Carbamazepine for Bipolar Disorder User Reviews (Page 4)

Brand names: Tegretol, Carbatrol, Tegretol XR, Equetro, Epitol

Carbamazepine has an average rating of 7.0 out of 10 from a total of 99 reviews for the treatment of Bipolar Disorder. 59% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 20% reported a negative experience.

Reviews for Carbamazepine

be2
Taken for 1 to 6 months
July 4, 2015

Tegretol XR (carbamazepine) "Was effective for mood stabilization,took 400 mg 2x/day. Went off it because it caused water retention, elevated liver enzymes and mild neutropenia. Also carbamazepine interacts with lots of meds,making them ineffective (i.e. Seroquel) Depakote ER is better for me."

6 / 10

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4 Report

661Jack
Taken for 10 years or more
July 31, 2022

"Taken Tegretol XL x 20 years. Has worked great but the past few years have experienced increased episodes of low Potassium that has required ER visits x 4 in the past 5 years to have infusion of Potassium. Works wonderful for mood control with only some breakthrough episodes of hypomania. Has been used most recently with Seroquel."

9 / 10

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1 Report

Anonymous
September 21, 2021

"This drug is the opposite of peace of mind I used carbamazepine for over 3 years and the effects that i have now are very terrifying. It first started with little eye ache in the right eye, then it extended to the two eyes, till this moment I've been having serious ocular disturbances which seems to be permanent. Plus lack or coordination, weakness and abnormal thinking. This is what went through while using that drug"

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1 Report

Smile
Taken for 1 to 2 years
April 25, 2021

"I used to take epilim till my therapist took me off it and I switched to tegretol. I didn't get any relieve using it. The only thing I appreciated about the drug was it didn't have horrible side effects. But as for its efficiency in bipolar.....it doesn't work for a long time."

6 / 10

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1 Report

Mo1968
April 25, 2016

"I do feel that this medication works, regular blood work to check levels in the blood are crucial. I have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder for 16 years and have been on this medication since the year 2000. It worked better back then, I do have an appointment with a psychiatrist to go over the mediaction as I do not feel that it is working as good as it used to. Perhaps my body has become immune to it."

6 / 10

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2 Report

Are you taking this medicine?

Greb
Taken for 6 months to 1 year
May 19, 2023

"I find tegretol fantastic as a mood stabiliser for my bipolar disorder. We trialled coming off it and trialling different mood stabilisers during a hospital stay but it went so badly that after 3 weeks I begged my psychiatrist to put me back on it and was back to my non-manic self within a day or 2. It's not a 'one and done' med for me and we need to pair it with an atypical antipsychotic to help cover the depressive episodes but it works well for me. I'm on 800mg/day. I will say that the side effects when starting it or increasing dose can be a bit crazy, I get some full on ataxia for a couple of days, but it dies down and is worth it over all."

9 / 10

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0 Report

sunny...
Taken for 1 to 6 months
March 30, 2016

Tegretol (carbamazepine) "I was depressed and in bed for 4 years until I was diagnosed with bi polar. I am now 2 months with Tegretol, out of bed and am enjoying life like never before. It has been a miracle for me."

10 / 10

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77 Report

yayo
Taken for 1 to 6 months
June 4, 2014

Tegretol (carbamazepine) "Most effective medicine for bipolar disorder, at least for me."

10 / 10

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67 Report

Sandy...
Taken for 5 to 10 years
September 18, 2014

Tegretol (carbamazepine) "No problems or side effects."

9 / 10

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48 Report

Anonymous
February 4, 2010

Tegretol (carbamazepine) "I have been using Tegretol for over five years and I think it is the best medicine for the manic side of bipolar. I don't notice any side effects and have not gained weight while using Tegretol."

9 / 10

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63 Report

romagna
December 21, 2008

Tegretol (carbamazepine) "I liked it more than valproate since it doesn't affect your weight."

6 / 10

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65 Report

Mrosa
Taken for 2 to 5 years
April 18, 2016

Tegretol (carbamazepine) "This drug killed my thyroid. You should also be screened heavily for certain blood illnesses before taking and monitor your liver and kidneys. A VERY poisonous drug."

1 / 10

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32 Report

Anonymous
April 4, 2009

Tegretol (carbamazepine) "My only real problem with my bipolar disorder is my aggressiveness and this medicine like the other 13 I've been on does nothing for it."

5 / 10

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35 Report

anaisu
Taken for 1 to 6 months
September 5, 2015

Tegretol (carbamazepine) "It kinda helped me in addition to my abilify, but since I have type 2 bipolar disorder, I just felt sleepy and knocked out all the time. Not the best of times."

4 / 10

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22 Report

Anonymous
Taken for 1 to 6 months
May 10, 2017

"Best drug for bipolar if you can pass initial side effects."

10 / 10

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18 Report

saba
Taken for 1 to 6 months
March 14, 2016

Tegretol (carbamazepine) "it helped with the mania , but i was always drowsy and could not concentrate , also i gained weight...."

4 / 10

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19 Report

Anonymous
Taken for less than 1 month
November 29, 2022

"Tried it for 3 days and ended up with severe nausea and vomiting so stopped right away. Spent one full day in bed, not being able to pick my head up off the pillow without vomiting."

1 / 10

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4 Report

cooki...
November 13, 2016

Tegretol (carbamazepine) "I've been on tegretol about 2 weeks and at 1.4 weeks just went up to 600 mgs and dont like the side affects stopping it as of today. taking for bipolar"

5 / 10

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13 Report

Jay...
November 9, 2015

Tegretol (carbamazepine) "On 400 mg making me very nauseous along with neck and shoulder pain"

6 / 10

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14 Report

Anonymous
June 7, 2009

Epitol (carbamazepine) "Epitol has helped me immensely. It pulled me out of a manic phase (after withdrawing from lithium, which didn't work) and has helped me from going into a deep depression."

10 / 10

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20 Report

qwert...
April 19, 2011

"It saves me from going in a deep depression episode."

10 / 10

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18 Report

Postm...
Taken for 1 to 6 months
August 19, 2016

Tegretol (carbamazepine) "Bad side effects after several months!!"

3 / 10

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12 Report

ert
Taken for 1 to 6 months
March 12, 2014

Tegretol XR (carbamazepine) "This is only medicine that works for me."

10 / 10

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14 Report

78b
Taken for 1 to 6 months
October 5, 2017

"Caused extreme painful headaches, which did not respond to painkillers."

1 / 10

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10 Report

crist...
May 10, 2008

"This has worked better than any other medicine I have used to treat mania. I only had slight fatigue when starting the medicine but it disappeared after a few weeks."

9 / 10

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17 Report

Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or to remove inappropriate language and content. Reviews that appear to be created by parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any particular medication. While these reviews may be helpful, they are not a substitute for the expertise, knowledge, and judgement of healthcare professionals.