Carbamazepine for Epilepsy User Reviews (Page 2)

• ATL...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 6, 2016

Carbamazepine "The neurologist that I go to see for my epilepsy seizures wanted to prescribe me a new medication. He then asked me, the patient, would I mind taking a new medication, 'Tegretol.' I asked him what he thought, and he claimed he did not know. The doctor prescribed me the Tegretol medication. I had been taking it for less than two months and was diagnosed with an allergic reaction, swollen throat, facial edema, and itchy skin."

• Ale...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 8, 2019

Carbamazepine "My experience was okay in the beginning till I stopped taking them, then started taking them again. I felt horrible, my mind was all over the place, my anxiety was kicked up a notch. I thought I was going crazy, but my doctor said it will subside soon. But I couldn't handle the 200 mg twice a day, so I cut one in half for now till my body gets used to them again. I'm glad to know I'm not alone with this."

• Gun...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 21, 2016

Carbamazepine "I also suffer from bipolar 1 disorder and chronic pain. The drug so far has made me eerily calm, and it's almost like I'm high all the time. So far, so good... It has calmed my mania down since I am rapid cycling. Also, my short-term memory has been affected. I am a veteran as well."

• Mba...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 16, 2021

"Prescribed for my epilepsy and was consuming this along with Keppra for 3 years. I recommend carbamazepine to be taken for people with mood problems instead of epilepsy. Because it doesn’t really help prevent your seizures, however, it helps maintain your mood. My seizures never stopped, and the medication was useless for them. Didn't even help with anxiety. Sadly, the dependency rate starts increasing after 8 months of daily usage, more dosage is needed every 6 months, and its withdrawals were so hard on me. Never had a problem with bipolar or anything like that, however, carbamazepine’s withdrawals really messed up my sleeping pattern and mood (depression and anger). Eventually, my epilepsy got worse due to carbamazepine’s withdrawal effects. Wouldn't recommend this drug for kids or teenagers."

• ste...
• July 17, 2016

Carbamazepine "The XR seems better than the traditional form used in the 80s that resulted in sodium depletion. This form causes twitching, sporadic and rapidly occurring tremors that make sleeping difficult, increased urination frequency, some minor dizziness at first, and possibly elevated skin sensitivity to sunlight."

• Bel...
• October 15, 2017

Carbamazepine "I am 27 years old, and I started taking Tegretol 6 years ago. I have 2 healthy kids, and I have no more seizures. I used to have light ones, but I didn't know what was happening for 2 or 3 seconds! Since I started using this medicine, I'm feeling better. Half a pill in the morning and a full pill at night, and it's extremely a perfect choice by the neurologist!"

• The...
• April 9, 2009

Carbamazepine "Tegretol XR works well in controlling partial onset seizures. Just as long as you take it vigilantly and sleep regularly. There are two things that keep this medication from being a ten. The first is the fact that your body becomes resistant to the effects of the medication, resulting in a never-ending dosage increase to maintain your results. The other is one of the side effects of this medication: unsteady hands, and that can make certain tasks somewhat difficult. But as long as you follow simple guidelines, this medication, in conjunction with another anticonvulsant, does quite well at keeping your disorder in check."

• Anonymous
• December 20, 2009

Carbamazepine "Dizziness for a couple of days as I adjusted to it, then again had dizziness for a couple of days as dosage was later increased to 1200 mg per day. Slept well, but was tired early and required going to bed about an hour earlier. Took for five years. Unfortunately, it did not eliminate all seizures. Had several absence seizures requiring that I change medication."

• gin...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 10, 2016

"As I have been on this medication for quite some time for my non-epileptic tonic-clonic seizures, I have seen a general increase in quality of life with a couple of caveats. One: I have short-term memory problems as per one of the side effects, and two: I basically drink nothing but caffeinated drinks in order to prevent myself from sleeping all day, like, for instance, I slept 11 hours last night (I know), but I'm only 10 hours into my day, and I've already passed out twice and am still tired."

• Anonymous
• April 9, 2009

Carbamazepine "I have been diagnosed with absence seizures for 6 years now and have been taking Depakote ER. I have been seizure-free for 4 years, but have had severe migraines on and off, usually more during times of intense stress. My doctor prescribed me Tegretol to take as needed for them about a year ago, and it has always been 100% effective. The only side effect is that it makes me very drowsy."

• Chr...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 27, 2023

"I started Carbamazepine in 2003 (36 yrs. old) and just got off it in 2017. I was on it because I had moved several hundred miles from where I was living. The health insurance in the new state refused to pay for Tegretol, so I was forced to switch to this generic anti-convulsant that the health insurance would pay for. It worked well in the beginning, but after fourteen years of being on that anti-convulsant, I needed to switch again."

• Anonymous
• December 8, 2008

Carbamazepine "My neurologist just discovered I had seizures about a month ago, and it has been a constant trial and error finding a medication that will work. I was taking 600 mg of Tegretol for the last week, and I developed an awful red rash and itching all over. My doctor has changed me to Dilantin today, and I hope I do better on that. Keppra was the first drug, and that didn't help."

• tan...
• August 13, 2007

Carbamazepine "My daughter has recently been taking Tegretol XR for the last 2 months. She has had a really good tolerance for this drug, with very few side effects and an amazing cut back to her seizures. I prefer this drug to any of the others she has tried. She is not dopey and still has her wits about her, unlike with the other meds she had been on. Tegretol has been really good for her so far."

• 30 ...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 24, 2023

"I have been on carbamazepine for almost 30 years. I think it is why I have severe osteoporosis, but it has been a very reliable drug for me, so my experience has actually been positive. It kept me alive, in my opinion."

• Gra...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 17, 2021

Carbamazepine "In the early '80s, my five-year-old daughter was being treated by a top children's neurologist for focal seizures, which she started having after a severe, undiagnosed, life-threatening illness at 4 months. She was changed from Dilantin to Tegretol by this doctor, who I had great respect for, when I told him the side effects from this drug were harming my child. She couldn't remember anything, she acted dazed and confused, she scared me concerning her development while taking Tegretol. We fought over changing the drug, which he said was new and better than Dilantin. I said I don't care, she doesn't act like this on Dilantin, and I'm not leaving your office until you change it. So now I read these side effects, and I was right. I still love that doctor, but I knew my child too... And also, my other kid reacted better to Rondec syrup for bronchitis than that Albuterol new drug they changed her to, it was absolutely clear to me that while new drugs are wonderful and I am grateful for them, new needs monitoring."

• dsk...
• June 13, 2008

Carbamazepine "After being on this medication for seven years, I am still having breakthrough seizures. I have now developed leukopenia, as I did with Depakote. Now I have to go through the trial and error of finding a new medication."

• jmc...
• March 9, 2008

Carbamazepine "I am a 55-year-old male with rare seizures. I have taken regular Tegretol in the past, but didn't like it because of the side effects of fatigue, confusion, and memory loss. I have been on Tegretol XR for the last five and a half months and have been very pleased. The side effects seem to be much less and allow me to function much more normally."

• Pat...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 20, 2021

Carbamazepine "I'm 47 and was diagnosed with grand mal seizures around the age of 9. Through the years, I was prescribed other medications that weren't effective. I was eventually prescribed Tegretol, but there was the daily 'peak and valley' with the medication level, which wasn't helpful. Once I was prescribed Tegretol-XR, I felt a million times better! Since taking it, I've been seizure-free for about 25 years. My only complaint is that the medication can be difficult to find consistently, and it is expensive."

• bos...
• October 3, 2007

Carbamazepine "I am 41 years old and have epilepsy. I take 1000 mg of Tegretol XR and have been seizure-free since 12/01. However, the side effects of Tegretol XR (to me) are significant. I have constant exhaustion and have trouble with my hand-eye coordination and memory."

• Ms ...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 23, 2015

Carbamazepine "I have only taken Epitol for 3 days, and thus far, my experience hasn't been totally negative. Yes, there have been side effects, including dizziness, confusion, etc. However, I am told these things will subside over time. What I do know is I am no longer afraid to live, to leave my house in fear of having a seizure that leads to a deadly outcome. I am willing to fight, I won't stop living, and I think Epitol can help me greatly in that way."

• tin...
• May 22, 2008

"I am 24 years old and have been using this medication for the past 10 years. My dosage has been increased as my body grew. I have found it to control my seizures very well. I had initial fatigue, headaches, but they subsided after the first couple of months. The reason I rated it at 9 is because I have not tried any other drugs, primarily for fear of losing the control Tegretol provides currently."

• Suz...
• April 7, 2015

"Been on carbamazepine for 2 years now, worked up to 800 mg a day. I take it with lamotrigine. Started experiencing seizures and was hospitalized and sedated because of them. I still have one a week, so not controlled, but getting there with finding the right mix of meds! My side effects were tiredness, and every time I increased, there was major dizziness and sickness that lasted for hours after I took the pill."

• Ace...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 25, 2021

"I have been taking Tegretol for 30 years, and it was very helpful (no seizures for the last 26 years). My pharmacy switched my manufacturer to Taro, and the container and tablets smelled awful. I took the medicine anyway for a few weeks and had two seizures in the same day. I have changed back to my previous manufacturer."

• wan...
• January 6, 2009

Carbamazepine "I have been diagnosed with temporal lobe epilepsy (seizures are so fleeting that I referred to them as funny turns). Lamotrigine worked for 4 months, and then I was changed to Tegretol Retard, which for the last 3 months has been effective. Side effects were tiredness and a rash, which was treated with an antihistamine."

• Ang...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 26, 2016

"Temporal lobe with mesial temporal sclerosis. Using for 8 weeks. Sometimes headaches or dizzy, frequent minor muscle tremors and twitching, shortened menstrual cycle, sensitive mood. Always tired and not very productive, sleep more. Went from monthly 2-5 day blackout seizure binge with 2-5 day recovery, so far only 1 minor convulsion while conscious with mostly full recovery by morning. Major improvement."