Carbamazepine for Bipolar Disorder User Reviews (Page 2)

• Anonymous
• February 18, 2012

Tegretol (carbamazepine) "Started taking this medicine about two months ago, after the Lamictal-induced sickness wore off. Up to 400mg now and I think I need a higher dosage as have been manic for a couple of weeks now. But it started to work straight away, and no side effects except for my third day of taking them when I started to get a little confused. Was okay the next day though!"

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

"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 is along with celexa for my bipolar 1 diagnosis. I feel great. "

• Herbie...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 21, 2016

Tegretol (carbamazepine) "I found teratoll very helpful I take I conjunction with mertazapine and it has really changed my life I have many lifetime issues that will never go away but with this combination of drugs I feel my condition is under control now I take 400 milligrams per day of slow release with my dose of mertazapine and I only get angry now like a normal person get irrational only in extreme circumstances but generally I can function fine"

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

Equetro (carbamazepine) "This drug saved my life and my marriage. I started with 100mg and over time increased to 800mg/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 450mg/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."

• Emank...
• May 24, 2016

Tegretol (carbamazepine) "This was the best medication I have ever had. I take 2 at night and 1 in the morning. I only trouble I have had was at one time the Doctor tried to up me to 2 night and 2 in the morning and it caused terrible vertigo like feeling. I couldn't even stand up. Overal I would say it's a great medication."

• ssd
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 20, 2015

"I was diagnosed Bipolar I with OCD When i was 14. I am now 38 and a mother of 3. I have been taking Equatro/Tegratol XR (carbamazepine) for 3 years now. I also take it with a mild antidepressant. I think on its own, the carbamazepine worked ok, but I found myself still depressed. No more rage or bursts of anger, but zombie like. As soon as my doctor introduced the antidepressant into my regimen, I feel wonderful!!! I take 600 MG a day total of the carbamazepine XR. 1 tablet in the am and 2 before bed. My morbid thoughts have stopped, suicidal tendency went away almost completely. My moods are elevated and stable now. I am able to enjoy life now."

• Liz
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 4, 2012

Epitol (carbamazepine) "I've been on Epitol for a little over 6 months and it has CHANGED my life. I had a hard time finding a medication that didn't worsen my condition or give me weird side effects and so far, I've had NONE of that from Epitol. The first few weeks were a little difficult as it made me kind of tired but I quickly adapted and no longer get drowsy. (I still find it best to take it before bedtime). My depressed symptoms are all but gone and my manic spells are much more mild (though occasionally longer). This medicine was a God-send."

• Tdogg
• June 20, 2011

Tegretol (carbamazepine) "I just started taking Tegretol on June 3 for mood stability. Also prescribed Celexa on same day. I also take Methadone 10mg 4x a day for chronic pain management for last 10 yrs. I love how it makes me feel and it's very hard for me to get angry BUT, it interferes with the methadone. At first nothing except feeling drunk for the first 4-5 days. Then it started. Withdrawal symptoms, increased pain, restlessness, insomnia, fatigue and nausea. Not sure if I can continue treatment but will find out on June 24 after my doctors appointment. Also taking meloxicam. Will let everyone know my results Friday afternoon."

• k4ffe...
• November 23, 2014

Epitol (carbamazepine) "Before this, I'd been ineffectively diagnosed and treated for ADHD and recurrent depression. I've taken this medication for only four days following a bipolar II re-diagnosis, but despite this, I feel much better than I had on Prozac. My combination of irritability, depression, lack of motivation, and suicidal/homicidal ideation (in the form of intrusive mental images) has vanished, and I find it much easier to talk to people and look them in the eye again. I'm taking 200mg tablets twice a day and initially noticed mild dizziness, headache, and sleepiness, but these quickly vanished. The only persistent symptoms have been hardly perceptible ringing in the ears and lowering in the pitch at which I hear sounds, esp. familiar songs."

• Rydeg...
• August 7, 2020

"I've suffered from bipolar and psychosis since I was 14 years old, probably triggered by sexual abuse when I was a small child. I had a psychotic breakdown 12 years ago and my doctor prescribed carbamazepine (I had been wrongly diagnosed with schizophrenia, in fact it was schizoid affective disorder), after just one dose I felt my head calm down and I experienced semblance of peace at last. It genuinely saved my life despite side effects which I can live with."

• stephc
• February 28, 2014

Epitol (carbamazepine) "I was put on this medicine as a treatment for bipolar disorder. This is like a miracle for me. It has helped my mood stay stable and has helped my attention span as well. And its very affordable.I would recommend this to anyone for treatment of bipolar disorder. It has saved my life."

• Jill
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 9, 2018

"I started tegretol about 4 days ago and I've had the most crazy side effects ever. I've been on this medication several years ago I never had all these side effects before. It feels like I'm high all the time. My face is a little numb I'm very wobbly when I walk and have vertigo. I'm considering stopping it and consulting my doctor. I'm very nauseous when I take it in the morning in combination with my iron pill, (ferrious Sulfate)."

• Mirry
• January 9, 2021

"Hi am a lady of 29 years,I have been using carbamazepine for bipolar disorder for a month now. It is a miracle medicine but the downside of it for me is dermatologic side effects. I have rashes, swellings on face, peeling on the skin, itching of the whole body. Can someone please help me out how to handle the side effects.I love the medication it helps me a lot"

• Mary
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 22, 2022

"I take carbamazepine for bi polar. It works for me. I have been on it for over 20 years. I don't use much alcohol with it, if I do it is a glass of wine or beer. Although I don't sleep well it really keeps me on an even keel. I take 2 pills, 200 mg. In the beginning I was on 2 pills in the morning & 2 in the evening. I had to stop the morning dose as I got nauseous. I hope it keeps on working for me. I am 76 years old."

• Anonymous
• July 30, 2011

"I am Bipolar I, and have ADHD. The doctor told me it would take weeks to notice the effects. However, after the second dose, I noticed that my explosiveness was gone. My disproportionate rage to the event had disappeared. I love this medicine and will never get off of it. I take 200mg twice a day, but it feels like it lasts around 6 hours in me. So, I'm going to ask the doctor if I can take a 3rd pill per day. It's great! AND I don't feel drugged at all."

• Haileyp
• January 12, 2017

Tegretol (carbamazepine) "I just started tegretol 2 days ago in conjunction with Cipralex and Clonazapam. I've taken the last two mentioned for years up until a few months ago and never had side effects so I know the side effects are from the Tegretol. No appetite. Nausea, and severe migraines. Definitely making me more hopeful and less suicidal and less impulsive, but I just hope the physical symptoms go away soon. I've never been on Tegretol before."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 7, 2017

"I was diagnosed after I had my 2nd daughter (after a year of trying to treat what we thought was PPD which saw me declined faster and faster). Although, I've had a feeling something "wasn't quite right" since my late teens/early twenties. Once we figured out what we are actually dealing with, I went through several medications (including lithium). They had such severe side affects that they were cancelling out any good they could of possibly been doing for me.. that is until I found carbemezapeme. It took me about 6mo-1yr to really figure out the correct dose, but with the help of some great Dr's and therapist (and THAT really is the key, it can't just be about meds, good Dr's and the right meds go hand in hand) we figured it out."

• flyin...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 20, 2017

"I have been on carbamazepine for 17 years and find it keeps my mood stabilized and works best as an anti-manic. It is not much help with depression. I had tried Lithium, Depakote, and a few of the atypical antipsychotics prior to carbamazepine and the thing I loved about this drug is I did not gain weight on it, in fact after coming off Depakote and on to this I lost 40 pounds. So for me it is weight neutral. I have heard others say otherwise...some gained, some lost, some stayed the same. My serum sodium does run slightly low, and I am sometimes tired, but that is the mainstay with psychiatric drugs. The initial breaking in phase was rough, about 3 months to adjust to the medication, but with the weight loss after Depakote..."

• Lcowan
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 25, 2016

Tegretol XR (carbamazepine) "To be honest I am not a fan of anticonvulsants. They have the craziest side effects and everytime I've taken them I instantly feel like I consumed alcohol. I've taken Lyrica, Gabapentin, and now Tegretol XR. I stopped this medication at my own disclosure because I was terrified once I read that this medication is known for "drug-induced liver failure". Not to mention it interacts with almost every other drug I take. That is not something I want to risk and am very upset that my doc didn't disclose this to me. He didn't even run a blood test to check my liver enzyme level prior to starting treatment so thats a whole other conversation but the point is I do not like this drug and would advise everyone to avoid it if you can."

• saburna
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 5, 2016

Tegretol (carbamazepine) "As I've only been on the medication a week, don't take this review exactly to heart. My first day on this medication was extremely brain foggy, trouble concentrating and very sleepy. I was already sleeping excessively to begin with, which is something I was needing help with. The first night I took this I slept for 14 hours, which is actually way more then I usually do. I also didn't really feel like myself taking this medication, it kinda sucks the life right out of you. I would reply slower to things, take longer to think of responses, and all in all lack the normal enthusiasm I usually had. Now, as far as my mood swings went, I believe I have a mild case of bipolar. My doctor prescribed me 200 mg twice a day, which I've just been halfing"

• dmmw
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 15, 2015

"No good made me with no energy, zero libido, foggy thoughts, drowsiness, forgetfulness, made me more irritable and after a few weeks got the feeling I was going to snap and loose it. Got taken off this medicine and changed to Lamictal and things got a lot better. "

• All...
• June 14, 2014

"Diagnosed and medicated for 17 years. Tegretol/Equetro/Carbamazepine keeps me from wanting to (and sometimes actually) smacking or choking someone. I'm on several things, but I know it's the tegretol because that feeling has come back a couple times over the years and we just increase my dosage and I'm back to normal."

• Anonymous
• August 30, 2009

Epitol (carbamazepine) "Works very well in stabilizing mood. I need a very small dose twice a day, and I haven't noticed any side effects. Except maybe acne. Although I don't know if that is the cause. I have been on it nearly 2 months now and I notice progress everyday. I am able to focus and accomplish tasks instead of being scattered and all over the place."

• Anonymous
• April 23, 2012

Equetro (carbamazepine) "Second week definitely feeling better. Weight is stable. Curbs my appetite, couple bouts of blurred vision but overall good. Back to psych doctor next week. Will see where dosage goes. Hoping to have this permanent and drop Seroquel."

• Ash
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 6, 2018

"I take a low dose of Tegretol (200mg) 30 year old male 85kg. I find it isn't hugely noticeable however, it stops me getting a little too excited/frustrated and function better at work. No noticeable side effects at this dose. Taking 600mg dampened feelings such as love which I didn't like. I then stopped it but became prone to being a little too passionate again. So I started a very low dose which doesn't do heaps but I think it helps. I don't think it will change the world but may stop huge manic outbreaks. Not sure about hypomania though."