Oxcarbazepine for Anxiety User Reviews

• Beb...
• November 7, 2019

"I have been on oxcarbazepine for about a year now. I have to say, it worked GREAT for my anxiety for the first 3 months. It stabilized my mood, I didn't flip out on stupid or small things. I didn't have anxiety at all. I got excited that I could go food shopping! I know that sounds silly, but I've been battling severe depression and anxiety for over 4 years now. I had an accident almost 5 years ago, and it left me crippled. Since then, I have slowly gotten worse. I never had anxiety before in my life, never even understood."

• San...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 3, 2012

Oxcarbazepine "I'm sixty-eight years old and have dealt with anxiety/depression my whole life. There were some medicines over the years that helped, but for one reason or another, I had to stop taking them. But five years ago (July 17, 2007) I had an acute neurological episode that awoke me from sleep straight into a Carnival Midway atmosphere. Very disturbing, and my sleep was never restful from that day forward. Four different polysomnograms verified I was getting less than a third of normal REM sleep. Six months ago I discovered Ambien and was quite pleased, but I was recently to see a pain management doctor who understands the value of good sleep in dealing with chronic pain; his preference is Trileptal so I went on it. Never felt this relaxed and normal."

• Spa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 9, 2019

"Only been on oxcarbazepine for a week, but from day one, my anxiety/panic attacks have gone away. I actually am starting to feel emotions, other than depression and anxiety. So far, for me, this is a wonder drug. Am on 150 mg nightly, will be increasing to 300 mg tomorrow. I am 50 y.o., and have multiple allergies, so my psychiatrist is being careful."

• Anonymous
• February 6, 2013

"This has been the most amazing medicine for major depression and chronic fatigue. It has literally changed my life. I have lived over twenty years with severe Major Depression and nothing has ever come close to giving me the quality of life that this has. A very long story short, this medicine has helped myself, my son, and my husband. I will never again go without it. I must stress that you have to take the time to figure out the dose that's right for you! It doesn't happen overnight. Good luck to all of you in your struggle."

• Psy...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 4, 2017

"My main issue was facing depression for years and took several antidepressants in the past. I don't have bipolar, but my psychiatrist decided to try a mood stabilizer for the first time since antidepressants weren't working, and since I tried to commit suicide for the 2nd time a few months back. Trileptal has completely taken away my depression. Even when I hit a bump in the road, I'm not even close to the person I was a few months ago. I'm able to work 6 days a week, have more energy, and my thoughts of suicide are no longer present. Having a BA in psychology, I want to add that meds are not a 'cure,' but sometimes they are better than wanting to take your life and at least be an aid to help you get back on track."

• Suz...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 26, 2021

"I used Trileptal for anxiety and had to stop it because I got to where I couldn’t remember anything, not even the next word I was trying to say to form a sentence. My whole thought process had become nonexistent! My boyfriend said that he noticed a change in me about 8-9 months ago and saw me go from being anxious to someone that was just a slug that couldn’t form a sentence or hold a conversation that made sense. I had asked my psychiatrist about it, but she didn’t say or do anything. She just recently passed away from a recurring illness and the psychiatrist that filled her spot took me off of it and it’s been a day and a half and I feel like I “woke up” and I’m alive and can just hear and see better, like I was living in a huge brain fog, it seems. I feel like a normal person again and am working on regaining my thoughts!"

• Bea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 4, 2016

"I suffer from chronic depression and high anxiety all my life. Other medications work, but I am so out of touch with reality that I choose not to take them. I started a 300mg twice a day dose of oxcarbazepine with 50mg of Pristiq. I have only been taking this for two weeks, but so far, everything is great. I am experiencing what it's like to be 'normal,' a feeling I have rarely experienced, so it feels a little abnormal. Life is much better now, the best I have ever felt. I hope it works for years to come."

• Fri...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 17, 2018

"Amazing effects on my borderline paranoid rage. Ask for a low dose if you're trying it! Doctors prescribe this at 600-1200 mg regularly, from what I understand, but my out-of-control rage is well-controlled on 300-450 mg daily, and I don't get any of the crazy side effects people complain of. I don't understand why doctors are so eager to dump unnecessary amounts into people. What could be helpful becomes too difficult to deal with because of side effects. I've been on this medicine before, and it works amazingly. I never should have gone off it, but I mistakenly thought I had better control now. This medicine changed my life."

• Gan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 2, 2020

"I have been on this medication, oxcarbazepine, for about 4-5 months. I was better maybe 1-2.5 weeks, and then suddenly I got worse. My therapist upped my dose, and I have continually gotten worse. I’ve only now realized that it is because of this medication. I have tremors, sleep problems, agitation, obsessive thoughts, my mind races, mood swings, the list goes on and on. I’m hoping to get taken off of this and that it is a smooth transition."

• Sar...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 17, 2021

"Oxcarbazepine made my anxiety go away. I was a mess of rumination, severe worrying, couldn’t sleep, worrying about the future, and had thoughts of suicide daily because I was so depressed. My doctor prescribed this, but I was skeptical. Now I take 300 mg once daily at night. It has changed my life. I will never stop taking it if I don’t have to. I’ve been on it for 2 years, and all those symptoms are gone! It never made me feel sick, just sleepy, so I take it at night. I wish I had gotten help sooner. I didn’t do myself any favors as I went on YouTube watching people get sick from taking it, so I was scared to try it. None of that happened to me. Within about a week, I was feeling better. Note, I also take 10 mg of Lexapro daily. I split it in half and take 5 mg in the morning and the other 5 in the evening. I started taking Lexapro first, but nothing really happened to help. Once I started the oxcarbazepine, that’s when things changed for the better."

• Pal...
• October 27, 2019

"I have RRMS. In April, I had another brain MRI. The results indicated a new brain lesion on my brain. Two EEGs were also administered. My neurologist stated I was not experiencing vertigo, but possibly having seizures, convulsions, or fainting spells. I was placed on oxcarbazepine, 300x2 a day. I am now experiencing extreme anxiety. My neurologist first thought the anxiety stemmed from the steroids and it would go away. It hasn't, and it has only gotten worse. He now states it is my MS. I am using cannabis for the anxiety. Sometimes it helps, and other times it does not. The neurologist prescribed a low dosage (2 mg) of Valium. I've taken it on and off, yet sometimes it is not effective. I am concerned about addiction to Valium. I am forgetting things. I have tingling, numbness, and feeling hot inside my body. I went from being a very independent, active person to doing very little. Is anyone else experiencing extreme anxiety due to oxcarbazepine?"

• hap...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 19, 2017

"My son's in his late teens and has anxiety and A.D.D. He had also gone through episodes of depression. Other prescription drugs left him zombie-like. Oxcarbazepine has been a miracle drug for him. It took about 2 months to get to the right dosage. Please keep in mind everyone is different. He was only allowed to move the dosage up once a week, then every 3 days after a few weeks. Yes, he felt tired for 1-2 months, but after a few months, he says it's life-changing, and we haven't seen him this happy in years. He's been taking it for almost a year now with no problems. He takes 200mg caffeine for his ADD, and it calms him down, so he's doing great in college."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 20, 2018

"I was having bad anxiety at night that would prevent any sleep. Some nights, if lucky, I'd only sleep 3 hours at most. So then my doctor told me to take this, and I instantly noticed a difference. I'm actually able to sleep now!!!"

• jay...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 16, 2014

"This medication is the first one I've ever taken that completely controls my extreme restlessness. I have tried antidepressants, antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, and other anticonvulsants. None of them did the job. I tried this, expecting very little. I am amazed at how wonderfully this treats my issues. When I take it, it does take a while for it to take effect, but once it does, my restlessness and agitation completely vanish. I love it because it doesn't make me feel any differently, I just suddenly notice that I'm sitting still and my mind is going a hundred miles an hour. Medications affect everyone differently, but this one works wonders for me!!"

• alm...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 18, 2022

"I am autistic and I suffer from anxiety and depression. I am not bipolar and my mood changes according to (bad) circumstances. I have successfully used escitalopram in the past, but the weight gain was a big issue. After some failed attempts with other antidepressants, I switched to oxcarbazepine 300 mg before sleep. It has made depression worse in the beginning, but the effect on anxiety was amazing. The only side effect has been a bit of blurred vision. Anyway, I now feel a lot better, and I hope this review helps other people."

• Mag...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 21, 2018

"I don't like this medicine at all. I was taken off Depakote as it affected my liver. And was put on oxcarbazepine because of anger and aggression. I feel more anxious on this med, but I am numb. I don't feel anything. And have been made stupid by it. I cannot remember things and don't really care much."

• Anonymous
• August 21, 2011

Oxcarbazepine "Completely messed up my stomach - constipated, nauseated, vomiting, rectal bleeding. Agitation, sleep problems, and muscle discomfort (restless leg syndrome) upon discontinuation of medication. I also believe the increased agitation and abdominal discomfort led to an increase in my blood pressure."

• Viv...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 30, 2017

"18 year old female - I have been taking oxcarbazepine (Trileptal) for almost 3 years now (for my PTSD), and while it does help manage my PTSD, I experience some unsettling side effects daily, such as nausea, fatigue, and recently I was diagnosed with chronic hyponatremia, which my doctor has linked to my oxcarbazepine because it lowers your serum sodium levels in your blood. Within the last 4 months, I have started having acute migraines if I take my Trileptal even as little as ten minutes late. In my opinion, the long-term effects are not worth the decent level of PTSD management. My doctor is thinking of changing my medication due to the negative effects on my health."

• Rho...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 21, 2016

"Omg, where do I start! I have been dealing with acute alcohol withdrawal disorder and have had anxiety and depression for many years. The doctors have tried to label me as bipolar, but I don't think it's an accurate diagnosis. Since taking this pill, I have had vivid nightmares upon the first night taking it. I felt some relief initially and felt good for a week or so. I had my ups and downs. I took the pill without reading side effects, so that it would not affect my treatment. I have had a constant sore throat, crusty sores on my nose that won't go away. I feel drunk when I take them. I don't get a full night's rest. I was recently diagnosed with PTSD. They doubled my dosage, and now I have agitation, restlessness, crying spells, depression, and anxiety still."

• Ron...
• January 21, 2016

"I got put on this medicine because of my anger issues and anxiety. I'm on 300 mg twice a day, but it hasn't done anything for me so far. I've become very dizzy, I have double vision, fatigue, drowsiness, balance problems, and speech problems, and I have almost passed out a few times."

• Awa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 15, 2024

"Wild some of the reviews I have read. I started taking this when pretty much all other medicines failed to help. From almost day one, this stuff works. I truly feel like I have landed back on earth after 40 years. I have rediscovered myself with the aid of this medicine. It is unbelievable. I went from disconnected, isolated, and fighting the demons in my head in dark rooms, shades drawn, afraid of existing to being alive, awake, sober, engaged, and doing the things I used to do a very long time ago before the chatter or when the chatter was a lot less. It is good to be awake again."

• ane...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 14, 2014

"Neurologist reduced medication from 250 mg per day to 125 mg daily. Reduction has increased headaches, anxiety, delusional episodes, and partial seizures. Sleeping patterns have changed. Feel increased heart rate, cervical headache."

• Emm...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 3, 2021

"I’ve been on this medication for probably 5-6 years now. I can’t remember the initial side effects, but they obviously weren’t too terrible. It certainly isn’t the best thing I’ve taken for anxiety (Cymbalta), but definitely not the worst (too many to name). It’s best used, in my case, paired with something like an SSRI or SNRI. It’s a nice backdrop that helps with mood balance. I don’t have bipolar, but my anxiety can be off the charts. I also take Clonopin, between 1 to 2 mg a day, usually at night. At one point, I thought maybe its efficacy had waned and started to lower my dose. That’s when I realized how much it had helped with things like insomnia or social anxieties. Watch your salt levels as I was low on salt and my psych relayed that Oxcar can be a factor. Best of luck. If it doesn’t work, please don’t give up!! It took me a while to find a great trio of medications, but I have, and it has changed my life. Xo"

• Jen...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 13, 2025

"I've always had bad anxiety/OCD, but I had an anxiety attack in April 2024 that basically changed everything for me. I was in a constant state of panic for months until November 2024 when I started Trileptal. It started working immediately, and it stopped my panic attacks completely. My anxiety was rising over time until I upped my dose, and now in February 2025 I'm starting to feel like myself again, and I still haven’t had one anxiety or panic attack since starting this medication. I’ve also had zero side effects, which is great for me because part of the reason I’ve never wanted to try medication was because of side effects. Some days are better than others as far as general anxiety, but this medication has stopped that constant panic/doom feeling completely and has helped me be able to manage my intrusive thoughts easier."

• Kai...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 9, 2022

"So I was prescribed this medication for my anxiety “flare-ups” and my horrible mood swings. For reference, I am only on 150 mg, which is the lowest mg you can get, and I have to split the tablet in half, which makes that 75 mg. I have only been on it roughly a week, and the side effects outweigh the positive effects. I’m so exhausted, I have diarrhea after everything I eat, I feel sick to my stomach, and I feel SO disconnected from reality. Like my body feels here, but my mind is somewhere else. And it’s so overwhelming that it’s an uncomfortable feeling. I also kinda feel like a zombie as well, like I'm just here. I don’t really do anything or wanna do anything, and I just feel numb. This medication is either a hit or miss, and for me, it’s a complete miss."