Carbamazepine User Reviews & Ratings (Page 3)

• Gim...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 16, 2012

Carbamazepine for Peripheral Neuropathy "Regarding my peripheral neuropathy: Had reached the max daily allowable level of Neurontin and was put on Tegretol, 200 mg, 4 x daily. Brought it down to one tab daily and have not looked back. Never any side effects. Condition greatly improved! Cannot remember my last 'attack.'"

• Tri...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 5, 2018

Carbamazepine for Trigeminal Neuralgia "I've been living with unbearable pain for 3 years. My official diagnosis is trigeminal neuralgia, although I'm still not sure the diagnosis is correct. Like many others, I've had endless dental procedures to no avail. They tried to put me on Tegretol and other anticonvulsants, but I can't tolerate it. The pain went away like magic from the first pill, but the side effects were unbearable. It's as if someone hands you a life jacket, and then it blows up in your face. I get a horrific state of agitation that lasts for many hours. I have to move, hit, kick to relieve this madness (akathisia). My question: can I have relief from pain with Tegretol if the pain is caused by something else (such as a dental implant, in my case)? Or is the diagnosis of trigeminal neuralgia definitive if the pain goes away? Thank you."

• Anonymous
• March 12, 2012

Carbamazepine for Trigeminal Neuralgia "It worked OK but had a dramatic effect on my mental capacities. I was in the aircraft business and it got to the point where I felt I was becoming a danger to my customers and myself because of my inability to remember. The day I couldn't recall my favorite grandson's name was the day I quit taking it. I underwent a radiological procedure (gamma knife surgery) at UAMS in Little Rock that cured the problem. I only have a mild flare-up occasionally, but it's nothing to what I used to suffer and is usually short-lived. I would recommend this procedure to anyone. It's painless and effective and was a Godsend to me."

• gui...
• August 5, 2016

For Trigeminal Neuralgia "Reading all your testimonies gives me hope. Although a few of you have had a bad experience or no relief at all, the majority seems in favor. I was recently diagnosed with TN. Never heard of it, also never felt pain like this in my life. Wakes me up, only eat when I'm starving, haven't been to the gym in 3 weeks. I've only been on it for 3 days, and so far no change. I guess it takes some time to get into your system. 100 mg 2 times a day. Not tired or dopey at all. Seems like the people with the higher mg have those symptoms. Well, wish me luck. One thing I just recently discovered, if I'm looking down, I start to get that twitch in my lip. Then I lean my head way back as I was looking in the sky, it seems to calm down."

• Ezg...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 22, 2016

Carbamazepine for Bipolar Disorder "I have been using Tegretol for 6 months, 200 mg a day two times. Before this, I started with Abilify, and it did not help me. I feel much more normal than before, and I don't feel like I am going up or down anymore. But I think one of the most important things is also not using alcohol and sleeping 8 hours a day."

• az2...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 3, 2015

Carbamazepine for Trigeminal Neuralgia "Worked great on the pain. But my AST levels went through the roof. I am now unable to take them. Awaiting MVD surgery that can't come soon enough. Please ensure your doctor gives you regular blood tests. Mine did not, hence my liver problems."

• Mio...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 24, 2019

For Trigeminal Neuralgia "Was diagnosed with TN pretty swiftly after about three weeks of face pain, one week of which was worse than giving birth! Was put on 100 mg twice a day, and after one week, the pain subsided. I was very happy. Only side effect was a terrible drowsiness most of the day, but better than the pain. However, by week three (still on only 200 mg per day), I started to feel very unwell. I felt like I was dying. I got a terrible fever, and the drowsiness got so unbearable I could hardly walk. I got a mouth ulcer (never get them), then another. I could hardly eat, felt nauseous, dizzy, and very unwell. Finally, the doctor ordered a blood test, and he then called me up a couple of days later to tell me to stop taking the drug immediately because I had an allergic reaction, and it had affected my liver. Off it now and feeling more like my old self. Luckily, the TN has subsided, and hopefully, it won't come back for a long time. If it does, I won't be taking carbamazepine again."

• Ano...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 14, 2023

For Occipital Neuralgia "This is the only medicine that completely works for the occipital neuralgia. I have dealt with this for over a year and other nerve pain following COVID for two and a half years. Tried occipital nerve blocks, but that never took away the pain. At first, pregabalin was working for all of the nerve pain until it wasn't. It wasn't getting rid of headaches in my temple. Called my neurologist, and he prescribed this. It's the only thing that completely works. Must take with food or it will make you sleep a few hours. It was a huge relief the first time I took it! He said it's an old medicine but a good one."

• Sar...
• November 10, 2017

Carbamazepine for Trigeminal Neuralgia "I have been on Tegretol for seven years now. I still have general pain with the occasional flare-up of unbearable pain that I had before taking this medication. I am also on a high dose of folic acid as I became very anemic, this caused tiredness. It was just by chance I was diagnosed with TN after being in extreme pain for over six months. Many doctors and tests, one specialist just said it could be this, let's try this drug, it may not work, but if it does, we are on the right track. To be honest with you, if she said I needed to cut off a limb to ease the pain at that point, I would have asked for the knife. I was miserable, the pain was unbearable, and so was I. I do feel it is not working as well after all these years, may be due for review."

• bip...
• August 17, 2014

Carbamazepine for Bipolar Disorder "I was previously diagnosed with major depression with severe anxiety attacks. I was taking anti-depressants and anxiety medication for 3 years. My mood would vary greatly throughout this time period. I was self-medicating until one night I tried to drive myself off of a bridge with my car full of people. I realized at that point I needed help and nothing was working. I called my therapist, he suggested that I go to the emergency room. I did. I ended up getting admitted for attempted suicide. After a week in the hospital, it was apparent I was bipolar and in an episode. I suffer from manic and depressive episodes. They put me on Tegretol XR, and I began to be able to actually sleep a whole night and think normally."

• sec...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 24, 2023

Carbamazepine for Bipolar Disorder "This drug saved my life and my marriage. I started with 100 mg and over time increased to 800 mg/day. I had some rough side effects for the first year or so (gastrointestinal, painful joints, and insomnia mainly). Now I still have some difficulty with recalling words, which is embarrassing but does not interfere with my job. However, it’s all been worth it because Equetro quickly stopped the bipolar 2 misery that plagued me for decades before I was diagnosed. It has brought me peace and stopped out-of-control spending and eating. My savings grew and my weight fell (100 pounds lost in 5 years). Equetro keeps mania under control, but it does not fix depression (just makes it less bad), so I also take 450 mg/day of Wellbutrin for that. Regardless of the side effects (which mostly go away over time), it is totally worth it and gave me my life back."

• Sco...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 11, 2020

Carbamazepine for Epilepsy "I was on Tegretol from the mid to late 80s till 2016. It helped in the beginning. But as I got older, add-on drugs were needed. Then in 2014, I could not stop eating. I was always hungry, yet losing weight. I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. And I was put on medication for that. In 2016, my doc took me off Tegretol and replaced it with Lamictal. Once off the Tegretol, my thyroid started to function normally. And medication for my thyroid was no longer needed. It’s not a bad drug. But your body changes over time. Another negative about the drug was how frequently I had to urinate. I would have to go at least 15, if not more, times a day. Towards its discontinuation, I was on 1200 mg of it daily."

• Wiy...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 29, 2017

Carbamazepine for Trigeminal Neuralgia "Diagnosed with TN about a week ago. I tore a cartilage in my right knee, which I thought was painful. Well, nothing compares to TN, I’d rather have a daily torn cartilage than this terrible pain. Ended up in the hospital being given morphine, diazepam, and a diclofenac suppository, which is not the most enjoyable method of administration. The doctor has prescribed Tegretol. This has provided some relief, inasmuch as the frequency of the episodes has reduced, but not the severity, which has not been attenuated in any way. At least I can function better than last week. Though now I do feel a bit zombified, and as I am unemployed and looking for work, this does give me some apprehension about how I am going to cope with pain, sedation, and interviews. I am a Brit."

• Sam...
• July 23, 2014

Carbamazepine for Bipolar Disorder "This medicine has changed my life. For years, before I was diagnosed... I had no clue what it was like to live with a clear head. I'm able to think and act more rationally, the way I've always wanted to and never could. This medicine solidifies for me that treatment can work. Changed my life. I'm a happy girl (and not just when I try to be)."

• Ano...
• September 7, 2015

For Peripheral Neuropathy "A neurologist prescribed carbamazepine for my wife to treat persistent pain in the area of her surgery (brain tumor). She was on this drug for two months, and it did not have any effect on her pain. It did almost kill her, so BE VERY CAREFUL if you take this drug and have side effects such as low energy, drop in blood pressure, dizzy spells, etc. This can be a dangerous drug - in our case, it depleted sodium levels, and my wife almost went into a coma. It is her third day in the hospital after having to call 911 when she collapsed - she is slowly recovering."

• Dam...
• June 5, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "The carbamazepine has been a real lifesaver for me. I was hospitalized with psychosis and mania. I can get a racing mind also and/or rapid cycling (manic and depressed). This drug has helped me remain stable. I have been able to raise my son, who is now two, and even remain calm during tantrums. I needed to increase it many times for significant relief though."

• Son...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 11, 2021

For Trigeminal Neuralgia "About 2005, I got small shocks on my face, and of course, I ignored them and had to go to work. Then I was outside in the heat in 2006, and I had a pain when my front teeth hit together. Of course, I thought it was my teeth. My dentist said it's not my teeth. Go see a neurologist. So I saw my neuro, and he said it was either MS or trigeminal neuralgia. After tests, lucky me, it was both. He told me to start my MS meds and medication for the TN. I lived with the shocks that were building up in size till one day when my parent called the neuro, and he gave me carbamazepine 200 mg. It took half an hour to stop the pain. I've been taking carbamazepine now since 2008. I find I have not been able to live my life without it. I'm taking 800 mg now. Then I found out I have osteoporosis. I tried to switch medication because of it. It won't let me. I tried all types of medications. I broke four bones so far. But I have to live with it now."

• Mom...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 25, 2013

Carbamazepine for Epilepsy "I am 33 years old and have been taking Tegretol XR since I was 18 years old for grand mal seizures. It has been great. I have had two healthy children and maintained my medication during my pregnancies and had no problems. I have been seizure-free for 10 years!"

• Tay...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 24, 2012

Carbamazepine for Bipolar Disorder "Caused me to be very drowsy all of the time, sleeping about 16 hours every night, and I developed an itchy rash of red pimple-like bumps on my scalp, neckline, and middle of my back after taking it for a few days."

• Jen...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 18, 2015

Carbamazepine for Trigeminal Neuralgia "Diagnosed with TN two weeks ago. Within the first 24 hours of taking Tegretol, I felt amazing. No pain, clear head, etc. A week and a half after starting the medication, I had a horrific TN episode for twenty hours. The pain was so bad it woke me from sleeping. I'm not sure whether to go back to the doctor for an increase or just put it down to allowing the meds to do its thing. Can only wait and see."

• Anonymous
• June 19, 2011

For Trigeminal Neuralgia "I went to several doctors and wasted 5 months and a lot of dollars before I was diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia. I was originally diagnosed with TMJ disorder. My excruciating pain was right in the middle of my ear, and it was the worst stabbing, electric-like pain anyone could imagine. It would just paralyze you. No indications on when it would happen. I have been on carbamazepine for about two months, and it has worked fantastically. It did make me a bit sleepy and unsteady in the beginning, but that has waned, and now I really do not have any side effects. I do sleep better at night than I did before I took it. I take 2 chewable tablets, 100 mg, 2x a day, and that has taken care of the pain. I have not had any episodes since I started taking it."

• Mon...
• November 2, 2016

For Trigeminal Neuralgia "My shocks lasted 1-2 seconds, 50 times a day. Level 4 to 10. I could handle that. A little over a week ago, I experienced the most painful shock/stab that was off the charts. It hit me on my right side, my lip, gum, nose, nasal passage, and spread out into my cheek. It kept striking me and got worse and worse. It left me the same way it came. It lasted about 5 minutes. I started taking the carbamazepine that afternoon, 100 mg X 3 a day. No strikes after 2 doses. I regret telling everyone how wonderful it was working. The last few days, I've had 1 small shock a day. I've started to feel pain in my nasal passage. I got a shock this evening about 7. I'm worried the meds are going to stop working. I'll add another 100 mg at bedtime if need be. I'm scared!"

• Bev...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 20, 2016

Carbamazepine for Trigeminal Neuralgia "Diagnosed with atypical TN after lower orthognathic surgery 20 months ago. Now on 1000 mg Gabapentin 3x a day plus prolonged-release Carbamazepine 400 mg at night. Did start 100 mg Carbamazepine in the morning, but had problems with vision and balance, so decided against it. Drugs working okay. Wish there was a solution to my problem :-( Now just been told by my doctor that my white blood count is down, possibly due to the Carbamazepine, so may have to come off it."

• WWM...
• October 29, 2010

Carbamazepine for Bipolar Disorder "Well, I would say that the side effects, when you stop taking it, are like so. I feel like I'm shivering inside, one of the worst feelings in the world. So bad that if I miss a dose, I'm waiting at the pharmacy before it's open. I suggest that one doesn't miss a dose."

• Mel...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 4, 2018

For Bipolar Disorder "The best thing since sliced bread. I was on lithium, Depakote, Seroquel, and other drugs I can't remember. However, none of the other meds worked for me like Tegretol. I take it along with Celexa for my bipolar 1 diagnosis. I feel great."