This is just my second day to take Tegretol (200 mg, twice daily) and I am so drowsy. I am nauseated and feel flushed. Will these side effects diminish?
Many patients acclimate to the side effects of meds like Tegretol and experience less noticeable drowsyness over time. Give it a few weeks, Dixie...
Regards, Red
Dixie: It will get better over time. When I first started taking it, my kids called it my drunk pill, now not so bad but read the other blog post on mental clarity. We all seem to suffer a bit from that.
I was prescribed 600mg (300mg, twice daily). It makes me drowsy and a like I have a hangover. I often reduce or do not take it when the side effects overwhelm me. I have heard many people get used to it, but I do not. But you should definitely give it a good faith effort.
Jackie said:
Hi Dixie
Red is spot on, it seems an awful drug to start then when and if it works ,as it does for most ,it seems a miracle. It takes awhile to feel somewhat normal again but you will feel better soon. I have learned coping techniques for the tiredness. The upside is I sleep very well which is the opposite of before TN. All the best, Jackie
I can’t keep a pill down–forceful vomiting. I will call doc. this morning. I have sipped a little Gatorade–I’m so groggy and haven’t had a pill since 24 hrs. ago. I vomit anything–saltine crackers, water. I am not thinking too straight.
Don said:
I was prescribed 600mg (300mg, twice daily). It makes me drowsy and a like I have a hangover. I often reduce or do not take it when the side effects overwhelm me. I have heard many people get used to it, but I do not. But you should definitely give it a good faith effort.I want to take the pill, but I keep vomitng.
I want to take the pill, but I keep vomiting it up.
Richard A. “Red” Lawhern said:
Many patients acclimate to the side effects of meds like Tegretol and experience less noticeable drowsyness over time. Give it a few weeks, Dixie...
Regards, Red
I’m not sure if my replies got off to those who replied to me. My coordination is still poor & I don’t think I should drive. I have forceful vomiting; so can’t keep a pill down. It has been 24 hrs. since the last pill & I am still very drowsy. I am willing to try to cope with the side effects, but can’t keep a pill down. My mind is fuzzy–will call my doc. this morning. Thank you all for your input.
Dixie, when you are feeling like that you are correct in not driving (I gave up driving a year ago). I dont think the vomiting is normal so please call you Doctor. The fuzzy mind and drowsy is normal. Took me about 6 weeks to start getting my mind half way back. Has never come all the way back and I am only on 800 mg of the extended release a day.
Dixie,
My neurologist has tried prescribing oxcarbazapine and Tegretol XR (extended release) to replace the Tegretol that made me drowsy. Ask your doctor to try these as options that have less side effects. I hope you feel better soon.
Hi, I am taking extended release Tegretol XR 800 mg a day , I found in the beginning it took me at least 10 days to adjust and feel somewhat normal, it can take longer if you and your doctor are increasing the dose slowly.
give it time though and don’t be discouraged…( I know it’s hard)
(( hugs)) mimi
If you're still having problems with nausea, then talk with your doctor about having your medication compounded in a topical cream for direct application to your face. Likewise, request that he does blood tests to assess for drug allergies. Vomiting of this medication is not a common reaction.
Regards, Red
I just started this drug too (7 days ago) and my goodness! Only a little relief so far, I’m in the middle of a bad episode right now. The side effects are, well, interesting…so,e dizziness,lots of irritability, and I just discovered mental confusion. I can’t seem to say three sentences in a row without forgetting words or mixing them up. Granted I’m also ADHD and do this normally, but I’m doing it more than I’m used to.
I am so glad to have been guided to this site. I have been really depressed over the side effects of the meds (neurontin and tegretol) , but now I have hopes that it will improve. I have only been on it for about three and a half weeeks.
Hi Pjunge, I was on Tegretol and it reallly did not agree with me.. Then a different doctor put me on degranol. Same stuff just a different preservative, so I am told, and it is amazing. Every time I hold that degranol in my hand when the dose is due I thank the doctor who prescribed. Perhaps you could try it.
Thanks for the tip, dsm! These are the things I need no for my follow up.
So far I've been slowly increasing my dosage of Tegretol and the side effects have been fading a few days after each increase. The initial irritability is gone, but the word confusion and dizziness lingers. It's not I can't deal with it at the moment, but I'm still adding doses. If I can't tolerate it, I'll mention degranol at my follow-up next month.
dsm said:
Hi Pjunge, I was on Tegretol and it reallly did not agree with me.. Then a different doctor put me on degranol. Same stuff just a different preservative, so I am told, and it is amazing. Every time I hold that degranol in my hand when the dose is due I thank the doctor who prescribed. Perhaps you could try it.
The flushed feeling will go away. I had it the first two days as well. I was lucky in that I never got the drowsy feelings, althought it's possible that I'm just used to feeling like that with a 2-year-old in the house. ;)
Do you take it with food or water? Maybe some crackers for the nausea.
Good luck!
They still make me extremely tired and I've been taking it for a while now. I hope your drowsiness decreases soon!
Give yourself a month, Christine. It can take that long to acclimate to Tegretol.
Regards, Red