Oxcarbazepine and Dizziness: What Users Say

• ahn...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 10, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "Look, this oxcarbazepine medication will definitely make your mood stable. Do not freak out at the starting side effects of dizziness and problems with coordination. After a while, your body will acclimate to the drug. Give it more than 6 weeks for your body side effects to settle and get used to it. I consider myself a bright person - it WILL slow down your thought processing. It will make you feel dull, and it WILL come with emotional flatness. I have always acted on impulse, and I like not feeling as emotional. The slowness sucks... but it definitely outweighs the horrible mood swings I'd have in ONE day. In the morning, I'd be depressed and hate life, and by afternoon, overly manic (which is euphoric) and loving life. I cannot bring this mentality into the workplace and relationships... Try it. You might like it."

• ahn...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 10, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "Look, this oxcarbazepine medication will definitely make your mood stable. Do not freak out at the starting side effects of dizziness and problems with coordination. After a while, your body will acclimate to the drug. Give it more than 6 weeks for your body side effects to settle and get used to it. I consider myself a bright person - it WILL slow down your thought processing. It will make you feel dull, and it WILL come with emotional flatness. I have always acted on impulse, and I like not feeling as emotional. The slowness sucks... but it definitely outweighs the horrible mood swings I'd have in ONE day. In the morning, I'd be depressed and hate life, and by afternoon, overly manic (which is euphoric) and loving life. I cannot bring this mentality into the workplace and relationships... Try it. You might like it."

• Bea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 4, 2016

For Anxiety "I suffer from chronic depression and high anxiety all my life. Other medications work, but I am so out of touch with reality that I choose not to take them. I started a 300mg twice a day dose of oxcarbazepine with 50mg of Pristiq. I have only been taking this for two weeks, but so far, everything is great. I am experiencing what it's like to be 'normal,' a feeling I have rarely experienced, so it feels a little abnormal. Life is much better now, the best I have ever felt. I hope it works for years to come."

• Anonymous
• December 11, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "This drug has helped me so much. I used to be on a low dose of benzodiazepine and an antidepressant, and I felt terrible all the time. I had many racing thoughts about hurting myself and dying. I couldn't control myself at all when I felt anxious or too happy, which was followed by depression. But when my doctor replaced my benzodiazepine with this, the intrusive thoughts stopped. I got occasional headaches and dizziness (these are the only side effects I got) at first, but the side effects have gone away now after a couple of months. I can finally function normally without terrible mood swings that ruin everything. I take 600 mg a day, 300 in the morning and 300 at night."

• Pen...
• April 27, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "I have been on many different medications for my bipolar for the last 8 years, and have been on Trileptal for 9 months. This is the best mood stabilizer I have ever been on. With this in my treatment regimen, along with some other good meds (Celexa, Prolixin), I am the most stable I have been in my life. It also has minimal side effects. It has a nice calming effect without being sedating or causing cognitive impairment, and it doesn't increase appetite for me like so many similar meds do. I started on 300 mg twice a day and about two months ago had to be increased to 600 mg twice a day. I did experience about a week or so of dizziness when first starting this medicine and when increasing the dose, however, no side effects now."

• ASJ...
• January 10, 2013

Oxcarbazepine for Seizures "My son, of 7, has been on Trileptal for 2 weeks. Immediately, the most evident side effect was solemnness. A week into therapy, he was playing outside and complained of dizziness, weakness, and pain all over. Thanks to literature at Novartis site, it is very comprehensive, so I found out about Hyponatremia (sodium level becoming very low). A few drops of concentrated table salt solution in both ears immediately took care of the problem. As for seizures, he hadn't had any. But then, we only found out about his rare nocturnal seizures by coincidence. He did have night terrors twice a month before. We haven't had any of those yet."

• Pal...
• October 27, 2019

For Anxiety "I have RRMS. In April, I had another brain MRI. The results indicated a new brain lesion on my brain. Two EEGs were also administered. My neurologist stated I was not experiencing vertigo, but possibly having seizures, convulsions, or fainting spells. I was placed on oxcarbazepine, 300x2 a day. I am now experiencing extreme anxiety. My neurologist first thought the anxiety stemmed from the steroids and it would go away. It hasn't, and it has only gotten worse. He now states it is my MS. I am using cannabis for the anxiety. Sometimes it helps, and other times it does not. The neurologist prescribed a low dosage (2 mg) of Valium. I've taken it on and off, yet sometimes it is not effective. I am concerned about addiction to Valium. I am forgetting things. I have tingling, numbness, and feeling hot inside my body. I went from being a very independent, active person to doing very little. Is anyone else experiencing extreme anxiety due to oxcarbazepine?"

• mtn...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 7, 2012

Oxcarbazepine for Trigeminal Neuralgia "Stopped the incapacitating seizures. Side effects are bothersome but not as awful as the seizures: Sugar-sweet taste of all food, fatigue, occasional nausea, memory issues, sight issues, balance problems."

• chr...
• April 27, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "Trileptal has been a lifesaver so far in treating my bipolar. I've been on the drug for a little over 10 weeks, and I currently take 600 mg/day split between morning and evening. For the first month, I experienced extreme fatigue, dizziness, and headaches. Currently, I only sometimes have blurry vision, and I feel like my memory has gotten worse (but it was poor to begin with). I didn't feel like it was actually working until I got to my current dose about three weeks ago, and now every week is better than the last in that I have fewer 'bad' days. I've even started to have good days without being manic! I do have a problem with sodium levels that I only notice after exercise, but eating a pickle or two resolves that."

• Dee...
• April 15, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "I have been on Trileptal and just started taking it about a week ago, and I have been in better moods from the time I wake up to the time I go to bed. I was on 75 mg of Lamictal for over 3 years, and it was working fine, and then it stopped working. I have also been diagnosed with bipolar when I was young, when they said that I had the beginning stage of it. I was just recently diagnosed with the highest stage of bipolar that you can go, and my psychologist put me on this med. I am taking 600 mg a day, 300 mg in the AM and 300 mg at night. I am not drowsy or nothing, just a little dizzy every now and then."

• Jen...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 8, 2015

For Trigeminal Neuralgia "I have been on this medicine for 5 days, and it has absolutely turned my life around... literally. I was trying Tegretol, and it worked for my trigeminal/occipital neuralgia, but made me off balance, slur my words, even on a low dose. The doctor gave me this based on those debilitating side effects, and I have almost no side effects so far and almost no pain! So hoping it will continue to work like this!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 16, 2014

For Bipolar Disorder "I have taken Trileptal for many years. I could not be happier with the results of this medication. It gave me the 'brakes' I seemed to be lacking due to my BP. I would fly off the handle, stay mad for what seemed like days, and for nothing. I have only had slight side effects: mild headache and some dizziness at first and after any dosage changes. But these were nothing compared to the wonderful results I've had. Good luck, everyone!"

• Her...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 19, 2019

For Trigeminal Neuralgia "I have had trigeminal neuralgia now for 4 years and have had great success with Oxtellar XR. If your insurance will pay for this drug, you will be very wise to try it. At first, it made me a little sleepy and dizzy, after a while, I was okay. It has kept me pain-free. Great drug, I take 1200 mg."

• Sin...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 2, 2020

For Bipolar Disorder "I took Trileptal for 8 months for bipolar type 1. I was rapid cycling due to an antidepressant, but the Trileptal was very effective for stopping the cycle. My mind wasn’t going a million miles an hour anymore. However, horrible, dangerous side effects started with dizziness and nausea. At 8 months, hives on my skin, rash on my palms, and it was in my mouth. Scratchy throat and respiratory problems also. Stopped cold turkey, and now I’m cycling into depression."

• Ema...
• May 3, 2020

For Trigeminal Neuralgia "87 yr old. I've had TN for about 5 years now, gone through multiple drugs (gabapentin, baclofen, Lyrica, and oxcarbazepine) and surgeries. As far as drugs go, I feel oxcarbazepine has helped the most. It took some time for my body to get over the nausea, but eventually became used to it. Just take nausea medication to help while your body gets used to it. The fatigue, dizziness, and lack of thought process is improving as I've slowly reduced the meds."

• jme...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 9, 2013

For Seizures "My 13-year-old son was recently diagnosed with epilepsy. He has rare gelastic seizures. He was having 8-10 seizures every night. Doctors put him on 750 mg 2x a day, along with 1750 mg 2x a day Keppra. He began the meds in May. By August, he was seizure-free. He complained of dizziness and tiredness at first. After about 3 weeks, he seemed to snap out of it. Please give the medication time to work. It can work wonders if given a chance. Everyone is different, though. Good luck!"

• Ron...
• January 21, 2016

For Anxiety "I got put on this medicine because of my anger issues and anxiety. I'm on 300 mg twice a day, but it hasn't done anything for me so far. I've become very dizzy, I have double vision, fatigue, drowsiness, balance problems, and speech problems, and I have almost passed out a few times."

• Ron...
• January 21, 2016

For Anxiety "I got put on this medicine because of my anger issues and anxiety. I'm on 300 mg twice a day, but it hasn't done anything for me so far. I've become very dizzy, I have double vision, fatigue, drowsiness, balance problems, and speech problems, and I have almost passed out a few times."

• BAA...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 30, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "I started taking this medication because Lamictal stopped working for my bipolar disorder. I'm giving this one star because this medication didn't stabilize my mood disorder, and I had side effects: dizziness, nausea, sedation. I have since switched to other medication and have been stable for many years."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 4, 2016

Oxcarbazepine for Seizures "Although this medication did decrease my daughter's absence seizures, if she took this at any time 30 min before or after eating, she had a severe reaction. Her throat would burn inside and out, her face would flush, she would get dizzy and unable to focus. This would last about 5-10 min., and then she would get so tired, she would instantly fall asleep and sleep for hours. She was at a pretty high dose during this time, 1050 mg 2x daily. We finally stopped this medication because of the stress of having to watch so closely when she ate and when she could take this medication."

• und...
• September 7, 2011

Oxcarbazepine for Bipolar Disorder "I have been on Trileptal for a little over a year. I was taking 1200 mg/day. On the flip side, the symptoms of dizziness and double vision I had about an hour after I took the medicine, I just dealt with because the medicine worked so great in stabilizing my moods. These two side effects never lessened. I am Bipolar 1 with one major depressive episode. I also take Wellbutrin. I am being taken off the medicine slowly due to acute hyponatremia, which hospitalized me for 3 days. I took Tegretol prior to the Trileptal. I loved the Tegretol but wanted to change because there were fewer potential side effects with the Trileptal, which is now very ironic. I will be starting Lamictal when the Trileptal is completely out of my system."

• Mad...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 18, 2019

For Anxiety "I’ve been on this medicine, oxcarbazepine, for about a month, along with Buspar and Zoloft. I have noticed I haven’t been as depressed since starting this medicine, but I still have my days. Honestly, I don’t think it’s the right medicine for me, though. I’ve had increased anxiety, restlessness at night, dizziness, anger, headaches, and somewhat feeling “out of my mind.” I was prescribed this for bipolar disorder, which I still haven’t been fully diagnosed with."

• rea...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 5, 2023

Oxcarbazepine "Trileptal has been an amazing medicine for my bipolar disorder, completely changed how I feel, no longer dizzy and no longer having racing thoughts/mood swings. This medicine gives me mental clarity, and I can actually think and focus much better as well."

• Xll...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 2, 2021

For Borderline Personality Disorder "Been on oxcarbazepine for almost 2 months, and I have noticed a great improvement in irritability and emotional stability! Calms me down and helps me think before I react. The only side effects I experience are tiredness after taking it and occasional dizziness. Overall, helps a lot!!"

• Gep...
• August 10, 2019

For Trigeminal Neuralgia "Have had TN for some 13 years and have been on carbamazepine (Tegretol) and slow release 160g for about 10 years. Recently started taking oxcarbazepine, as their similar drug makeup to 'carba' was like for like. It worked fine and cleared my head from the small fugue (a loss of awareness of one's identity) that 'carba' does. It went good for 3 weeks, then the slight pain, stomach, nausea, and balance symptoms started. The doctor thought it unrelated and gave me 3 types of medication to counteract the symptoms and increased my dosage from 900 to 1050mg twice a day. Then I started to have the worst 4 days of my life. It was like watching a junkie on TV with withdrawal symptoms, only it was me. My wife said enough is enough and went back to carbamazepine and just took the other medication for a few days following. Two days later, it was as if I’d just woken from a bad dream. Don’t get me wrong, but I still get pain, but it’s manageable."