Tegretol

[newbie9999]

My pdoc just put my on Tegretol XR. Anyone have any experiences to share so I know what to maybe expect?

[Velvet Elvis]

I never took the XR, just the regular stuff. It reduced my attention span to about ten seconds. I'd stand up to do something but by the time I was fully upright I'd have forgotten what it was that I was about to go do so I'd turn around a couple of times like a dog and sit back down.

I had no cognitive side effect on topamax beyond the first month so I may not be typical.

[nalgas]

I think someone around here, maybe Penny, knows someone on Carbatrol, which is essentially the same thing (extended release Tegretol, just under a different brand name), who has been extremely happy with it. It was the first thing they tried, and it just worked, without much in the way of side effects. She's been busy lately and not around much, though, but if I can track her down, it might be better to hear about it secondhand instead of thirdhand. I'm still attempting to work my way through the newer ACs and don't have any personal experience with ones like that so far.

[Silver]

My pdoc just put my on Tegretol XR. Anyone have any experiences to share so I know what to maybe expect?

I love the stuff. Took me briskly out of a mixed state in an incredibly short time period. Mild ditziness, but nothing like what VE had. Some daytime fatigue, which resolved after about a month.

Carbamazepine fits my brain like a key in a lock.

Unfortunately, I have a fairly severe reaction to it (and Dilantin, and Lamictal, and Trileptal, etc.)

So... I love it. But it doesn't love me.

It's rather famous for interactions due to its autoinduction effect, so expect all primary care providers, ER staff, etc., to need to look up interactions if they are prescribing you anything. If you're on it for the long term, I'd suggest just printing out the sheet of common interactions and having your FP put it in your chart.

There is an association between use of carbamazepine and hypothyroidism, but not generally clinically significant hypothyroidism. Probably worth monitoring TSH anyway. The other thyroid function tests may show up as abnormal (here's why); current recommendation per Maudsley Guidelines is check thyroid function before starting treatment, then every year.

[susanlynn]

I've been on Tegretol, hm, 18 + years now. I guess it does the job. Sure, it'd be better to be on nothing, but I guess it'll do. Focusing, aka follow thru, takes work; compensatory strategies help. Good luck.

[Guest not jim]

I'm on Equetro, Carbatrol with a different name -- another company's version of Tegretol XR. I've become severely ADD since being on it, and the initial month of depression/mixed state relief is gone. My psych said that it's probably being metabolized and should raise the dose and then promptly added Stavzor (i.e. extended release Depakote) to the mix instead. I can't make it across the room without forgetting why I was crossing the room. There is a likelyhood that I'm normally ADD or ADHD and just haven't been diagnosed before because I've always worked around it. I have no idea what I am anymore (ADHD, bipolar II, sensitive to stressful situations) but I know I'm looking for a new psychiatrist and I want to get off of Equetro.

[Rabbit37]

I had nausea and vomiting with the regular tegretol, but the XR has worked like a charm. Voila, no side effects... except that coffee is foul now.