Generic Name: Tegretol XR for Trigeminal Neuralgia (carbamazepine)
"I have been on Tegretol XR for about 3 weeks now for trigeminal neuralgia. I take 100 mg 2x a day. It took like two days for it to work. I only start to have pain from the attacks when I'm due for my next dose. And it's not nearly as bad. The only problem is that I'm already on pregabalin for fibromyalgia, so the Tegretol added makes me totally out of it. I can't remember things, I'm double drowsy all day, I zone out, and I don't like that it has negative interactions with about 500 medications, including Tylenol, which I usually take for breakthrough pain because ibuprofen doesn't work on me. So overall, it helps, but I really hope I don't have to take this for a long period of time."
"It worked OK but had a dramatic effect on my mental capacities. I was in the aircraft business and it got to the point where I felt I was becoming a danger to my customers and myself because of my inability to remember. The day I couldn't recall my favorite grandson's name was the day I quit taking it. I underwent a radiological procedure (gamma knife surgery) at UAMS in Little Rock that cured the problem. I only have a mild flare-up occasionally, but it's nothing to what I used to suffer and is usually short-lived. I would recommend this procedure to anyone. It's painless and effective and was a Godsend to me."
"Although the side effects can be very difficult to deal with, the pain of trigeminal neuralgia is far, far worse. This last attack that I had with the disorder put me to my knees begging to die, so I started my Tegretol once again, and now, 6 days into it, no pain at all. I am very nauseated and extremely dizzy, but I will take the side effects over the pain any day of the week."
"It took me 2 years to be diagnosed, and as soon as I began taking Tegretol, I began feeling less pain. I take 600 mg daily. I was taking 800 mg, but the nausea was too much. If I ever miss a pill, I will begin to have pain, but while taking it, I am almost 100%."
"After being on regular Tegretol for about a year in combination with Neurontin, my neuro changed it to the Tegretol XR with fantastic results. I have been taking this for about 2 years now, and other than the annoying side effects and occasional breakthrough pain, I am very happy. Be warned, though, that the new generic of Tegretol XR may not be as effective as the name brand. When the generic came out, my insurance automatically switched me, and they didn't work near as well, and I was having a lot of breakthrough pain. My Dr. had to make a request to my insurance for the name brand, and thankfully they approved it."
"After first two years of trigeminal neuralgia without drugs I finally gave in and began Tegretol XR at only 200MG a day. It halved my pain and made "life livable" again... dragging my feet on asking for an upped dosage since I fear it may lose its effectiveness."
"I have constant pain in my neck, scalp, left thumb. Tegretol helped but compromised my bone marrow. Be sure to have to have CBC blood work regularly."
"Totally relieved trigeminal pain - pain was non-existent. However I also turned up allergic so treatment stopped."
"This is working wonders for me. Started helping me a few days after taking it."
Carbatrol, Epitol, Equetro, Carnexiv
Carbatrol, Epitol, Equetro, Carnexiv
