Has anyone been on Tegretol? What side effects or experiences have you had while!
Question: My doctor has recently changed my medication to Tegretol (for Bipolar) due to problems with other medications! I understand that medication isn't the complete answer so see a Life coach/councilor regularly, which is really helpful but I'd like to find out what experiences or side effects other people have gone through being on this medication!? Thank you, any info is much appreciated!
Answers: My doctor has recently changed my medication to Tegretol (for Bipolar) due to problems with other medications! I understand that medication isn't the complete answer so see a Life coach/councilor regularly, which is really helpful but I'd like to find out what experiences or side effects other people have gone through being on this medication!? Thank you, any info is much appreciated!
Hi! I was prescribed Tegretol for seizures after allergic reactions to both Lamictal and Topamax. I am EXTREMELY sensitive to any medication whether it is prescription or over-the-counter. My doctor has to start me off very cautiously because of side effects, which she had to do on the others as well. For me, it was hard at first because I did experience nausea, light-headedness, and muscle weakness, plus extreme fatigue. Although it did cure my insomnia! I have also had some hair loss, but nothing too drastic.
I have only had 3 seizures and the cause is unknown. There were days when I really wanted to go off of it in the beginning, but my family encouraged me to stick with it because of the risk otherwise. I am one of those that can stop breathing during a seizure. My husband rarely talks about the seizures, but when he does he has told me how terrified he is of them and of me dying. When put like that, I can suffer a few side effects to give this man some peace and comfort.
I've been on Tegretol for 6 months now and I am so happy that my family convinced me to stick with it. I did have one break-through seizure early on, but since then I have been fine. Thank God! The side effects are gone. Sometimes when I get rundown from a cold or something I may experience a few side effects, but nothing like the beginning.
For me, the good news is that after almost a year, DMV is approving me for a physical driving test. Woohoo! I've gotten the all-clear from my doc, and DMV just wants to see for themselves that I'm okay behind the wheel. This is a big step in re-gaining my independence and I am sure you can imagine how happy I am!
If Tegretol can help you get your life back--- then it is worth it.
P.S. I go in for routine blood work every 3 months to check my blood levels and my kidneys/liver. So far everything has been just fine and I find the blood tests comforting because it lets me know everything is going the way it should and there is no damage being done.
When I was trying to get pregnant I tried to go off Depakote and use Tegretol for my seizures. The doctor kept boosting my dosage up due to seizure activity. I finally reached a toxic level before getting seizures under control. I was throwing up all the time. Tegretol is suppose to be one of the more easier meds on your system. Unfortunately it didn't work for me. Went back to Depakote.
Watch for low sodium. My husband went through hell with hyponatremia and the doctors didn't figure it was the tegretol for ages. Also, tegretol can make birth control pills less effective. YOu should use an additional method like condoms. Also you have to get your blood levels checked regularly because sometimes you'll be doing well and then all of a sudden your levels will change for no reason when you're taking the same amount of tegretol.