Oxcarbazepine and Headaches: What Users Say

• Ewo...
• June 5, 2013

Oxcarbazepine for Bipolar Disorder "I have just begun Trileptal as a treatment for Bipolar I. I was previously on Seroquel 150 and was unable to function at all within 45 minutes of taking it. I experience rapid cycling and more manic episodes than depressive ones, so the Seroquel helped me sleep. However, I noticed weight gain almost immediately and immense hunger - almost ravenous. When it would wear off, I was extremely hostile and agitated. The side effects seemed to outweigh the benefits. So far Trileptal has left me with no side effects except for a slight headache, and I have smoothly transitioned out of my manic episode. I feel like I may need a sleep aid, however, still experiencing a bit of insomnia. I can only hope the success continues!"

• 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."

• cra...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 9, 2016

Oxcarbazepine for Bipolar Disorder "This is a cleaner way of taking Trileptal, it really does make both medication management and the side effects easier to manage. On generic Trileptal, I needed to medicate twice daily, and the morning dose really put me in a fog, not to mention how intense the headaches could get about 30 minutes after my 3x evening dose. Now the headaches still come but are far less intense, and the onset is hours later. Also, the lethargy factor is greatly reduced. I take 900 mg at 6 PM, and I'm ready for bed at 10:30, not focused on getting to my pillow all night like I was previously. This medication does interfere with my ability to urinate within 2 hours of taking it. As for the positives, I'm a rapid cycler, and days are most certainly more stable. Give it time."

• Anonymous
• March 12, 2018

For Bipolar Disorder "I am BP2 and have been on so many drug combinations for the disorder. I gained about 30 lbs on the Depakote/Zoloft combo. The absolute worst is when I was put on Topamax. Anyway, I was recently moved to Trileptal. I thought to myself, here we go again. The first week sucked because I had a never-ending headache and nausea. The second week, I debated going off the drug because I was seriously sick and tired of feeling sick. But, I decided that I would try something different by eating small meals every couple of hours, and that ended the nausea right away. The headache went away about midway through that week. This has been the absolute best I have felt in years!!!! I am so happy not to be hungry all the time like I was on the Depakote. I am hoping that my hair starts growing back because on the Depakote half of it fell out. My quality of life has really improved. My moods are stable, and I feel great and want to go to work every day!"

• Anonymous
• February 28, 2012

Oxcarbazepine for Bipolar Disorder "This medication was extremely effective at stabilizing my moods. The problems that I had made it so that I could not continue on it and therefore needed to rate it so low (because of the severe side effects). First off, I literally saw double for several hours after taking it. Do you remember the Wrigley's Double Mint gum commercials? Well, literally that's what I experienced. It DID go away after several hours afterward, but was really weird and gave me a headache when it happened every morning. My skin, especially my lips, would get numb and tingly. The biggest problem, though, was that it gave me constipation so bad that nothing I ate or took could alleviate it. The ONLY way I could EVER go is if I took a heavy (not mild) laxative."

• 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."

• JPa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 3, 2020

For Bipolar Disorder "Put on oxcarbazepine for bipolar and did not notice a change with my mood, put on 10 pounds in a month. The headaches and brain fog were awful. Ate like a horse. No thanks. Stopped and the weight is slowly coming off. I’m so tired of hearing weight neutral before given a prescription. I have been playing this game for way too long."

• 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!"

• Jca...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 3, 2018

For Neuropathic Pain "Well, I took it for 4 years for mood, however, when I stopped for 2 years, my pain came back, and then a light bulb came on 2 years later that it probably blocked my pain, as I had pain so bad for the last two years. Muscle hurts so bad. Headaches, can't get out of bed. Started 150 mg at night, within 4 days, I felt better. It takes 4 weeks to take full effect, I heard. Very pleased."

• BBP...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 20, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "Works pretty well for stabilizing moods, mostly manic. I take 300 mg in the morning and 600 mg at night. Have been taking for about three years. Dr. will not let me take more than the 900 mgs. Headaches for a week when starting and during increasing dose. It does mess with my memory. I can forget asking someone a question three times and sometimes have some trouble remembering words I'm trying to express."

• ttf...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 6, 2016

For Trigeminal Neuralgia "I had an acoustic neuroma removed in August 2015. I have had terrible headaches and face pain for over a year. I switched neurologists, and he stated that I just didn't present symptoms of occipital neuralgia, also of trigeminal neuralgia. I have been on gabapentin and doxepin with very little relief of the zaps and shocks that lead to a muscle cramp across the back of my head that lead to migraine-like headaches. I have taken this for a week, and this has helped immensely. I have cut in half the headaches and other pains. So far, I'm happy with this."

• Sid...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 7, 2024

Oxcarbazepine "Sometimes, anticonvulsants are used off-label as a mood stabilizer. That's the case for me. I don't have any sort of history of seizures or epilepsy. Instead, I take this medication for controlling mood swings from BPD. I've had a lot of problems with figuring out my antidepressant, but I've been on Trileptal for almost 2 years now, and I've hardly had any problems. The side effects are minimal, perhaps a headache sometimes or maybe I am a little forgetful, but it's absolutely worth it to think rationally and have control over my life. I still get snappy sometimes, and my brain may run more slowly, but it's a big difference from where I was before taking this medication. If you have borderline personality disorder and need help stabilizing your mood, I definitely suggest asking your provider to give this a shot."

• ane...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 14, 2014

For Anxiety "Neurologist reduced medication from 250 mg per day to 125 mg daily. Reduction has increased headaches, anxiety, delusional episodes, and partial seizures. Sleeping patterns have changed. Feel increased heart rate, cervical headache."

• VAb...
• October 28, 2009

Oxcarbazepine for Bipolar Disorder "This medicine was given to me as I was being taken off an antidepressant and has given me headaches, nausea, joint pain, and a feeling of not being fully alert. I was started at a 1500 mg daily dose, and I think that is way too high for me. I have been at this dose for over three months, and the doctors seem to think that the side effects are outweighed by the positives. I have felt more depressed since they put me on this, but they don’t worry about that. I would rather have the antidepressants back, at least I could be a human with them."

• 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."

• Hen...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 12, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "Lamictal didn't seem to help for my bipolar, so I figured I'd try something else. Dr. put me on Trileptal 150 mg twice daily. Within a few days, I was depressed and overwhelmed with emotions. I searched online for reasons why I was feeling this way. Apparently, I take Seroquel XR and Buspar, and I just realized that Trileptal decreases the effectiveness of those two drugs. No wonder I was miserable. Feel tired and having more anxiety than before. Headaches too. Waiting for the next visit with the doctor. Either I stick with Trileptal and start another atypical psychotic or get off the Trileptal completely. I don't like the emotional imbalance in my brain. Very scary stuff."

• bp6...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 8, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "I was on only 150 mg of oxcarbazepine for 6 weeks as a treatment for BPD and bipolar disorder. I cannot suggest enough against using this awful medication. Two weeks after I began my treatment, I developed migraine headaches daily from the moment I woke up to the moment I went to sleep. These headaches could not be stopped by any pain medication. I began to worry that something was wrong and visited my local urgent care to get blood work. As it turns out, oxcarbazepine made me severely anemic. I have never had anemia in my life, and because of this drug, I am now suffering from extreme hair loss as a result of the anemia that it caused. I am constantly fatigued and have daily headaches still after stopping the medication. Never again. Beware. Oh, and also I am under the age of 25."

• Anonymous
• October 5, 2011

Oxcarbazepine for Trigeminal Neuralgia "Well, the pain on the nerve goes away pretty quickly after taking 150 mg of Trileptal, which I just started taking this year, because when I was told that I had trigeminal neuralgia last year, I didn't find out until the pain was almost over, but the medicine only lasts about 4 hours or so. At first, I got a headache, which didn't last too long, so I didn't take anything for the headache. What concerns me the most is that lately I have been getting pain on my ankles the next day after doing a 45-minute kickboxing workout, and it's not going away, which I never had before. Today, for the first time in my life, I had a terrible pain in my pelvis that I could hardly walk. Hopefully, the pain goes away soon, and I won't have to take anything until next year!"

• Pop...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 12, 2019

For Trigeminal Neuralgia "I started on oxcarbazepine several days ago for trigeminal neuralgia. Almost immediately developed stomach pains, headache, dizziness, and weakness. I thought it would be worth it to get rid of the nerve pain. I woke last night and had a seizure followed by copious vomiting. I couldn't find any information online on how to reduce the side effects (though some people recommend Gatorade, which I will try.) My doctor switched me to carbamazepine today, but I am unable to eat and the carbamazepine must be taken with food. I am not sure what to do. I'm concerned about having more seizures. I do have epilepsy as well as the nerve compression, but this is the first time I have had a seizure in a long time. Confused and scared."

• Man...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 10, 2021

For Borderline Personality Disorder "I just started oxcarbazepine about 4 days ago, and I've gained 11 pounds in that time. I asked for a drug that doesn't cause weight gain, and here I am, 11 lbs later. I feel much calmer and haven't been having intense rage, but I've also been super dizzy and have a really bad headache about an hour after popping the medicine. I was really excited to try it from all the positive reviews, but different medicines work differently for everyone. Please don't let this review scare you off from trying it, but just be mindful and do your own research before taking on a new medication."

• Mom...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 4, 2020

For Epilepsy "My six-year-old was diagnosed in July with epilepsy due to a partial complex seizure. He was put on oxcarbazepine and told to go from 2.5 ml to 5 ml. However, after a month of slowly increasing, we were at 4 ml twice a day when the side effects became debilitating. Headaches, migraines, tummy aches... to the point my kid could not sit in a chair due to the pain. We haven't had a seizure since, but not sure that is the meds since we are barely taking a partial dose of 3 ml, which is under the threshold for my kid's weight. I am currently talking to the doctor to find a different med because the side effects for my kid are threatening quality of life. Additionally, my daughter hates the taste of this medicine."

• All...
• April 3, 2018

For Trigeminal Neuralgia "Been on this medication for 2 weeks now. Was excited about pain relief until headaches started, and I broke out in a rash on my face and upper body."