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 Date added. Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.) |
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR TEGRETOL | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
| 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 | 4 | bi polar | stomach ache anytime I eat leading to severe diarhhea and further weight loss.High blood pressure and sleepiness during the day. | I have only been on it 3 weeks and have lost 9 pounds. I had gained them from taking Wellbutrin. I can live with weight loss. The daytime sleepiness is going away now. I am monitoring my blood pressure. These are small prices to pay for the benefit. However, I have not been on it long. | F | 49 | 3 weeks | 7/4/2007 | 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 | 3 | bipolar | mainly stomach/gastric distress. took prevacid, nexxium etc but didn't really help. I could only manage 200mg/twice day though I was supposed to work up to twice that amount in order to achieve the lowest therapeutic level | in spite of the side effects, tegretol beats lithium hands down. i don't understand the arbitrary therapeutic level. | F | 53 | 6 months | 5/21/2007 | 1 | Seizure Disorder | I had my first seizure when I was 12 yrs old and I was put on Tegretol. I was not diagnosed with epilepsy but seemed to have seizures around the time of my period. Tegretol, overall, did not work for me. The longest I was seizure free on this medication was three months. The side effects included massive mood swings, nausea (especially in the morning), memory loss, and trouble reading and concentrating. I didn't know that some of these effects were the result of this drug for I myself was too young to understand. I currently have very little long term memory. I seem to have lost many memories from childhood that seem to many to deem from age and time. This is my longest lasting side effect of this medication. It is very frustrating to live with this at times especially when your loved ones share with you their childhood memories. I do not recomend this medication for children. | Following this drug, I was put on Depakote. This drug has minimal side effects only if given low doses. I have been seizure free for a long time now. I am happy and taking care of myself mentally, emotionally, and physically. For those prone for seizures, I have found that stress control and taking care of one's body is the most important way to remain seizure free with low doses of medication. I hope this helps others like everyone's comments have helped me. Thank you. | F | 22 | 9 months | 5/3/2007 | 4 | bipolar | extreme fatigue that has drastically reduced after 2 weeks... some weight gain... very few noticeable side effects | I struggle to say anything negative about tegretol. Tegretol is a dream next to trileptal. | F | 35 | 7 weeks | 5/2/2007 | 1 | Bipolar Disorder | below (same person) | i was the last person to post.... I wanted to mention that i was on topomax (which was perfect- for me) but stopped taking it because it was too expensive (116 dollars a month) and i am not qualified to get insurance, so they tried me on tegretol saying it was simmilar and cheaper. Well, I am going to the doctor tommorow and asking to get back on topomax regardless of the cost. I learned my lesson, my health is too important to bargain with. It doesn't even treat my bipolar disorder, it made it worse and added to my OCD and made me sick. I have been severely depressed/manic for the last month of being on it and have felt suicidal. My mother was bipolar and killed herself, so i know the importance of meds...I will NEVER take this again! But maybe it is good for you...everyone is different- remember that when reading these comments. Done. | F | 20 | 2 months | 4/29/2007 | 1 | Bipolar Disorder | Increased my OCD symptoms, depression, rashes, easy bruising, weakness, faint feeling, nausia, numb mouth, tingling numbness in my fingers and feet (at times painful). The first two weeks i heard everything (mostly music) in a lower key than it actually is. | F | 20 | 2 months | 4/29/2007 | 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 | 3 | I had my first documented seizure | short-term memory loss,dizziness,aching especially on the upper left side, hot and then cold,nervousness. My enthusiasm for teaching has been reduced. My anti-depressant was also reduced which may be contributing to the side effects. It is not listed as a drug interaction problem with tegretol so I am questioning my doctors as to why it was reduced. I am worried enough without having to deal with withdrawl symptoms. | F | 53 | 2 weeks | 4/17/2007 | 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 | 4 | temperal lobe seizures | Took this drug for many years at a steady dose without any side effects that I remember and it contolled most of my symptoms. But I developed HYPONATREMIA and had to be taken off it. | I had normal blood levels for many years and then there began a slow decline in my sodium levels. It took many reports of "low sodium" in my periodic bloodwork before one of my doctors saw Tegretol as a possible cause. My sodium level, meanwhile, had dropped dangerously low. This is not a complaint against the doctors. It is a complaint that "hyponatremia" should have been listed as a potential side-effect in the literature, so that a doctor could pinpoint the cause much sooner. | F | 47 | 13 years | 3/31/2007 | 1 | chronic pain | it is making me feel manic, like if i had 12 cups of coffee...not helping with pain, causing nervousness and nausea. Doctor wants me to up dose for pain control. I am done with it. | F | 31 | 3 weeks | 2/1/2007 | 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 | 1 | Seizure disorder s/p encephalopathy | Severe hyponatremia, 120 | I will not take this medicine again | F | 52 | 2 days | 1/24/2007 | 1 | ``yelling and screaming seizures`` | i was on a very small dosage when i was 8-12 years old. i was seeing double, dizzy, vomiting, and eventually overdosed. my doctor kept ùping the dose, thinking that the effects were `breakthrough seizures`. i now have a very rare condition, where my clavicals cut off my windpipe when i cross my arms. i believe this may be the effect of taking so much of this drug when i was young. it`s only a speculation, but i wouldn`t risk it. | F | 24 | 4 years | 1/10/2007 | 5 | Bipolar II | Some fatigue which resolved after 2 weeks. | Has stabilised my mood. | F | 28 | 4 months | 1/9/2007 | 4 | Bipolar Disorder | dizziness, inability to find correct words, sleepy, kind of like a dazed state but all side effects went away after a week | Ive tried lithium and lamictal, and neither helped me. For the first time, I feel like Im beginning to get back to normal. Im not even at the right dose yet (titrating up) but I can feel a major difference in my mania. | F | 34 | 21 days | 1/4/2007 | 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 | 4 | Bipolar/OCD | I take this along with Paxil, so not sure what side effects come from what drug. But I do experience small twitches in different parts of my body, usually arms and legs. Also sleepiness and weight gain/increase in appetite | This in combination with Paxil has greatly increased the quality of my life. I feel more calm and in control. I have to start watching my food intake and try not to gain so much weight now though. I've probably gained 10-15 lbs. in a few months from my strong appetite. | F | 25 | 6 months | 12/27/2006 |