Mental Health Is My Psych Doctor a Retard?

Johndoedoe.junk

Bluelighter
Joined
Jul 22, 2015
Messages
416
So I went to see my psych doc today (I have MDD, OCD, and GAD for background) and we were discussing different meds for mood stabilization. After mulling over a few different drugs we decide to try Trileptal (oxcarbazepine). After filling the script among my other meds I'm prescribed for my psych issues (Prozac, Inderal, Seroquel, Xanax) I decided to do a little research on the Trileptal as it's new to me and I make it a habit to research all the drugs I take.

Come to find out the new med Trileptal is reported to induce CYP450 enzymes in a major way. CYP450 enzymes are pretty much how all the meds I take are metabolized. So taking this new med would likely greatly diminish the effects of virtually all the other meds I take! Something in my gut told me to do a lot of research before taking this stuff.

I'm just flabbergasted that either he doesn't know about the enzyme induction or thinks greatly reducing the plasma levels/effectiveness of all my other meds is gonna help me.

Has anyone here who cares to share had experience with Trileptal and/or noticed it reducing meds effectiveness which were otherwise working?
 
Thanks for the feedback guys/gals. Wow 872 drugs interact with it , I think I'll def be giving the doc a call. I don't see the benefits outweighing the risk in this scenario. Glad I checked first.
 
Well it's a good thing you did some research! Doctors don't know everything but need to be extra careful, esp when prescribing medications! Do you like him? Trust him? Perhaps you should get a second opinion or see someone else. Is he a psychiatrist? Or medical doctor? Are you seeing a therapist?
 
Trileptal is a pretty weak inducer of CYP3A4/5 especially compared to its predecessor, Tegretol. It doesnt mean monitoring isnt warranted, but most interactions via induction are not clinically significant.
 
I think it's reasonable to assume that your doctor knows what they're doing. If you have questions though, they should listen. Part of the problem with researching one's medications too much is that they start to experience side effects and such, usually based on incomplete information, as the above post seems to suggest might have happened.
 
Trileptal is a demon for screwing up blood sodium levels (too low=hyponatremia). which can cause dangerous or even lethal neurological and metabolic abnormalities.

If you are on Trileptal, make sure your doc monitors your serum sodium levels closely.
 
Top