Carbamazepine and Dizziness: What Users Say (Page 2)

• fro...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 19, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "I have tried so many medications for my illnesses, but nothing worked until I was put on carbamazepine, it worked wonders. It took a little while to get used to. I was really dizzy for a while, but once I adjusted to it, I feel great. Best I've ever tried."

• Anonymous
• December 2, 2010

Carbamazepine for Bipolar Disorder "I started taking Epitol 2 1/2 weeks ago. I know I'm supposed to wait for the medicine to enter my system, but it's made me so sick already. I started on a medium dose for 7 days, then bumped up to more twice a day. Well, I dropped myself down because my doctor appointment isn't for a while, and it's making me so sick! It makes me dizzy, unsteady, my head 'floats', and I even swear I've been more depressed. I'm hoping it's just a dosage and time thing because it's a very inexpensive medicine, and I need that!"

• Anonymous
• December 2, 2010

Carbamazepine for Bipolar Disorder "I started taking Epitol 2 1/2 weeks ago. I know I'm supposed to wait for the medicine to enter my system, but it's made me so sick already. I started on a medium dose for 7 days, then bumped up to more twice a day. Well, I dropped myself down because my doctor appointment isn't for a while, and it's making me so sick! It makes me dizzy, unsteady, my head 'floats', and I even swear I've been more depressed. I'm hoping it's just a dosage and time thing because it's a very inexpensive medicine, and I need that!"

• ste...
• July 17, 2016

Carbamazepine for Epilepsy "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."

• jwo...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 26, 2022

For Trigeminal Neuralgia "My mother has suffered from Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN) for over 50 years and has been using carbamazepine ever since her diagnosis. She is now in her late 80s, and the drug no longer helps her, and the TN episodes have increased. After so many years of using carbamazepine, it depletes her sodium levels and creates so many side effects (air in her ears, dizziness, etc.). I recently started to research treatment options, and I was surprised to learn about Gamma Knife Surgery - it's a non-invasive procedure that will basically numb the TN and could last for years. I wish her doctors would have said something 39 years ago. She is scheduled to go to have the procedure in a few weeks, if successful, she will be able to stop taking meds and sodium tablets. For those who are younger and living with this pain, there is another procedure where they can operate and would end your pain and never need to take this drug. Don't wait until you're older, as it becomes more complicated based on age. Your TN will only get worse."

• Anonymous
• December 20, 2009

Carbamazepine for Epilepsy "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."

• Jul...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 26, 2016

For Borderline Personality Disorder "Made me feel so ill from day 1 on just 200 mg. Dr. wanted me to increase to 400 mg after 2 weeks (did tell me I might feel unwell, but to try & stick it out for at least 2 weeks). Was left for 5 weeks on 400 mg, feeling very unwell. Headache, pain in my neck & shoulders, dizzy, pain in my kidneys (maybe just pain in my lower back muscles). Couldn't get up out of bed... Dr. (without seeing me) told me through my care coordinator to reduce to 200 mg for 3 days, then stop altogether. 6 days after stopping, I still feel really unwell, especially when I just wake up or am tired. Hope this damage to me isn't permanent. Seems not getting any better after 6 days being off it..."

• Han...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 23, 2022

For Trigeminal Neuralgia "My neuro said that it would help because I have MS. So I had a bad episode of TN and started carbamazepine. Side effects, which I try to separate from MS, seem to be hard. Because I have, with MS, gait problems, constipation, dizziness, blurred vision, foggy mind, and drowsiness. The one side effect that does come extra with the medication is I have to watch my sodium level. The one thing that is bothersome is I tried changing to other medications, and well, it was not good. I started at 200 mg and now I am at 800 mg. I take it four times a day. And I don't know why I forget to take it at times. When I forget too many times, I have a reaction. The benefit of taking carbamazepine is I have had a lot of days with no pain."

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

Carbamazepine for Epilepsy "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."

• Suz...
• April 7, 2015

For Epilepsy "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."

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

For Epilepsy "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."

• Anonymous
• September 21, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "This drug is the opposite of peace of mind. I used carbamazepine for over 3 years, and the effects that I have now are very terrifying. It first started with little eye ache in the right eye, then it extended to both eyes. Till this moment, I've been having serious ocular disturbances which seem to be permanent. Plus, lack of coordination, weakness, and abnormal thinking. This is what I went through while using that drug."

• Jay...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 19, 2024

"In short. It helped for the pain within the first week. I was tripping over my own feet, though, and battling with my memory. Dizzy and confused. Week three felt great but broke out in a skin rash. Went back to the hospital only to be seen by another neurologist who said neurologists don't treat FM. Took me off the drug and took blood yesterday to test to see if they didn't cause Johnson something disease. Skin disease that could be fatal. OMG. I am mortified. I found the medicine to be a 7 out of 10 relieving pain."

• Adv...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 4, 2024

Carbamazepine "I've been on this med for a few months. I haven't experienced any highs or lows yet. Some of the side effects I've had are that I am still getting nausea after a few months. Sometimes when I stand up, I get light-headed and dizzy. I feel like I have some light tremors. At times, I feel like I get hot flashes that come and go. I'm still too young to be in menopause as well. I saw another man had mentioned this in his review too about having the hot flashes. At times, I feel tired and less motivated. I'm losing some weight, but that may be because I came off the drug risperidone, which I was on for 25 years."

• ANG...
• June 12, 2013

Carbamazepine for Trigeminal Neuralgia "Stopped the pain of trigeminal neuralgia. Side effects like unsteadiness, fingers twitching, sore joints, seeing auras, reading difficulties, speaking difficulties."

• Anonymous
• September 6, 2010

Carbamazepine for Peripheral Neuropathy "Makes me very sleepy and dizzy. Takes a long time for the side effects to wear off. The pain has been reduced to a degree."

• jim...
• September 6, 2010

Carbamazepine for Peripheral Neuropathy "Makes me very sleepy and dizzy. It takes a long time for the effects to wear off. It does help with the pain. It does not get rid of the pain entirely, but it tones it down."

• Spr...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 15, 2021

For Trigeminal Neuralgia "Just about eliminated my atypical trigeminal neuralgia pain. I am on 1200 mg/day. I felt slightly dizzy for a day or two when upping the dose, but otherwise feel fine."

• Lui...
• November 30, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "Sometimes I feel like a metallic flavor. I feel dizzy and sleepy, but it's very helpful controlling my hypomanic disorder. Not too good controlling depression as well."