Carbamazepine and Nausea: What Users Say

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

Tegretol (carbamazepine) for Bipolar Disorder "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."

• Mis...
• October 12, 2011

Tegretol (carbamazepine) for Bipolar Disorder "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."

• Fig...
• August 2, 2015

Tegretol (carbamazepine) for Bipolar Disorder "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."

• Mio...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 24, 2019

For Trigeminal Neuralgia "Was diagnosed with TN pretty swiftly after about three weeks of face pain, one week of which was worse than giving birth! Was put on 100 mg twice a day, and after one week, the pain subsided. I was very happy. Only side effect was a terrible drowsiness most of the day, but better than the pain. However, by week three (still on only 200 mg per day), I started to feel very unwell. I felt like I was dying. I got a terrible fever, and the drowsiness got so unbearable I could hardly walk. I got a mouth ulcer (never get them), then another. I could hardly eat, felt nauseous, dizzy, and very unwell. Finally, the doctor ordered a blood test, and he then called me up a couple of days later to tell me to stop taking the drug immediately because I had an allergic reaction, and it had affected my liver. Off it now and feeling more like my old self. Luckily, the TN has subsided, and hopefully, it won't come back for a long time. If it does, I won't be taking carbamazepine again."

• Cro...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• May 3, 2018

Tegretol (carbamazepine) for Trigeminal Neuralgia "Been taking 3x a day for several years. Suffered on and off for decades from head/facial pain with no diagnosis. Finally went to a good neurologist. Tried gabapentin. Didn't work at all. (Neither does Dilaudid.) This does make me groggy still, and I have nausea, brain drain, and more. I would take any side effect for relief from that horrific pain. I've had it so bad, I literally couldn't breathe in. The breakthrough pain I now get is mainly an ache in my ear and sometimes teeth. The side effects also may be from the 15 other meds I take for various problems."

• Anonymous
• March 8, 2009

Tegretol XR (carbamazepine) for Trigeminal Neuralgia "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."

• Fel...
• January 25, 2018

Tegretol (carbamazepine) for Trigeminal Neuralgia "While I've taken Tegretol in the past with no issues, this time is different. First time around, no side effects. This time - possibly due to other medication - I've had horrible side effects. Headaches every day, dizziness, nausea to the point of not even enjoying a glass of water. Lightheadedness, unsteady on my feet - going for a walk with my friend the other day, I MUST have looked like a drunk. TBH - this time around, I'd rather have the nerve pain."

• deb...
• April 7, 2016

For Trigeminal Neuralgia "Dear God, never experienced such pain like it (not even childbirth) - started with twitching to lower face 5 days ago and then bouts of explosive pain to left cheek, jaw, upper and lower teeth. Pain coming every half hour and lasting between 7-10 mins each - can't do anything other than wait for it to pass (and cry at times)! Started carbamazepine yesterday a.m. twice daily and pain lessened already, but feel very sleepy and a bit nauseous / 'loose' - still feel the underlying pain there, but so much better. Emergency dental appointment today with X-rays - no dental cause. Have had tinnitus in left ear for the past 8-9 months after a heavy cold plus some cervical disc bulging and nerve root impingement at C7. Anyone else been given a cause for this??"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 12, 2012

Tegretol XR (carbamazepine) for Trigeminal Neuralgia "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%."

• Mar...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 22, 2022

For Bipolar Disorder "I take carbamazepine for bipolar. It works for me. I have been on it for over 20 years. I don't use much alcohol with it, if I do, it is a glass of wine or beer. Although I don't sleep well, it really keeps me on an even keel. I take 2 pills, 200 mg. In the beginning, I was on 2 pills in the morning and 2 in the evening. I had to stop the morning dose as I got nauseous. I hope it keeps on working for me. I am 76 years old."

• Tdo...
• June 20, 2011

Tegretol (carbamazepine) for Bipolar Disorder "I just started taking Tegretol on June 3 for mood stability. Also prescribed Celexa on the same day. I also take Methadone 10 mg 4x a day for chronic pain management for the last 10 yrs. I love how it makes me feel, and it's very hard for me to get angry, BUT it interferes with the methadone. At first, nothing except feeling drunk for the first 4-5 days. Then it started. Withdrawal symptoms, increased pain, restlessness, insomnia, fatigue, and nausea. Not sure if I can continue treatment but will find out on June 24 after my doctor's appointment. Also taking meloxicam. Will let everyone know my results Friday afternoon."

• cia...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 24, 2020

For Trigeminal Neuralgia "This medication is awful. It is horrible. I felt like my life was slipping away on it. Gave me mood swings, I had sad thoughts, I was dizzy, nauseous, and tired. Carbamazepine is so toxic, please don’t take it. It even lowered my white blood count and I got really sick. I visited the ER three times. I was so lightheaded and so nauseous. I felt like I was going to pass out any second. If you're on carbamazepine, please go do blood work and make sure everything is okay."

• Hai...
• January 12, 2017

Tegretol (carbamazepine) for Bipolar Disorder "I just started Tegretol 2 days ago in conjunction with Cipralex and Clonazepam. I've taken the last two mentioned for years up until a few months ago and never had side effects, so I know the side effects are from the Tegretol. No appetite. Nausea and severe migraines. Definitely making me more hopeful and less suicidal and less impulsive, but I just hope the physical symptoms go away soon. I've never been on Tegretol before."

• Lyn...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 31, 2018

For Epilepsy "Hospitalized 16 days for Keppra toxicity & lack of follow-up by my Dr. Even though I took as prescribed. I quickly dropped from 130 lb to 106 lbs as I was unable to eat/drink, severe nausea, terrible pain, right side, unable to speak, delirious, forgetful, seizures, 1st time in decades, unable to care for my husband/self. Had to place my husband in a care facility, which was the saddest thing! Lost my driver's license for 6 months due to seizures, so then couldn't visit my husband/get food. Had a walker even though I am young! I blame much of this on the Dr. who did not listen to me as I described my extreme changes via phone caused by Keppra. I gave up on pdoc and got someone to take me to another hospital out of town where they determined I had Keppra toxicity. Three Dr.'s stated it is a miracle I am alive! A toxicity specialist said it would take me a year to recuperate. I was so ill, it did. I thank God for giving me the strength to get through that nightmare."

• Car...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 17, 2013

Carbatrol (carbamazepine) for Epilepsy "I have had epilepsy for 14 years now, and during the first 9 years, I took Carbatrol. At first, it was great, seizure-free, then the side effects kicked in. I was depressed and had anxiety, my emotional state changed. I felt nausea, dizzy, and sometimes uncomfortable in my body. I switched to Keppra, and I'm happy. I'm normal, moods, and so far, no side effects in Keppra."

• Jil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 9, 2018

For Bipolar Disorder "I started Tegretol about 4 days ago, and I've had the most crazy side effects ever. I've been on this medication several years ago, I never had all these side effects before. It feels like I'm high all the time. My face is a little numb, I'm very wobbly when I walk, and I have vertigo. I'm considering stopping it and consulting my doctor. I'm very nauseous when I take it in the morning in combination with my iron pill (ferrous sulfate)."

• Ear...
• February 23, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "I've been on carbamazepine for 1 week. My head is empty and I don't feel like myself at all. Feeling nauseous, and the only time I feel 'normal' is when I eat. I have been doing more around the house, but it's like being on autopilot. This is the first mood stabilizer I've been on, so hoping I get my brain back soon or I will definitely stop taking it."

• Adv...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 4, 2024

Tegretol (carbamazepine) "I've been on this med for a few months. I haven't experienced any highs or lows yet. Some of the side effects I've had are that I am still getting nausea after a few months. Sometimes when I stand up, I get light-headed and dizzy. I feel like I have some light tremors. At times, I feel like I get hot flashes that come and go. I'm still too young to be in menopause as well. I saw another man had mentioned this in his review too about having the hot flashes. At times, I feel tired and less motivated. I'm losing some weight, but that may be because I came off the drug risperidone, which I was on for 25 years."

• Jay...
• November 9, 2015

Tegretol (carbamazepine) for Bipolar Disorder "On 400 mg, making me very nauseous, along with neck and shoulder pain."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 29, 2022

For Bipolar Disorder "Tried it for 3 days and ended up with severe nausea and vomiting, so stopped right away. Spent one full day in bed, not being able to pick my head up off the pillow without vomiting."