TEGRETOL Reviews (CARBAMAZEPINE)Average Rating: 3.3 (287 Ratings)Filter ResultsCompare TEGRETOL with similar:
Type: Rx Drug
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Results are sorted by length of time drug was taken longest to shortest. Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.) |
More on TEGRETOL: Reviews Summary | Drug Safety Information
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR TEGRETOL | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
| 5 | epilepcy/grand mal seizures | The first time I took tegretol I acted drunk. It made me feel loopy, but as time went on my body adjusted. Over the years side effects have been fatigue, low libido, and now more memory loss...looking for the right words, remembering where I put things, etc. Now it is low sodium, anemia and lower white blood cell count (not an issue right now but could be later). No bone loss from last bone density test. Be careful with antibiotics they raise tegretol levels, especially erythromycin. | I started taking Tegretol when I was 23 years old and basically was given my life back. I was having seizures every 7-10 days. With tegretol I have had only 1 seizure in 20 years . I was monitored for aplastic anemia in the early days which they have now stopped testing for. I have had two beautiful, healthy daughters even though there were low risks involved. At one time I was up to 1200 mg/day. Now I am on 800 mg/day. It has helped with side effects. | F | 32 years 200 mg 4X day | 8/9/2013 | 4 | epilepsy | nausea, blurred vision, headache,lack of sleep and nervousness | I have been taking tegretol since 1976. When I started taking tegretol it was still in the experimental stages and had to get blood test weekly. That was painful. I took it along with phenobarbital for 18 years. They were the only 2 drugs that could control my seizures. I was having seizures every day until I started tegretol. Now I take tegretol only but I take 1000mg daily. I was taking 1400mg daily. I can say the doctors were honest enough to tell me the side effects and let me know how the drug would cause birth defects if I got pregnant. I have now taken tegretol for 32 years and only occasional have seizures. I also had a doctor tell me that epilepsy was a disease that couldn't be cured but could be controlled so be weary of doctors that tell you that epilepsy is curable. I have been told that if I start having seizure again that there are too many good medicines that have the 10th of the side effects that tegretol does to stay on it but for now it is | F | 47 | 32 years | 3/9/2009 | 5 | epilepsy | drowsy | F | 40 | 31 years | 3/4/2008 | 4 | epilepsy | Drowziness periodically | I used to suffer from dizziness. Eventually I realised the dosage was too high. Without the consent of the neurologist I reduced the dosage by 400mg/day. The dizziness stopped without having additional seizures. Obviously the dosage was too high. | M | 47 | 30 years | 12/31/2009 | 2 | seizures | Over the first 20+ years it always caused SIADH at therapeutic levels (800 mg/day-1200 mg/day). Currently on just 200 mg/day and free from SIADH. | F | 50 | 30 years Varies 2X day | 12/7/2015 | 5 | EPILEPSY | Gum swelling (mild), sleepier than normal, intolorence to alcohol, mild sun sensitivity | Have been using this pregnancy-safe dosage for 28 years now- eventhough I'm past the pregnancy years- no seizures. Just need more than average dental cleanings, sunscreen, more sleep (like 2 hours). Enables me to drive. Need regular liver panels to check for drug metabolism/toxicity. Want to see if 400 mg daily is still appropriate as I'm aging- drugs are more toxic generally as one gets older. | F | 53 | 28 years | 8/3/2009 | 5 | epilepsy | no side effects | seizure free for many many years | F | 49 | 28 years | 4/26/2003 | 3 | Epilepsy | Forgetfulness, drowsiness, double-vision, weight gain and fatigue. | I have been on this medication since I was 1 year old. initally it helped but as I got older it wasn't helping any longer. I had surgery to help control my seizures and have been somewhat free of my seizures. I was having breakthrough seizures when I was strictly on the tegretol years after the surgery but then switched to another medicine and have been able to control them completely since. | F | 29 | 28 years | 7/18/2005 | 5 | seizures | The only one I have is some difficulty concentrating/remembering which I suppose is from the drug. | Has kept me seizure-free for more than 15 years. I have lived a very "normal" life, gave birth to three beautiful daughters while on the med, and maintain a high-stress job. It has worked well for me! | F | 52 | 25 years | 4/6/2007 | 5 | To control my seizures | I have quite a number of side effects including, Hair loss, Bone problems, Heart palpatations and short term memory loss. Yes the list is long, but i cant do without tegretol. | The only reason i am taking tegretol still is the fact that it has been the only succesful drug that has controlled my seizures. I am also taking Keppra as well to help along side tefretol, but it is always tegretol that i come back to. Plus it has allowed me to drive now :) | M | 33 | 25 years | 1/27/2007 | 5 | Epilepsy | constant tiredness since childhood, low concentration,anxiety, mood swings, memory poor | Controlled my epilepsy when other drugs didn't.Having taken it for a long time, i have noticed various side efects over the years. The ones that effected me most were tiredness and anxiety. Anxiety and irritability are problems on thse meds especially if you don't keep routine, drink lots of water etc. I have been cutting down my dose to withraw after longterm use, i'd like to know what normal is, I have worked and studied all my life and achieved a great deal, though it has been a struggle at times. I look forward to being free of meds. | F | 36 | 25 years 400mg 2X day | 8/16/2014 | 4 | seizure disorder | I took this drug for 25 years, always tired, never 100% seizure free. Trying other drugs, testing new meds. Occasionally overdosing ending up very dizzy. Missing one the seizures would fallow. | It controlled me. The only option was to have 1/4 of my brain removed, risky but I did it. No side affects only PT memory loss Now Im a NEW MAN!! and a free one. | M | 40 | 25 years | 12/22/2004 | 4 | Epilepsy | Exhaustion varies depending on amount of sleep, twitching mainly in hands, double vision, dizziness | I am 34 and been on tegretol since 12. At 26, I went from 800 mg to 1400mg/day. I also take Tegretol XR. For the most part, my seizures have subsided. But, I will still have seizures if I let myself get too tired. Since I've taken more tegretol, I have double vision/dizziness every once in awhile which is very hard because I'm a teacher and has happened then. My hands twitch also. Tegretol has saved my life, in my opinion. I would have grand mal seizures regulary if I didn't take as much as I do. But, there are definitely instances where I'm so tired I could scream and wish I didn't take this drug...like tonight! | F | 34 | 22 years | 6/13/2009 | 4 | Epilepsy | memory loss, some fatigue, no other symptoms | I have been on Tegretol since I was 12 and am now 33 years old. Whilst early on I had no visible side effects at all, as I get older I am having a marked increase in Memory loss. I like others remember little of my childhood and my short term memory stinks! Very frustrating for myself and those that I live with. I have been off work for a couple of years and it seems to have gotten worse since Ive stopped using my brain for work - type functions so Im hoping it will improve when I go back. The drug gives mee too much peace of mind to consider ditching it however Im pleased Im not the only one that has the memory loss symptom | F | 33 | 21 years | 3/20/2008 | 3 | Seizures | Can't concentrate, memory terrible,. Start to talk and I know what I want to say but it want come out. Can be looking at a object and can't remember the name of it. | I have weaned myself off of this over about 4 months. Hadn't had any for 6 months. Seem to be doing ok. I haven't told my dr yet hadn't been for checkup yet. | F | 65 | 21 years 200mg 1 ti | 7/2/2019 | 3 | Seizures | Can't concentrate, memory terrible,. Start to talk and I know what I want to say but it want come out. Can be looking at a object and can't remember the name of it. | I have weaned myself off of this over about 4 months. Hadn't had any for 6 months. Seem to be doing ok. I haven't told my dr yet hadn't been for checkup yet. | F | 65 | 21 years 200mg 1 ti | 7/4/2019 | 1 | Epillepsy | Extreme exhaustion. I have to pump myself full of dangerous levels of caffiene just to barely make it through an 8 hour work day. I've been on it so long that it is hard to tell what is a side effect and what it just the way I am (been on it since I was 5 or so), but I've noticed on here that I'm not the only tegretol user suffering from memory, concentration and depression issues. Also, no pain meds work on me- not even prescription ones. | F | 26 | 21 years 2X day | 8/11/2011 | 5 | seizures | I have had no side effects with tegretol or the generic | good but had to be i ncreased to 200 3 times a day because of several breakthrough seizures | M | 55 | 20 years 200 2X day | 5/19/2010 | 5 | epilepsy | After taking this medicine for 18 years, it causes sporatic sodium/potassium imbalance. | It has been a great help over the years. | F | 47 | 20 years | 12/11/2004 | 5 | seizure disorder | Weight gain; feeling "foggy" -- used to play Trivial Pursuit and remembered all the obscure trivia, but after starting Tegretol I know that I know the information, just can't call it up out of the "file cabinet." | Considering that all medications cause some sort of side-effects, some worse than others, Tegretol has made it possible for me to drive, hold down a full-time job, raise a child -- in other words, have a productive life, so much so that the only time I think about having a seizure disorder is when I have to take a dose, go the doctor for a refill, or deal with the local DMV to keep my driver's license. The rest of the time I can just think of my seizure disorder as a "nuisance" that I have to deal with, not something that I have allowed to ruin my life. | F | 56 | 20 years | 8/28/2007 |
TEGRETOL (CARBAMAZEPINE): Carbamazepine is used to prevent and control seizures. This medication is known as an anticonvulsant or anti-epileptic drug. It is also used to relieve certain types of nerve pain (such as trigeminal neuralgia). This medication works by reducing the spread of seizure activity in the brain and restoring the normal balance of nerve activity. (Sources: U.S. Centers for Medicare Services, FDA)