Tegretol and Drowsiness: What Users Say

• PJD...
• October 15, 2014

For Trigeminal Neuralgia "When I was first diagnosed, I thought I was dying. I take this (200 mg) - 3 times a day with another medicine. I have been pain-free for 7 months. I stay drowsy and stagger at times, but I can deal with that as long as the medicines continue to help me."

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

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!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 7, 2012

For Bipolar Disorder "I found Tegretol amazing. It made me so calm and stable even after a few days. The only issue with it is it makes me very drowsy and a little disoriented. That's the one side effect I've noticed. So if you drive a lot or operate heavy machinery or are a surgeon, this is not the medication for you. Otherwise, it is a great mood stabilizer."

• TN ...
• April 23, 2016

For Trigeminal Neuralgia "The first time I took Tegretol, it worked immediately and the pain went away. The pain comes and goes every year, and most importantly, the pain was not bad for the last 4 years that I did not even take Tegretol. This time the pain is unbearable, so I'm on Tegretol. Even with the medication, I still feel the shock once in a while. Definitely feels better with Tegretol. The side effects, for me, are sleepiness, weight gain, excitement with no reason."

• lau...
• August 22, 2009

For Trigeminal Neuralgia "I have been on Tegretol for only 2 weeks and it gave me much relief. Neurontin and Topamax did not work for me. Only side effect of Tegretol is sleepiness. I sleep very well at night. I was prescribed 200mg twice a day, but only take it once a day. Sometimes I take it twice a day if pain in the morning is constant."

• Wiy...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 29, 2017

For Trigeminal Neuralgia "Diagnosed with TN about a week ago. I tore a cartilage in my right knee, which I thought was painful. Well, nothing compares to TN, I’d rather have a daily torn cartilage than this terrible pain. Ended up in the hospital being given morphine, diazepam, and a diclofenac suppository, which is not the most enjoyable method of administration. The doctor has prescribed Tegretol. This has provided some relief, inasmuch as the frequency of the episodes has reduced, but not the severity, which has not been attenuated in any way. At least I can function better than last week. Though now I do feel a bit zombified, and as I am unemployed and looking for work, this does give me some apprehension about how I am going to cope with pain, sedation, and interviews. I am a Brit."

• Tay...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 24, 2012

For Bipolar Disorder "Caused me to be very drowsy all of the time, sleeping about 16 hours every night, and I developed an itchy rash of red pimple-like bumps on my scalp, neckline, and middle of my back after taking it for a few days."

• Cro...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• May 3, 2018

For Trigeminal Neuralgia "Been taking 3x a day for several years. Suffered on and off for decades from head/facial pain with no diagnosis. Finally went to a good neurologist. Tried gabapentin. Didn't work at all. (Neither does Dilaudid.) This does make me groggy still, and I have nausea, brain drain, and more. I would take any side effect for relief from that horrific pain. I've had it so bad, I literally couldn't breathe in. The breakthrough pain I now get is mainly an ache in my ear and sometimes teeth. The side effects also may be from the 15 other meds I take for various problems."

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

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."

• sab...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 5, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "As I've only been on the medication for 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 than 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 halving."

• Anonymous
• April 9, 2009

For Epilepsy "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."

• sab...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 14, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "It helped with the mania, but I was always drowsy and could not concentrate. Also, I gained weight."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 29, 2021

"I've had this prescribed for mood swings, and overall it works better than other meds. The first few weeks you may feel drowsy, but it goes away once your body is used to it."