Oxcarbazepine for Bipolar Disorder User Reviews (Page 3)

• chris...
• April 27, 2017

"Trileptal has been a life-saver so far in treating my Bipolar. I've been on the drug for a little over 10 weeks and I currently take 600mg/day split between morning and evening. For the first month I experienced extreme fatigue, dizziness and headaches. Currently, I only sometimes have blurry vision and I feel like my memory has gotten worse (but it was poor to begin with). I didn't feel like it was actually working until I got to my current dose about three weeks ago and now every week is better than the last in that I have fewer "bad" days. I've even started to have good days without being manic! I do have a problem with sodium levels that I only notice after exercise, but eating a pickle or two resolves that."

• Deej
• April 15, 2017

"I have been on Trileptal and just started taking it about a week ago and I have been in better moods from the time I wake up to the time I go to bed. I was on 75mg of lamictal for over 3yrs and it was working fine and then it stopped working. I have also been diagnosed with bipolar when I was young when they said that I had the beginning stage of it. I was just recently diagnosed with the highest stage of bipolar that you can go and my psychologist put me on this med. I am taking 600mg a day 300mg in the am and 300mg at night I am not drowsy or nothing just a little dizzy every now and then."

• Mothers...
• January 6, 2018

"My daughter was diagnosed 2 years ago with several different mental health problems, she's been dealing with these issues for years, but seems like we couldn't get the right help for her, she had a manic episode 2 weeks ago, I had to have her hospitalized, they put her on the triliptal and by the time she came home she was a totally different person, she's so calm and mellow, I can tell for the first time in a long time, she seems at peace in her mind and actions, best medication I've seen in a long time, thank God and the doctor who finally found her some relief, including myself"

• Vastra...
• September 20, 2015

"I've been on generic Oxcarbazepine, 600 mg 3X day for years and it wasn't quite enough, alone, to control my Bipolar Disorder, but taken along with Lithium, seems to have finally been the combo I needed to bring me back to reality with stable mood, although it does make me very sleepy. I was crying every day and alternatingly unreasonably angry for years and years, going undiagnosed for decades. Bipolar runs rampant in my family, so I don't know why I didn't realize THAT was my issue, too! Just never put it together after watching my brother and sister's crazy rages, since mine was so different than that! Derp!"

• Melanie
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 3, 2016

"I was on Trileptal for less than 6 months because I was having trouble affording it at the time. What I can say is it helped with my moodswings & I didn't experience any side effects from it. Overall, I think this is a good medication."

• Petal
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 17, 2019

"I am Bipolar II and tried everything before settling, happily, with Oxcarbazepine (300mg x 2 a day). Lamictal did nothing for the hypomania plus I lost about 1/2 my hair. Everything in between had such major side effects I could not tolerate them. I have to take the oxcarb in conjunction with Lexapro 10mg, but I'm pretty darn stable as long as I don't have too much caffeine. I take 150mg trazodone for sleep. Only downside to the meds is that they affect my memory, and I'm probably not as sharp as I used to be. I'm also older!"

• Anonymous
• April 23, 2012

Trileptal (oxcarbazepine) "I'm going into my second month using Trileptal and started at 600 mg a day. My Dr just upped it to 900mg because it wasn't stabilizing my moods as much as I would like. I also take Klonopin for anxiety and the Trileptal for my bipolar. So far, no side effects like the Topamax with tingling but I'm hoping it starts working better. My Dr wants to throw in an antidepressant along with something for ADHD but wants to wait till this kicks in. "

• al dude
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 17, 2017

"This medicine saved my life. I would of never been able to finish college. it took two trips to the psych ward and complete honesty with the doctor to get me the right medicine but ever since I've been put on it- no more pounding heart, no more manic episodes, no more depersonalize. It is truly a blessing to experience life a little better."

• Anonymous
• May 27, 2008

Trileptal (oxcarbazepine) "I have been on Trileptal for nearly two months. I have tried many medications because I am drug resistant. I take three tablets during the day. When I take a tablet I can feel a very comfortable soothing in about 30 - 40 minutes. This lasts for a few hours then I need to take another tablet. This is the best medicine yet. At least Trileptal provides quick relief."

• Horatio
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 7, 2018

"I'm BP2 with an ADHD comorbidity. My ADHD always been fairly manageable with whatever stimulant is most en vogue at the time.. Ritalin, Concerta, Adderall, Focalin, Vyvanse, mydayis etc... However my Bipolar went undiagnosed for years and I got every SSRI, Benzo & antipsych out there, with only the short acting benzos helping with hypomania a few hours at a time. I started trileptal about 18 months ago at a low dose & slowly increased until I found the right balance. It is wonderful. I really mean that I don't notice it, I just feel normal; for the first time in my life. Of course it doesn't resolve the ADHD symptoms that so many people with BP also have, but my stimulants seem to be more effective even at lower doses. Since starting I've gone from 6-7 different medications a day to just trileptal, a stimulant and CS (with a benzo on standby JIC.) The only side effect I've experienced was some mild numbness in my legs, mostly feet, intermittently between months 2-4, never since."

• Wissa
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 22, 2019

"This medication oxcarbazepine saved my life - I have bipolar disorder. It has changed my whole out look. Once my therapist and the Dr got me on this medication I wasn't sure how to act. I was happy for the first time in my life. It stopped my manic highs and lows, it took away the suicidal thoughts and tendencies I was diagnosed with. I have had it to be increased once in the last four years of being on it three times a day. Now I take it four times a day. I'm starting to get that "feeling" again so I was checking to see if it could be increased and found for the bipolar treatment that it can indeed be increased. When I go in to see my Dr I am going to discuss this further with her. Oxcarbazepine for a mood stabilizer worked 100% for me and I noticed the change in me within a week."

• Anonymous
• May 26, 2010

Trileptal (oxcarbazepine) "I have been taking this medication for 3 weeks now and have noticed that my moods have stabilized. I feel like this medication is really working in that respect and helping to make mine and my family's life much better. So far, this medicine works!"

• Cshepp
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 29, 2014

"I was on this medication for 8 years. They wanted me to get to 1200 mgs, but I couldn't function past 300, so that's where I've been and I take it at night. I've run out several times and have experienced zero side effects. My sodium gets dangerously low and I have to increase my salt intake. I thought I was all better and stopped taking it several months ago. I've been feeling suicidal and have been on manic spending benders and couldn't figure out what was wrong. Then I realized I shouldn't have taken myself off the medication. I'm also going to see a psychologist. I don't like psychiatrists because they always try to pawn off the latest medication marketed to them with perks."

• Cedar
• Taken for 10 years or more
• November 18, 2019

"Have been on trileptal for 15 years for bipolar. 600mg twice a day. Worked very well for me. Developed critical hyponatremia after an illness and was told I must withdraw from drug. Extreme difficulty dropping even a small amount. Lost motor ability, developed psychotic symptoms. Landed in emergency. Did very slow taper to 480mg twice a day and fairly functional. Be very careful if withdrawing."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 16, 2014

"I have taken trileptal for many years....I could not be happier with the results of this medication...It gave me the 'brakes' I seemed to be lacking due to my bp.....I would fly off the handle, stay mad for what seemed like days....and for nothing....I have only had slight side effects...mild headache and some dizziness at first and after any dosage changes...but these were nothing compared to wonderful results I've had...Good luck everyone!"

• Stacy...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 17, 2019

"This medication Trileptal has pretty much eradicated my anger and mood swings related to my bipolar disorder. It’s pretty much perfect for what it was prescribed for. However, since starting it, I have been soooooo hungry!! I have pretty much only eaten one meal per day for the past 10 years. Since starting Trileptal, I’ve been needing a full three meals, plus snacks with how ravenous my appetite has become. I’ve gained a pound per week so far, which isn’t being made up for when I exercise. It’s an amazing drug, but the weight gain is steering me away from it."

• Mia
• March 5, 2017

"I'm on a cocktail of mood stabilizers and an antidepressant to treat the depressive phase of bipolar. Lately, I started getting dysphoric manic phases. If I take 150 mg once a day, I feel so much calmer, thoughts don't race, dysphoria disappears. I don't feel groggy or slow. I think I tried a higher dose & it didn't agree with me. I took it, then stopped it, and now on it again. I saved it for acute mania and it helped me come down when I was worried I could not. It worked right away. Calmed my agitation and did not cause a crash. Improved my sleep too. I'm also taking 150 mg of Lamictal, 80 mg of Latuda, and occasionally 1 mg of Xanax as needed."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 19, 2019

"I absolutely love this medicine oxcarbazepine for bipolar. It was the first medicine we found to really help after some trial and errors. I take 1200 mg a day, with 300mg 4x a day. We tried 2 pills at 600mg a day, one in the morning and one at night. But I found I would get into this weird drowsy high state, i couldnt walk and felt so out of it. We switched to 300mg 4x and it works perfectly, occasionally I'll get the high feeling but a nap takes it right out or just wait 15-20 minutes. This medicine in combination with Invega and Wellbutrin is my daily medication, helps my bipolar and depression."

• BBP
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 20, 2017

"Works pretty well for stabilizing moods, mostly manic. I take 300mg morning and 600mg at night. Have been taking for about three years. Dr will not let me take more than the 900mgs. Headaches for a week when starting and during increasing dose. It does mess with my memory. I can forget asking someone a question three times and sometimes have some trouble remembering words I'm trying to express."

• Aunty...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 9, 2016

"I had been on generic trileptal for years it worked great for mood stabilization . No weight gain or major side effects until I received a different generic version then my iodine levels were terribly low and I lost a ton of weight and felt awful . My dermatologist discovered this because my primary care Dr ran tests and couldn't figure this out. Years later I'm back on trileptal 900mg , my mood is great yet now I'm having hair loss . My hair is thin all ready . I'm done with this medicine. It's unfortunate because it works well for moods . Hair loss will defiantly have me depressed . Not worth it."

• dalef...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• November 27, 2019

"I’ve taken this Rx oxcarbazepine for 10 years for Bipolar 1 disorder. It has caused increased sodium levels when I exceed 600-900mg but, it does help me at 600mg per day. I have tried 6-7 other meds for BP but, I always have come back to oxcarbazepine. The others are simply too strong and left me cloudy and confused."

• Sinrn
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 2, 2020

"I took trileptal for 8 months for bipolar type 1. I was rapid cycling due to an antidepressant but the trileptal was very effective for stopping the cycle. My mind wasn’t going a million miles an hour anymore. However horrible dangerous side effects starting with dizzy and nausea. At 8 months hives on my skin. Rash on my palms and it was in my mouth. Scratchy throat and respiratory problems also. Stopped cold turkey and now I’m cycling into depression"

• Cmunk
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 8, 2012

"Do NOT stop taking this medication. I was out of state and ran out of it (poor planning on my part). I realized I was going to run out so I started titrating downwards. The results were immediate, and unexpected. Essentially I went into 'withdrawal' (in the psch world labeled 'discontinuation syndrome'). It was very unsettling. When I finally returned to my home state I had to double my dose for a while to feel 'normal'. "

• LilyP...
• June 7, 2015

"I have been taking trileptal over 12 years. Current dosage 1800mg. The drug worked many years without side effects noticed. Today suffer from thin bones, hypernatremia, colitis. Psychologically a great drug. Physically not so much."

• Hmmm
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 11, 2020

"I've been on this for half a month & I took Lamictal prior to this. So far is been positive mentally & I'm much more balanced. Physically I'm on the lowest dose but instead of my usual reflux I'm getting more nausea. Also strangely my knees are more limber but my back is so stiff that it makes noise (snap, crackle, pop) when I squat. My thirst has increased slightly and I find that I cry more but I feel less depressed. The anxiety level I have is way down but now tends to revolve around thoughts of covid effects on society or the severe side effects that could pop up, I know this isn't likely to be the right dose but I'm nervous about taking the dose higher"