Hi kiddo,
first, glad to hear your son is handling this well. That is real good.


My main med for my seizures was tegretol for many years. I was diagnosed with epilepsy at 22. Am 43 now.


Then my neuro placed me on carbatrol about 3 years ago. I like it much better. Timereleased. I don't get that drugged up feeling like I used to. I take lamictal also and also have vns which also helped to improve my health. At implant I was having 250 seizures a month. Was very sick. I was implanted in 1999. My seizures have been cut in half or more. Depending on what life is throwing at me to deal with. I have a sick husband so at times is very stressful to say the least. Diabetes and heart disease.

The carbatrol was an added bonus for me.


I take 1200 mg a day. 2 caps in the am and 2 caps at bed. Alot better than having to deal with pills all day! I like that I don't have to take the pills mid day or worry that I forgot them. With tegretol you had to take it 3 x a day to keep levels up.


Blood work is important. I get mine every 6 months to be sure my levels are at therapeutic stage. His doc will order that.


Good luck with your son. I hope he can refrain from anymore seizures with this.

Dear kiddo,
i am 40 years old and was diagnosed at 13. I was taking tegretol till I was 19 years old. Then I was ok till I was 38. Now I am again on tegretol cr and neurontin. I had never any troubles with tegretol. Anyway it is really good to take blood tests every 6 months but my blood ir excellent all the time. I was very stressed because my parents were really too protective ... That was much harder for me than illness itself. I wish good luck to your son - he can have good life, even he has epilepsy, just try not to be too scared.

I have been on tegretol for at least 20 yrs now and have had epilepsy for 43 yrs. I find tegretol does not causev me any nasty side effects or slow my thinking like some meds can. As tenngal mentioned in her posting it is important to monitor the blood levels as they change ,also it is a good idea to get an annual liver check up to ensure that the meds he is taking is not effecting it ,this can be done when his blood levels are taken.
Good luck and dont be scared to ask your neuroligist questions.