Posted by Lonely on January 6, 2005, at 20:46:16
I took my hubby off Trileptal about 10 days ago because it caused exact same symptoms as MS - a disease that was diagnosed in him at about the same time. He's improved a bit neurologically but obviously has mood swings (he's told me about them) and I would say is a tad bit removed from reality once in a while. He forgets stuff - leaves stove on, forgets to fasten up his clothes, etc. Former psychiatrist said he has vascular dementia which he denies.
Because the Trileptal scared the ... whatever ... out of me, I took him to a new psychiatrist today who prescribed Lamictal. I've read about it and it too has similar side effects - confusion, dizziness, memory loss, muscle control loss. What blew me away was when I noticed that it has phenobarbital in it!!! This is for a former serious drug addict and the p-doc knew it!! Also, I thought carbamazepine (which is also in Lamictal) requires frequent blood tests. He's about to start treatment for MS which can lower his immunity - it sounds like they're about to kill him!
This p-doc was polite and listened unlike the crazy Russian woman he went to the last time, but, still, I'm horribly disappointed. No real information or support for me on dealing with this.
Bottom line - he's diagnosed with sort've a milder form of Bipolar 2 but I can't remember the name. It means milder mood swings. Has anyone had experience going from Trileptal to Lamictal? I know the latter can cause serious rashes and so can his MS treatment which is coming up any day now. I'm furious about these drugs that make him groggy and cause memory loss - the least they could do is NO HARM!
poster:Lonely
thread:438681
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050103/msgs/438681.html