Carbamazepine for Bipolar Disorder User Reviews (Page 2)

• 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 it along with Celexa for my bipolar 1 diagnosis. I feel great."

• WWM...
• October 29, 2010

Carbamazepine "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."

• Anonymous
• February 18, 2012

Carbamazepine "Started taking this medicine about two months ago, after the Lamictal-induced sickness wore off. Up to 400 mg now, and I think I need a higher dosage as I 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. I was okay the next day, though!"

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

Carbamazepine "I found Tegretol very helpful. I take it in conjunction with mirtazapine, 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 mirtazapine, and I only get angry now like a normal person, get irrational only in extreme circumstances, but generally, I can function fine."

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

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 Godsend."

• Ema...
• May 24, 2016

Carbamazepine "This was the best medication I have ever had. I take 2 at night and 1 in the morning. The only trouble I have had was that one time the doctor tried to up me to 2 at night and 2 in the morning, and it caused a terrible vertigo-like feeling. I couldn't even stand up. Overall, I would say it's a great medication."

• Ryd...
• 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 schizoaffective disorder). After just one dose, I felt my head calm down, and I experienced a semblance of peace at last. It genuinely saved my life despite side effects, which I can live with."

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

"I was diagnosed with Bipolar I and 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 okay, 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, and my suicidal tendency went away almost completely. My moods are elevated and stable now. I am able to enjoy life now."

• Tab...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 24, 2022

"At age 38 years old, my new doctor diagnosed me with Bipolar Disorder, hypomania, and lengthy mixed states. He prescribed Tegretol XR. Within 48-72 hours, my world and everything in it changed. Colors were brighter. My fear of going places and doing things slowly dissipated. My attention was being drawn towards the outdoors and hobbies. First grade was a special kind of hell for me. Poor social skills with people my own age. I was 6 years old and knew that on a fundamental level, I was broken, somehow wrong. Later diagnoses were Adult ADD. An OCD-like behavior and study methods led me to look at a potential learning disability. I had been an A/B student most of my life, yet it was true. I have overcome much in my life, but Tegretol XR opened that door for me. Side effects were barely noticeable to nonexistent. On a scale of 1-10, sorry, but I give it a 50. It changed my life."

• Mar...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 22, 2022

"I take carbamazepine for bipolar. 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 and 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."

• Tdo...
• June 20, 2011

Carbamazepine "I just started taking Tegretol on June 3 for mood stability. Also prescribed Celexa on the same day. I also take Methadone 10 mg 4x a day for chronic pain management for the 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 doctor's appointment. Also taking meloxicam. Will let everyone know my results Friday afternoon."

• ste...
• February 28, 2014

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 it's very affordable. I would recommend this to anyone for the treatment of bipolar disorder. It has saved my life."

• k4f...
• November 23, 2014

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 200 mg 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."

• Bip...
• January 23, 2021

"I have bipolar disorder with psychotic features. About 2 years ago, my symptoms became worse. Constantly shifting between mania, depression, and psychosis. So I decided to try meds again. I immediately began to feel better. I was experiencing auditory hallucinations and extreme paranoia for months following a psychotic break. This medication made all of that go away. I don’t feel my mind going a million miles a second, I don’t get as overwhelmed, I can handle things more easily at work and home, I’m calmer, more patient, and it also really helps with anxiety and sleep. It kind of just keeps me on keel. I don’t have any side effects from it at all. Overall, this medication has saved my life. I don’t want to ever stop taking it! I currently take 200 mg ER in the morning and 400 mg ER at night. I find ER works best for me since the IR version seemed to wear off kind of towards late afternoon. I’m just so thankful for it! This med is amazing."

• 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 decline 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 were actually dealing with, I went through several medications (including lithium). They had such severe side effects that they were canceling out any good they could have possibly been doing for me... that is until I found carbamazepine. It took me about 6 months to 1 year to really figure out the correct dose, but with the help of some great doctors and therapists (and THAT really is the key, it can't just be about meds, good doctors and the right meds go hand in hand), we figured it out."

• Mir...
• January 9, 2021

"I 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 my 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."

• fly...
• 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 onto 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..."

• 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 200 mg 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."

• Hai...
• January 12, 2017

Carbamazepine "I just started Tegretol 2 days ago in conjunction with Cipralex and Clonazepam. 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."

• wil...
• September 10, 2017

"I've been taking Tegretol close to twenty years now. I found it fantastic for my moods, but I've just found out it can also make the sodium in your blood go low. I was recently hospitalized for this problem. My psych is in the middle of getting me off it. I was taking 800 mgs a day, 400 mgs in the morning and 400 mgs at night. Has anybody else had this experience? If so, how did you go coming off it?"

• Anonymous
• April 23, 2012

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."

• Anonymous
• August 30, 2009

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 every day. I am able to focus and accomplish tasks instead of being scattered and all over the place."

• Jil...
• 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 I 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 (ferrous sulfate)."

• All...
• June 14, 2014

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

• dmm...
• 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 lose it. Got taken off this medicine and changed to Lamictal, and things got a lot better."