Carbamazepine and Memory Loss: What Users Say

• Fru...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 12, 2019

For Trigeminal Neuralgia "I take Tegretol for Trigeminal Neuralgia in the V2 or maxillary nerve on the right side of my face. When I first started taking Tegretol, I thought it was a wonder drug. I could again speak with my mouth open, chew, laugh, and smile, but the side effects have become more than I can deal with, and the TN is back super sporadically and hanging on for longer than before per attack. It seems the game has changed. I now experience longer, more painful bouts, and my motor skills are severely compromised. I forget common words while speaking. I walk into door frames. I think I need to see a neurologist. I don't want to be a guinea pig for other medication or treatment."

• Spa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 18, 2019

Carbamazepine for Trigeminal Neuralgia "I think Tegretol (Carbamazepine) is a wonder drug for trigeminal neuralgia (TN or TGN) pain. That being said, the side effects are horrible. I was doing well on it, but suddenly, the spaciness has returned with memory loss, intense lassitude, drowsiness, weight gain, constipation. I am going to have to reduce my dose. Not sure whether to notify my doctor(s) first or not (as I plan to do it anyway, as I simply cannot function). I guess I will leave them a message with the office staff; it's impossible to get a doctor to call back. I plan to reduce it by 100 mg slowly the same way I started, which was to slowly increase the dose. However, I will only reduce it by 100 mg until I can see the doctor. Wish me luck!"

• Orc...
• March 10, 2015

Carbamazepine for Bipolar Disorder "I tried Lithium, Depakote, and Lamotrigine. I had horrible side effects with all three. But Carbamazepine is a miracle drug, as far as I'm concerned. It started working within just a few days and I only had to take 300 mg a day, in 100 mg doses. My doctor and I found that I had to take 400 mg a day if I took it twice a day, but spread out in 3 doses, 300 mg worked. I always prefer to take the minimum useful dose of drugs if possible. Side effects: 1) teeth, especially at the gums, seem to be in worse shape on it, 2) I have to drink quite a lot of water, or I start to lose some cognitive function, 3) at a higher dose, I seemed to develop empathy deficits as if I had Asperger's or something."

• mig...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 5, 2025

For Trigeminal Neuralgia "I could not live with the pain. I thought it was a dental problem but was diagnosed with TN. Everything was tried, and nothing worked. And then Tegretol. Within 2 days, no more pain, I could sleep. I could have a relationship again. I was alive again. I've been on Tegretol/carbamazepine for 8 years now. I don't know what I would do without it. I do 200 mg one in the morning and one at bedtime. Side effects: sleepiness and occasionally forgetfulness, but no pain."

• Sea...
• March 27, 2012

Carbamazepine for Epilepsy "Have had complex partial seizure disorder for over 40 years. My main medicine that held me for years was Phenobarbital. When I started having breakthrough seizures, Tegretol was the secondary medicine that has held me okay for the past 4 years. I tried Tegretol XR first, but for me, I felt very tired, some dizziness, poor memory, and very bland. When the Dr. switched me to regular Tegretol, it was totally opposite! I felt alive again, memory sharp, out riding horses, happy as a lark, and felt like my good old self. People should know there are many different medicines for epilepsy these days and also that there is a Tegretol XR (long-acting)."

• Mny...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 25, 2019

Carbamazepine for Epilepsy "Tegretol is the only medicine that stops my tonic-clonic seizures. I've been on it over a year, taking 1,000 mg a day. The first month I had memory problems and drowsiness, but that went away fast. The biggest side effect I had that never went away is severe depression caused by it. My depression is gone thanks to Lexapro 20 mg a day. I highly recommend Tegretol for tonic-clonic seizures due to epilepsy."

• Tin...
• February 13, 2013

For Trigeminal Neuralgia "I started taking gabapentin for my trigeminal neuralgia nearly 3 years ago, but it gave me alarming mood swings. I nearly hit my wife! This sent me back to the doctor, and I was put on pregabalin, which was slightly better on the mood swings but became less effective over time. Now on Tegretol slow release (400 mg morning and 600 mg evening), it allows me to work but in some pain. I tried 600 mg twice a day, but I slept all day, every day for a month. Breakthrough pain can be helped by taking tramadol and co-codamol, although only slightly. Overall, good, but it will leave you sleepy and forgetful - don't forget its job is to slow the neurons in your brain (I believe it was originally developed for epilepsy). Don't expect to be completely pain-free, and good luck."

• Lyn...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 31, 2018

For Epilepsy "Hospitalized 16 days for Keppra toxicity & lack of follow-up by my Dr. Even though I took as prescribed. I quickly dropped from 130 lb to 106 lbs as I was unable to eat/drink, severe nausea, terrible pain, right side, unable to speak, delirious, forgetful, seizures, 1st time in decades, unable to care for my husband/self. Had to place my husband in a care facility, which was the saddest thing! Lost my driver's license for 6 months due to seizures, so then couldn't visit my husband/get food. Had a walker even though I am young! I blame much of this on the Dr. who did not listen to me as I described my extreme changes via phone caused by Keppra. I gave up on pdoc and got someone to take me to another hospital out of town where they determined I had Keppra toxicity. Three Dr.'s stated it is a miracle I am alive! A toxicity specialist said it would take me a year to recuperate. I was so ill, it did. I thank God for giving me the strength to get through that nightmare."

• dmm...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 15, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "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."

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

Carbamazepine for Epilepsy "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."

• Was...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 12, 2022

For Bipolar Disorder "It’s been a year in taking Tegretol and escitalopram for bipolar. With some changes, 300 mg of Tegretol and 20 mg of escitalopram now seem the perfect dose and have brought me out of misery into more balanced, more of the time. It has been a wonder drug. My memory isn’t great, but I don’t really care because my mood is so much better. I didn’t take meds for a long time and suffered a lot of depression. Meds are worth considering, but it’s important to be able to communicate your experience with your doctor well so they can properly diagnose. I’m so grateful for my doctor identifying what seems the right diagnosis for me (Cyclothymia - Bipolar)."

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

For Epilepsy "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."

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

Carbamazepine for Epilepsy "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."

• jmc...
• March 9, 2008

Carbamazepine for Epilepsy "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."

• Fai...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 11, 2022

For Epilepsy "I have been epileptic since 18, am now 33. I have been having convulsions and memory loss together with unconsciousness so much that my doctor prescribed lamotrigine 2×100 mg and carbamazepine 200 mg×2. It's not controlling much. I have had tests, but I am unhappy. What do I do?"

• Mig...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 19, 2019

Carbamazepine "At first, it made me feel better, but now, after six months, it has taken my will to live away. It's ruined my vocabulary and wrecked my short-term memory. Not suitable for bipolar 1."

• Anonymous
• May 31, 2011

For Bipolar Disorder "Have been taking with lithium for 10 years now. Have not been admitted to the hospital in that time. It seems to 'dull my brain,' however. My memory is terrible."