TEGRETOL Reviews (CARBAMAZEPINE)Average Rating: 3.3 (287 Ratings)Filter ResultsCompare TEGRETOL with similar:
Type: Rx Drug
|
Results are sorted by Satisfaction highest to lowest. 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 | epilepsy/ seizures | Cold sweats, memory loss, hair loss. | Terrible drug for me. I was diagnosed as an epileptic around 1988. The best drug at the time seemed to be tegretol. I was on it for roughly 11 years. While I was taking it, it always seemed to keep me on the "edge" of having a seizure. It tempered them at best. I'm one of the lucky few who get an "aura" or warning when one is coming, rather than just instantly falling to the floor. Around 1999, my neurologist suggested trying Lamictal. It was a godsend. I haven't had a single seizure since I've been using the drugs, nor have I noticed any side effects. | M | 41 | 9 years | 4/17/2008 | 5 | petit mal seizures | About once every 10-14 days I suffer from numb mouth,an unsteady gait,feeling 'spaced out'and slurring my speech.I also get twitchy fingers. | I am on 600mg tegretol retard (to try and alleviate the side effects)twice daily. My epilepsy came back after a period of 2 years without medication and I am currently unable to drive until I have been seizure free for a year.I thought it was just me that had problems with memory,both short term and long term!It is reassuring to know that I am not alone. I am reluctant to stop the tegretol as I haven't been driving for almost a year already and I still have 9 months to go, it took ages to get under control. I haven't discussed the fact that I am still having side effects although I could go on Kepra(?)Changing tablets could spark the epilepsy off again and that's another year without independence!I guess I'll have to stick with it. | F | 40 | 15 months | 4/11/2008 | 5 | epilepsy | drowsy | F | 40 | 31 years | 3/4/2008 | 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 | 5 | trigeminal neuralgia | I started taking this twelve years ago and go up and down as needed. Generally, I stay on about 300 maintenance. It calms me and I feel pretty good on it. I actually like myself better on it than off. I do feel it interferes with my drive. I'm not as organized while on it. I also take lamictol 300 and the combination for the pain is great. Sometimes, I have to go up to 1000 mlg of tegretol when the pain is horrendous, but am under control with the pain with tegretol. I would say it has been a complete life saver for me. I would have gone beserk with pain if I hadn't had this drug.Sometimes trigeminal neuralgia can be incapacitating, and I find that tegretol works immediately for the pain. It also help me with mood swings too. Side affects; sexual, for sure. weight gain (just a bit; slows the metabolism down) that's about it. I have lost all the enamel on the insides of my teeth, but don't know if it's related. The dentists can't figure it out. | I think the most important thing for t.n. patients is to be on the RIGHT DOSE, with the right combination of other medicines. I think that is the key. When I've been at 1000 mlg for pain at times, I am like a zombie; extremely tired, no drive to do anything. Gladly, I don't have to be at that high dose for long; maybe a month at the most. I have an outstanding neurologist who moniters me regularly. | F | 55 | 13 years | 7/19/2007 | 5 | mood disorder | light headedness, weight gain, rashes, increased liver function results, slight fever | The side effects have been drastically outweighed by the improvement of my moods. After suffering severe depression for 18 months with no improvement after using several anti-depressants, Tegretol has turned my life around. I am being constantly monitored for any further side effects, but if they don't get worse, I will be staying on Tegretol | F | 46 | 3 months | 7/18/2007 | 5 | glossopharyngeal neuralgia | I was really sleepy for the first few weeks but the effect wore off so that I didn't know I was taking it. No side effects after the first few weeks. | This was a miracle drug for me. I know it can be a dangerous drug but my blood levels were monitored monthly and I remained stable. I now -- over 20 years later -- have a mild osteopenia. I don't know if that's from the Tegretol or whether I would have had it anyway. I was able to gradually wean myself off of the Tegretol after taking it for 10+ years. Have been off of it and symptom free for 7 or 8 years now. | F | 58 | 10 years | 5/21/2007 | 5 | Seizures | None noticed, I was just so pleased that the seizures stopped. | 3-4 months required to get the correct dose to stop the seizures, once that was correct the seizures have stopped completely. No way would I stop or change medications. | M | 42 | 5 years | 4/26/2007 | 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 | Bipolar II | Some fatigue which resolved after 2 weeks. | Has stabilised my mood. | F | 28 | 4 months | 1/9/2007 | 5 | bipolar I, rapid cycling | Some fatigue, some short-term memory loss | This drug saved my life. I take 400mg twice daily and I went from regular hospitalizations to fully functioning able to hold high stress, more than full-time job. Side effects definitely worth it and am more fit and healthier than ever. | F | 40 | 5 years | 12/27/2006 | 5 | bipolar II | Less energetic. Dizziness for about 8 hrs or so after a dose so I take it at night. | Started at 200 mg/day and I now take 1000mg/day. I feel consistently calm, peaceful, stable, content. Very pleased that all I have to do is take 1 kind of medication to feel like myself again. | F | 29 | 8 months | 5/16/2006 | 5 | Epilepsy (nocturnal seizures) | At the begining I took 2 doses of 400mg, morning and evening. After nausea in the morning my doctor cut out the morning dose. For the past 10 years I have been seizure free. A positive side effect was weight loss - I had to stop drinking beer! | Never stop taking the treatment without consulting your doctor. I did once due to a misunderstanding and the result was a seizure. | M | 42 | 11 years | 1/10/2006 | 5 | trigeminal neuralgia | Drowsiness first two weeks, stomach discomfort at 300 mg dose. (Take with food). No noticeable side effects now. | I suffered from excruciating trigeminal neuralgia for several years before trying Tegretol. This medication has changed my life; I can now function as an almost normal person. Before Tegretol I spent almost 3 years homebound and in bed, nauseated and vomiting from pain. If you have trigeminal neuralgia and have not had relief with Neurontin, ask your doctor about it. Now I have a life again! | F | 49 | 15 months | 11/26/2005 | 5 | bipolar S.A.D. | Hardly any. I suspect it's responsible for weight gain around my middle however, because I was off it for two months and regained a waistline - a full size smaller. Within 10 days of being back on it my waist was as big as it was before. | Take 150mg twice a day. Feel much better on 100mg twice a day but then when PMS time comes, so does ANGER, so I obviously need the extra then. | F | 48 | 5 years | 9/28/2005 | 5 | Bipolar - Rapid Cycling | sleepiness, some mild memory loss, some scattering of thoughts | This was a life saver for me. I went to it from Lithium and felt SO much like myself -- normal. It worked for me for almost 15 years! I took 600 mg at bedtime (this drug is very sedating, so I couldn't take it during the day). Recommend anyone try this if Lithium is not working. | F | 45 | 15 years | 8/27/2005 | 5 | bipolar II | If I don't eat during the day I get a little | M | 47 | 5 years | 4/15/2005 | 5 | Mood disorder associated with PTSD | None | This drug is a godsend. It really evens out my moods and stops me climbing the walls. I take 600mg each day. | F | 26 | 2 years | 2/26/2005 | 5 | bipolar II | drowsiness, short term memory loss | I've been lucky with this drug. Few side effects compared to most people and it's controlled my moods very well for 12 years now. Gave me my life back. | M | 38 | 12 years | 2/8/2005 |