Kathy97123, I am not a dr but I have heard that about carbatrol, anytime that you get a new med they generally give you a hand out with it or look it up on the computer under side effects, that is the only thing baad about using prescription meds thing can cause worse problems sometimes then what you already have.
As far as topomax, someone told me it caused her hair to fall out, more brain fog, weight loss.
A lot of the pain meds is hard on the liver but I have to have it daily with my medical situations but we are not all alike and some of us may not have any side effects at all but we haaave two choices we can take it and it might help with that particular medical situation or maybe not or not take it and suffer.
Their is also herbs and naatural supplements that I have tried that did not help me but has helped others that with some people did not have all of the side effects, you might ask your dr about that.
All the best to you!
Keep us posted on what you find out. You too dolphine25.