effects of tegretol - have you taken it?

[bastet56]

If you have taken tegretol I would be interested in hearing from you about your experiences with this medication. Apparently I have become much more emotionally sensitive, and I know, much more short tempered. Has this happened to you and what did you do about it? I don't know whether it's me changing and not putting up with as much as I used and those around me can't handle it or if it's the meds. Maybe it's both - I really don't know.

[6FT2]

I take Tegretol but not specifically for mood stabalising even though it does seem to help/assist the other med's I take.

I take Tegretol for "Palinopsia" which is apparently a mixture between epilepsy and migraines.

Tegretol was originally designed as an anti-convulsant/anti-epileptic but had been found to have mood stabilizing features as well.

[ILADVOCATE]

Tegretol is a standard mood stabilizer. Its just not as used much anymore because of the fact that it can interact with antipsychotics (not dangerously, just lower their blood level) and thus in someone who needs both appear to cause psychosis (as it did with me) and of course Trileptal has generally replaced it. That information came directly from my provider so that's been standard thinking for a while but it takes some time for it to be phased in.

[adel_ezz]

I tried tegretol once for a month but gave me headaches that was the only MS i used before my today lamictal. In the USA they don't use it anymore because it's interactive with other drugs. Trileptal is its cousin though weaker and as IL said doesn't need blood test.

Incidentally lamictal sometimes they mix it with depakote it says in its brochure.

I wonder why he recommends tegretol. Is it he is suggesting any MS and that's all. All the 3 classical MS : lithium, depakine, tegretol are good especially for mania but now they have lamictal, topamax, etc... Also have you tried an AP (abilify) some people tolerate it very well.

you said: "Apparently I have become much more emotionally sensitive, and I know, much more short tempered"

I assume for this you use tranquilizers. In fact i found them the best in action except for addiction only one must be cautious. Sure there must be some other ways for people to calm them down. You know in egypt and India, China they have alternative medicine of herbs, etc..natural ingredients that help
good luck

[bastet56]

Thanks, the same is happening to me. I will talk to the dr about trileptal. I can't tolerate any of the traditional anti manics or even lamictal. I shake so badly on lithium that I can't tolerate it anymore.

[ILADVOCATE]

I'll be honest. Tegretol caused a fair amount of negative personality changes in me. I don't know if that's common or uncommon but its not rare. Trileptal is similar clinically but better in one way in that the blood test is not required. I found that lithium worked well but had some trouble tolerating it for other reasons that were physical but did very well on Lamictal especially on rapid cycling. Each person reacts diffferently though. Speak to your psychiatrist about what is going on and if other options might be considered.