to treat their bipolar and how many mgs do you take daily."

And you also note:

"Yes, this drug can also be used to treat bipolar mood swings. I have been on it for years and all had been great. Now my psych wants to lower my dosage. He says my dosage is way too high yet he is the one who prescribed it for me. 🤦🏻‍♀️ So that’s why I posted the question. Maybe someone will chime in who’s been on it or currently on it."

drugs.com says:

"Oxcarbazepinay also be helpful when prescribed “off-label” for nerve pain or as a mood stabilizer for bipolar disorder."

"Most individuals display optimal response to oxcarbazepine therapy when serum levels of the metabolite (measured in this assay) are between 3 and 35 mcg/mL. Some individuals may respond well outside of this range, or may display toxicity within the therapeutic range."

A couple of the drugs.com reviews, which you may want to look at on the net search engine:

“I absolutely love this medicine oxcarbazepine for bipolar. It was the first medicine we found to really help after some trial and errors. I take 1200 mg a day, with 300mg 4x a day. We tried 2 pills at 600mg a day, one in the morning and one at night. But I found I would get into this weird drowsy high state, i couldnt walk and felt so out of it. We switched to 300mg 4x and it works perfectly, occasionally I'll get the high feeling but a nap takes it right out or just wait 15-20 minutes. This medicine in combination with Invega and Wellbutrin is my daily medication, helps my bipolar and depression.”
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"November 27, 2019

“I’ve taken this Rx oxcarbazepine for 10 years for Bipolar 1 disorder. It has caused increased sodium levels when I exceed 600-900mg but, it does help me at 600mg per day. I have tried 6-7 other meds for BP but, I always have come back to oxcarbazepine. The others are simply too strong and left me cloudy and confused.”
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Are the above doses about what you are taking?

1. Was he taking your serum levels? For drugs.com said:

"Most individuals display optimal response to oxcarbazepine therapy when serum levels of the metabolite (measured in this assay) are between 3 and 35 mcg/mL. Some individuals may respond well outside of this range, or may display toxicity within the therapeutic range."

2. As a bipolar, I take Mirtazapine anti-depressant for my depression, and Lithium as a stabilizer which keeps the anti-depressant from throwing me into mania and from having anxiety attacks.

I don't see that you are on an anti-depressant. Do you feel you need one?

Xanax I've been told is for anxiety. Are you anxious? Do you feel OK being on an anti-anxiety rather than on an anti-depressant?

Xanax I've heard is for temporary relief of anxiety, not long-term.

Are you OK with being on a medicine that is for short term relief of anxiety, not long-term relief of depression, like my psychiatrist has prescribed for me with Mirtazapine for my depression (and Lithium for my stabilizer)?

Yep a lot of mood stabilisers...
Epeletics including lithium and lamotrogine levels can be done.

The toxicity may have been liver. Many take on toll on it.
Sounds like shrink was being more than lackadaisical.
New shrink. 👍 HT