# Looking for Information on Tegretol **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 9, 2000, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-information-on-tegretol/21914 "2000-06-09T23:22:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CanadianSue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@CanadianSue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanadianSue)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2000, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-information-on-tegretol/21914/1 "2000-06-09T23:22:58Z")
Recently my son’s seizure activity has increased significantly so the doctor decided to up the medication by another 150 mg a day. Ive been watching his day to day activity for the side effects. He is extremely fatigued, is hungrier than usual (he already has a healthy appetite) and his balance is out of wack. He is very clingy and more cuddly than usual and seems to be restless during his sleep. There almost seems to be a bit of fear in him. Due to difficulty in communicating, he is unable to tell me how he feels. Has anyone been on this medication that could tell me what it feels like? I’m looking for information like: does it make you feel lightheaded and dizzy, anxious, upset stomach, joint pain, etc. I’d appreciate any info!! ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2000, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-information-on-tegretol/21914/2 "2000-06-09T23:35:07Z")
Here’s some info, Sue: [http://www.mentalhealth.com/drug/p30-t01.html](http://www.mentalhealth.com/drug/p30-t01.html) [http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/9f2e.htm](http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/9f2e.htm) [http://www.medhelp.org/perl6/neuro/archive/457.html](http://www.medhelp.org/perl6/neuro/archive/457.html) [Neurology Web Forum](http://neuro-www.mgh.harvard.edu/forum/) [Someone’s Tegretol related post on that forum](http://dem0nmac.mgh.harvard.edu/neurowebforum/ChildNeurologyArticles/Tegretolinducedtics.html) [I fixed the last link. -manhattan] ---
**Author:** ![CanadianSue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@CanadianSue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanadianSue)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2000, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-information-on-tegretol/21914/3 "2000-06-10T00:09:36Z")
Thanks Beatle!! ---
**Author:** ![funneefarmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9fc348/32.png) [@funneefarmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/funneefarmer)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2000, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-information-on-tegretol/21914/4 "2000-06-10T00:14:47Z")
My father has problems with it if he doesn’t time his doses correctly. I would check with the doctor to see if you can administer it in smaller amounts spread through out the day/night. He also has trouble sleeping if he tries to take too much right before bedtime or if he changes his schedule. My father was on Dylantin prior to the Tegretol and the Tegretol seems to give him less problems. Your best bet is to talk to your doctor. IIRC (don’t take my word for it) they can test to see how much is in the bloodstream. I’m assuming they’re keeping a history of the tegretol levels and that way can fine tune the dosages after the seizure activity slows down. My father would just keel over while standing or sitting in a chair prior to medication. Nowadays as long as he keeps up with his meds he has very few problems. ---
**Author:** ![Silo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac91a4/32.png) [@Silo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silo)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2000, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-information-on-tegretol/21914/5 "2000-06-10T01:55:38Z")
Yes, i’ve had it. The side effects are different in different people. I felt dizzy, in a slight stupor at times-clouded mind, restlessness, figity, easily broke a sweat, and it made going to the bathroom not as fun. Doesn’t that sound exciting? But, over time the side effects do wear off–as you body becomes used to the chemical. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2000, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-information-on-tegretol/21914/6 "2000-06-10T02:20:47Z")
My daughter was a zombie the whole time she took Tegretol. She’s on Depacote now and functioning better. I have been told that Tegretol is a pain killer that happens to work against siezures, too. ---
**Author:** ![Suo\_Na](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@Suo\_Na](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suo_Na)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2000, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-information-on-tegretol/21914/7 "2000-06-10T02:53:06Z")
I was on Tegretol for a while but I started having panic attacks and being afraid to leave the house. My doctor put me on another drug for the attacks, but I don’t like having blood drawn every month, and kidney and liver failure aren’t side effects I like to play around with, so I quit them both. Luckily I had that option. ---
**Author:** ![CanadianSue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@CanadianSue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanadianSue)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2000, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-information-on-tegretol/21914/8 "2000-06-10T03:01:49Z")
Alot of what you are all saying is what I am seeing. We have decreased the dosage up another 150 mgs in the past two weeks and altho he does seem to be evening out a bit, his exhaustion concerns me still. Hopefully it will kick in and the side effects will lessen. Thanks everyone for sharing!!