Tegretol XR User Reviews & Ratings

Tegretol XR has an average rating of 7.9 out of 10 from a total of 21 reviews on Drugs.com. 71% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 13% reported a negative experience.

Condition	Avg. Rating	Reviews	Compare
Epilepsy	7.3	11 reviews for Epilepsy	58 medications
Trigeminal Neuralgia	8.5	10 reviews for Trigeminal Neuralgia	4 medications
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Reviews for Tegretol XR

missb...
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."

8 / 10

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54 Report

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 God send to me."

6 / 10

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57 Report

bipol...
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 medicate 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 call 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 a 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."

9 / 10

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47 Report

Anonymous
March 8, 2009

For Trigeminal Neuralgia "Although the side effects can be very difficult to deal with but 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."

9 / 10

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53 Report

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 800mg 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%."

9 / 10

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40 Report

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Momof...
Taken for 10 years or more
January 25, 2013

For Epilepsy "I am 33 yrs. old and have been taking Tegretol XR since I was 18 yrs 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. Have been seizure free for 10 years!"

10 / 10

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38 Report

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."

8 / 10

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36 Report

Mario...
January 29, 2012

For Trigeminal Neuralgia "After first two years of trigeminal neuralgia without drugs I finally gave in and began Tegretol XR at only 200MG 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."

9 / 10

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29 Report

Lcowan
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 everytime 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 thats a whole other conversation but the point is I do not like this drug and would advise everyone to avoid it if you can."

1 / 10

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16 Report

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 is unsteady hands, and that can make certain tasks somewhat difficult, but as long you follow simple guidelines, this medication in conjunction with another anti-convulsant does quite well at keeping your disorder in check."

9 / 10

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17 Report

ATLGA
Taken for less than 1 month
May 6, 2016

For Epilepsy "The neurologist that I go to see for my epilepsy seizures he 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 I and he claimed he did not know. The doctor prescribed me the Tegretol medication, I had been taken it for less than two months and was diagnosed with an Allergic reaction, Swollen Throat, Facial edema and itchy skin."

1 / 10

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10 Report

bosla...
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 the tegretol xr(to me) are significant. I have constant exhaustion and have trouble with my hand-eye coordination and memory."

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17 Report

Bella...
October 15, 2017

For Epilepsy "I an 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 is 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!"

10 / 10

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8 Report

jmcco...
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 with 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. "

9 / 10

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13 Report

tanacrn
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 other's 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."

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12 Report

Patrick
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."

9 / 10

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2 Report

wanda-1
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 effets were tiredness and a rash which was treated with an antihistamine. "

7 / 10

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7 Report

mandi...
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."

10 / 10

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1 Report

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."

6 / 10

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4 Report

Delila
November 30, 2017

For Trigeminal Neuralgia "Makes me nauseated"

7 / 10

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12 Report

Anonymous
July 4, 2009

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

9 / 10

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22 Report

painful
February 1, 2012

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

10 / 10

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18 Report

Anonymous
August 16, 2010

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

10 / 10

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18 Report

ert
Taken for 1 to 6 months
March 12, 2014

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

10 / 10

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14 Report

Anonymous
March 20, 2014

For Epilepsy "It sent my seizures through the roof."

1 / 10

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11 Report

Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or to remove inappropriate language and content. Reviews that appear to be created by parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any particular medication. While these reviews may be helpful, they are not a substitute for the expertise, knowledge, and judgement of healthcare professionals.