Carbamazepine for Bipolar Disorder User Reviews

• rsc...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 18, 2014

Carbamazepine "This medication is saving my life! It really stabilizes my mood. Before I started taking carbamazepine, I would experience horribly crippling depression in the afternoons combined with very strong urges to self-medicate with alcohol or narcotics. Now I feel about the same all day, never really up and never really down. I have no conflicts taking it with Suboxone. I have only noticed two side effects: nausea (taking it with food fixes that) and increased sleep. I sleep longer than I did before and wake up feeling tired. Actually, it helps me to sleep through the night, which isn't all bad. After I get up, take my other medicines, and have some coffee, I am ready to face the day. Note: I was previously misdiagnosed with major depression."

• Wol...
• December 19, 2013

Carbamazepine "I have been on this medicine since late September of this year (2013). I was on Abilify since I was 7 years old. I am now 21. I have gone from being a stick figure to a 254-pound blowfish, and I'm 5'9''. Since being on Tegretol, I have lost over 20 pounds and am eating less and am more on average scale of what a human being should be consuming on a daily basis. I love this medicine. It helps me think clearly, meaning I am much more calm and stabilized with my bipolar. The ONLY complaint I have is I am constantly having hot flashes. I am male, by the way. I have asked many different psychiatrists, pharmacy, and my PCP about it. None have ever found that to be part of the side effects. I'd rather deal with this than major weight gain from Abilify."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 7, 2012

Carbamazepine "I found Tegretol amazing. It made me so calm and stable even after a few days. The only issue with it is it makes me very drowsy and a little disoriented. That's the one side effect I've noticed. So if you drive a lot or operate heavy machinery or are a surgeon, this is not the medication for you. Otherwise, it is a great mood stabilizer."

• hap...
• April 2, 2009

Carbamazepine "I have been using Tegretol for 6 months for bipolar, and I have felt happier consistently for the first time in my life. I have tried many others over 15 years, and Tegretol has changed my life. I have had no side effects! Go, Tegretol!"

• Sel...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 9, 2015

Carbamazepine "Well, I'm very impressed and happy. Others have Tegretol works. I am ADHD and bipolar, yup, try that on for size, it's insane. I used to be an extremist of note, but Tegretol has controlled this. What I like most is it's not like the other medications, it does not put you on just another high or a buzz. You don't realize what it does, but the people around you do. It slows you down to a more controlled state and keeps the depression down. For me, combine Tegretol with healthy eating, no dow, etc., rice starch, lots of water, and gym, and you'll be sorted, no doubt. But always remember, like any normal being, there are ups and downs. If you realize life is not always peaches and cream, and that you will experience down time, accept and just let it pass."

• Mis...
• October 12, 2011

Carbamazepine "I had a horrible experience after being prescribed Tegretol while in the hospital to treat my bipolar disorder. Within a few days of starting it, I began experiencing the shaking, nausea, etc., but the worst was the extreme anger/irritability I started experiencing. It got to the point that I would have horrible rages and felt like I was completely losing control. I kept asking my doctor to take me off the Tegretol, but he wouldn't. During one of these rages, I ended up fracturing my wrist because I hit a door so hard. After that, he agreed to take me off of it. After talking to other patients, I found out that a lot of them had similar experiences with this uncontrollable anger."

• Orc...
• March 10, 2015

Carbamazepine "I tried Lithium, Depakote, and Lamotrigine. I had horrible side effects with all three. But Carbamazepine is a miracle drug, as far as I'm concerned. It started working within just a few days and I only had to take 300 mg a day, in 100 mg doses. My doctor and I found that I had to take 400 mg a day if I took it twice a day, but spread out in 3 doses, 300 mg worked. I always prefer to take the minimum useful dose of drugs if possible. Side effects: 1) teeth, especially at the gums, seem to be in worse shape on it, 2) I have to drink quite a lot of water, or I start to lose some cognitive function, 3) at a higher dose, I seemed to develop empathy deficits as if I had Asperger's or something."

• Bip...
• January 26, 2014

Carbamazepine "Thought I would share my experiences on 'Tegretol' too. I have been on Tegretol for 3 days now and can tell a HUGE difference! I have not been given the 'full blown' Bipolar diagnosis yet, I think this will need some more in-depth conversations with my psychiatrist. Well, yes, I was given Tegretol as a mood stabilizer on Wednesday. I took the first 100mg before I went to sleep. The next morning I didn't feel any different, maybe in the evening or the afternoon, I noticed an improvement. I was a lot calmer, my thoughts were gathered, this has been the case until this day. I will ask my psychiatrist to up the dosage of Tegretol, but it's early days yet. All in all, I love this medication."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 7, 2014

Carbamazepine "I only took this 1 1/2 days because I had a severe bad reaction physically, but the second evening I was on it, I felt so calm, peaceful, and happy that I didn't even want to fall asleep knowing it would be gone in the morning. I would've given it a 10 if not for the physical reaction. I really recommend trying this mood stabilizer for anyone with bipolar disorder. It works in just a couple of days. I was just an unlucky one, again."

• Zar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 22, 2013

Carbamazepine "Loved Tegretol, kept my moods stable, worked well, felt calm and happy and in control for the first time in years. Until a Dr. decided it was okay to mix this with antibiotics along with the pill and sinus medication, I suffered from TENS. After being told 3 times it couldn't be that, I was so sick, I ended up in the hospital for 2 months. Now I remain untreated due to fear. However, what works for some doesn't work for others. This worked for me until my body decided I was allergic to it and everything else. Please be mindful of what you take with any medication!"

• ren...
• February 18, 2008

Carbamazepine "My son, age 5, has used Tegretol for the past 6 months for bipolar disorder. It has shown a great improvement in his mood changes and has allowed others to accept him more. If the Tegretol is not given, we notice a huge mood swing and rage, and depression becomes more apparent."

• Yan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 3, 2015

Carbamazepine "I have been on Tegretol for 8 days now. I'm very happy with the results so far. My mood and energy seem to have improved. I'm taking Tegretol 200 mg twice a day along with Prozac and Ambien for my insomnia. The only side effect so far is a little bit lightheaded, but no biggie. I have begun a journal/to-do list, and I'm very happy when I cross off the items I have completed. In addition, in my daily journal, I'm drafting my daily feelings and my accomplishments. I would highly recommend this, as this is helping me out tremendously. My memory is not as sharp, and this helps big time."

• Fly...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 23, 2015

Carbamazepine "I have been on Tegretol for 15 years, and it definitely controls the hypomania and rapid cycling, though not the depression so well. It sort of leaves you feeling flat, but I had tried lithium, Depakote, and a few of the atypical antipsychotics, and they were too heavy-duty or left me with extreme weight gain. When I went on Tegretol, I had 50 pounds of extra weight from Depakote... it came off within 4 months. I am not thin now, as I have gotten older, but I suppose it is still the drug for me. At this stage of the game, I don't feel like trying other meds as I have to work and function. I also take a small dose of Lamictal too."

• Anonymous
• June 14, 2011

Carbamazepine "I had a very good experience on Tegretol. I had no side effects and was feeling better within three days. On top of stabilizing my moods, it also reduced my fibromyalgia pain by a good 90% (which also helped my mood a lot). The only reason I stopped taking it is because I'm working on becoming pregnant and it does have some nasty side effects there. The new medicines I'm on don't work quite as well, and I plan to go back on Tegretol as soon as I have a child."

• fee...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 14, 2013

"This is the ONLY thing that has worked for me. I was diagnosed with a 'nonspecified mood disorder', feeling totally out of control, no concentration, extremely irritable, suicidally depressed, angry, extremely everything, you name it. Tried Lexapro (small effect, then nothing), Effexor (killed my whole soul - left me feeling nothing at all and HORRIBLE to wean off and gained 30 pounds in two months), Zoloft (turned me into a raging psychotic mess - violently angry ideations, a real nightmare), Xanax (psychosis), self-medication (won't go into that, but obviously not a good idea). Anyway, you get the gist. This medication gives me NO side effects and just took away my 'craziness', it changed my life."

• Anonymous
• March 21, 2010

Carbamazepine "I've used Tegretol for the last three years and it's still working like it did in the beginning. My moods have been so much better over this time and I have a lot better outlook now versus the time before I started taking this medicine. I love these good moods I stay in throughout the day."

• jms...
• July 11, 2010

Carbamazepine "Tegretol has slowed the rapid cycling I was experiencing with bipolar. I have noticed improved mood. I currently take a large dose, so I experience side effects. It's my only complaint about the drug. I would recommend anyone who is considering Tegretol for Bipolar to have a backup for depressed mood, as I don't feel it's effective for extreme low mood, mainly for bipolar mania."

• Fig...
• August 2, 2015

Carbamazepine "I currently take 300 mg of carbamazepine a day, 100 mg in the morning and 200 mg at night. Which is hard for me to remember the different doses because this medication causes me to forget everything. I also had really bad nausea and hot flashes when I first started taking it. I quit smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol on this drug. Super amazing accomplishments, but on the other hand, I have lost three jobs in six months. Before Tegretol, I was taking 300 mg of Seroquel XR a day, and it made me a completely unemotional zombie. So it's hard for me to control myself sometimes because I'm feeling all these things I haven't felt before. I hope Tegretol can work for me, though, and be my miracle drug, because changing meds is my living nightmare."

• Cra...
• March 1, 2014

Carbamazepine "I have been taking Tegretol for a couple of years, and it really helps with my bipolar. I can notice a big difference compared to if I'm not taking it. I just don't like how it makes my head and tongue feel numb, but it's a small price to pay."

• Ezg...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 22, 2016

Carbamazepine "I have been using Tegretol for 6 months, 200 mg a day two times. Before this, I started with Abilify, and it did not help me. I feel much more normal than before, and I don't feel like I am going up or down anymore. But I think one of the most important things is also not using alcohol and sleeping 8 hours a day."

• bip...
• August 17, 2014

Carbamazepine "I was previously diagnosed with major depression with severe anxiety attacks. I was taking anti-depressants and anxiety medication for 3 years. My mood would vary greatly throughout this time period. I was self-medicating until one night I tried to drive myself off of a bridge with my car full of people. I realized at that point I needed help and nothing was working. I called my therapist, he suggested that I go to the emergency room. I did. I ended up getting admitted for attempted suicide. After a week in the hospital, it was apparent I was bipolar and in an episode. I suffer from manic and depressive episodes. They put me on Tegretol XR, and I began to be able to actually sleep a whole night and think normally."

• sec...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 24, 2023

Carbamazepine "This drug saved my life and my marriage. I started with 100 mg and over time increased to 800 mg/day. I had some rough side effects for the first year or so (gastrointestinal, painful joints, and insomnia mainly). Now I still have some difficulty with recalling words, which is embarrassing but does not interfere with my job. However, it’s all been worth it because Equetro quickly stopped the bipolar 2 misery that plagued me for decades before I was diagnosed. It has brought me peace and stopped out-of-control spending and eating. My savings grew and my weight fell (100 pounds lost in 5 years). Equetro keeps mania under control, but it does not fix depression (just makes it less bad), so I also take 450 mg/day of Wellbutrin for that. Regardless of the side effects (which mostly go away over time), it is totally worth it and gave me my life back."

• Sam...
• July 23, 2014

Carbamazepine "This medicine has changed my life. For years, before I was diagnosed... I had no clue what it was like to live with a clear head. I'm able to think and act more rationally, the way I've always wanted to and never could. This medicine solidifies for me that treatment can work. Changed my life. I'm a happy girl (and not just when I try to be)."

• Dam...
• June 5, 2019

"The carbamazepine has been a real lifesaver for me. I was hospitalized with psychosis and mania. I can get a racing mind also and/or rapid cycling (manic and depressed). This drug has helped me remain stable. I have been able to raise my son, who is now two, and even remain calm during tantrums. I needed to increase it many times for significant relief though."

• Tay...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 24, 2012

Carbamazepine "Caused me to be very drowsy all of the time, sleeping about 16 hours every night, and I developed an itchy rash of red pimple-like bumps on my scalp, neckline, and middle of my back after taking it for a few days."