I am new to this site. Our 15 yr. Old
son has had his second siezure in the last
four weeks and is about to start carbatrol
at 400mg a day for the first week and
upped to 800mg a day there after.
My wife and I are a little anxious to say
the least. Can anyone please respond to
the reactions or long term effects of
carbatrol or tergretol. Our son is taking
all of this as just another growing pain
and is not worried about any of this.
Any information is greatly appreciated.
Thanks all. K
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tenngal8183
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 06 Aug 2004 Posts: 6
Posted: 08-14-04 17:45pm
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.
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ksbkrzi
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 18 Jun 2004 Posts: 10 Location: Slovenia, Europe
Posted: 08-14-04 19:13pm
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.
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danceman
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 17 Jul 2004 Posts: 22 Location: Australia
Tegretol Posted: 08-15-04 01:01am
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.
