Tegretol XR User Reviews & Ratings

• mis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 12, 2014

For Trigeminal Neuralgia "I have been on Tegretol XR for about 3 weeks now for trigeminal neuralgia. I take 100 mg 2x a day. It took like two days for it to work. I only start to have pain from the attacks when I'm due for my next dose. And it's not nearly as bad. The only problem is that I'm already on pregabalin for fibromyalgia, so the Tegretol added makes me totally out of it. I can't remember things, I'm double drowsy all day, I zone out, and I don't like that it has negative interactions with about 500 medications, including Tylenol, which I usually take for breakthrough pain because ibuprofen doesn't work on me. So overall, it helps, but I really hope I don't have to take this for a long period of time."

• Anonymous
• March 12, 2012

For Trigeminal Neuralgia "It worked OK but had a dramatic effect on my mental capacities. I was in the aircraft business and it got to the point where I felt I was becoming a danger to my customers and myself because of my inability to remember. The day I couldn't recall my favorite grandson's name was the day I quit taking it. I underwent a radiological procedure (gamma knife surgery) at UAMS in Little Rock that cured the problem. I only have a mild flare-up occasionally, but it's nothing to what I used to suffer and is usually short-lived. I would recommend this procedure to anyone. It's painless and effective and was a Godsend to me."

• bip...
• August 17, 2014

For Bipolar Disorder "I was previously diagnosed with major depression with severe anxiety attacks. I was taking anti-depressants and anxiety medication for 3 years. My mood would vary greatly throughout this time period. I was self-medicating until one night I tried to drive myself off of a bridge with my car full of people. I realized at that point I needed help and nothing was working. I called my therapist, he suggested that I go to the emergency room. I did. I ended up getting admitted for attempted suicide. After a week in the hospital, it was apparent I was bipolar and in an episode. I suffer from manic and depressive episodes. They put me on Tegretol XR, and I began to be able to actually sleep a whole night and think normally."

• Mom...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 25, 2013

For Epilepsy "I am 33 years old and have been taking Tegretol XR since I was 18 years old for grand mal seizures. It has been great. I have had two healthy children and maintained my medication during my pregnancies and had no problems. I have been seizure-free for 10 years!"

• Anonymous
• March 8, 2009

For Trigeminal Neuralgia "Although the side effects can be very difficult to deal with, the pain of trigeminal neuralgia is far, far worse. This last attack that I had with the disorder put me to my knees begging to die, so I started my Tegretol once again, and now, 6 days into it, no pain at all. I am very nauseated and extremely dizzy, but I will take the side effects over the pain any day of the week."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 12, 2012

For Trigeminal Neuralgia "It took me 2 years to be diagnosed, and as soon as I began taking Tegretol, I began feeling less pain. I take 600 mg daily. I was taking 800 mg, but the nausea was too much. If I ever miss a pill, I will begin to have pain, but while taking it, I am almost 100%."

• Anonymous
• November 27, 2011

For Trigeminal Neuralgia "After being on regular Tegretol for about a year in combination with Neurontin, my neuro changed it to the Tegretol XR with fantastic results. I have been taking this for about 2 years now, and other than the annoying side effects and occasional breakthrough pain, I am very happy. Be warned, though, that the new generic of Tegretol XR may not be as effective as the name brand. When the generic came out, my insurance automatically switched me, and they didn't work near as well, and I was having a lot of breakthrough pain. My Dr. had to make a request to my insurance for the name brand, and thankfully they approved it."

• Mar...
• January 29, 2012

For Trigeminal Neuralgia "After the first two years of trigeminal neuralgia without drugs, I finally gave in and began Tegretol XR at only 200 mg a day. It halved my pain and made 'life livable' again... dragging my feet on asking for an upped dosage since I fear it may lose its effectiveness."

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

For Epilepsy "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."

• Bel...
• October 15, 2017

For Epilepsy "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

For Epilepsy "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."

• Lco...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 25, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "To be honest, I am not a fan of anticonvulsants. They have the craziest side effects, and every time I've taken them, I instantly feel like I consumed alcohol. I've taken Lyrica, Gabapentin, and now Tegretol XR. I stopped this medication at my own disclosure because I was terrified once I read that this medication is known for 'drug-induced liver failure.' Not to mention, it interacts with almost every other drug I take. That is not something I want to risk and am very upset that my doc didn't disclose this to me. He didn't even run a blood test to check my liver enzyme level prior to starting treatment, so that's a whole other conversation. But the point is, I do not like this drug and would advise everyone to avoid it if you can."

• tan...
• August 13, 2007

For Epilepsy "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."

• jmc...
• March 9, 2008

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."

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

For Epilepsy "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."

• man...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 18, 2023

"Delicious, aromatic pills, absolutely love, muscle relaxing, anti-spasmodic, I was floating on air. Became friendly, more easy to work with and to talk to, happy, carefree, lightweight, with the highest quality sleep I could've dreamed of in the longest time."

• bos...
• October 3, 2007

For Epilepsy "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."

• wan...
• January 6, 2009

For Epilepsy "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."

• be2...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 4, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "Was effective for mood stabilization, took 400 mg 2x/day. Went off it because it caused water retention, elevated liver enzymes, and mild neutropenia. Also, carbamazepine interacts with lots of meds, making them ineffective (i.e., Seroquel). Depakote ER is better for me."

• Fer...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 23, 2025

For Trigeminal Neuralgia "I have to face the pain every once in a while. However, after doctor's prescription on 400 mg twice a day, my pain is under control. Nowadays I take only 400 mg/day. If my left eye starts watering out of nothing, I know the pain is coming, and then I move up to 800 mg - 400 mg every 12 hours. Pain is under control. Thanks to Tegretol CR (carbamazepine)."

• Anonymous
• July 4, 2009

For Trigeminal Neuralgia "I have constant pain in my neck, scalp, and left thumb. Tegretol helped but compromised my bone marrow. Be sure to have CBC blood work regularly."

• Anonymous
• August 16, 2010

For Trigeminal Neuralgia "This is working wonders for me. Started helping me a few days after taking it."

• ert...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 12, 2014

For Bipolar Disorder "This is the only medicine that works for me."

• pai...
• February 1, 2012

For Trigeminal Neuralgia "Totally relieved trigeminal pain - pain was non-existent. However, I also turned up allergic, so treatment stopped."

• Ste...
• January 22, 2009

For Epilepsy "I have been on Tegretol for 20 years. I was switched to the Tegretol XR a few years back. I noticed no difference with the medication. Very good medicine with no significant side effects."