At first I didn't want to take tegretol, later it was the only thing to do, my face was so bad sometimes I couldn't even talk. Now I still play with the dosage but it makes me very dizzy and sick to the stomach. I still have to work because my husband has MS, so I have to go work feeling like I am going to puke.
Jeanbean
Bless you Jean. I take 1200mg a day and I still work full time. I was supposed to do 600 twice a day and it made me so sick and drunk that I had to sleep it off and I decided to split it into 3 doses. The neurosurgeon agreed and that's how he wrote my script out. He said everybody plays with their dosages some. You have to do the one that's best for you. Maybe you can split your dosages up. I take 400 at 7:00am, 4:00 at 2:30pm and another 400 at 8:00pm and that seems to work for me as far as not being sick, etc... I am still very tired a lot and forgetful, etc... but I don't feel sick, dizzy or drunk. Best of luck to you!
I am on exactly the same as Donna and yes I definitely have to be careful as well. We are walking a fine line between normalcy(is that a word lol) and life as a drugged idiot. But it does keep the shocks away and that to me is the main thing.
Take care of you,
Linda :)
Donna Cook Turnage said:
Bless you Jean. I take 1200mg a day and I still work full time. I was supposed to do 600 twice a day and it made me so sick and drunk that I had to sleep it off and I decided to split it into 3 doses. The neurosurgeon agreed and that's how he wrote my script out. He said everybody plays with their dosages some. You have to do the one that's best for you. Maybe you can split your dosages up. I take 400 at 7:00am, 4:00 at 2:30pm and another 400 at 8:00pm and that seems to work for me as far as not being sick, etc... I am still very tired a lot and forgetful, etc... but I don't feel sick, dizzy or drunk. Best of luck to you!
Hey Donna reading your reply is me exactly..same dose, same times. Thought it was too funny. Do you find mornings are tough for pain? Definiely no brushing of the teeth for me as they are still sensitive since my MVD.
Take care of you,
Linda :)
No Linda, mornings are usually fine for me. Sometimes a few random zaps. If mine bothers me, it is usually late morning thru night until I fall asleep. I can usually brush my teeth and if it hurts, I do it anyway. I just go really slow and gentle. Same for washing my face and putting on make-up. If it hurts, I just do it anyway and go gently and slowly so it won't be so bad. Take care of you too!
Linda said:
Donna Cook Turnage said:Bless you Jean. I take 1200mg a day and I still work full time. I was supposed to do 600 twice a day and it made me so sick and drunk that I had to sleep it off and I decided to split it into 3 doses. The neurosurgeon agreed and that's how he wrote my script out. He said everybody plays with their dosages some. You have to do the one that's best for you. Maybe you can split your dosages up. I take 400 at 7:00am, 4:00 at 2:30pm and another 400 at 8:00pm and that seems to work for me as far as not being sick, etc... I am still very tired a lot and forgetful, etc... but I don't feel sick, dizzy or drunk. Best of luck to you!
Hey Donna reading your reply is me exactly..same dose, same times. Thought it was too funny. Do you find mornings are tough for pain? Definiely no brushing of the teeth for me as they are still sensitive since my MVD.
Take care of you,
Linda :)
I started taking Tegretol 3 weeks ago. The first 2 weeks were hell, but I seem to be adjusting until I have to up my dosage and then it takes a couple of days for my body to get used to it. I like the suggestions of taking it different times through the day instead of 2 in the morning and 2 at night. I wake up really tired and have a hard time functioning doing it this way. The good news is my symptoms seem to be going away.
Becky
Before my MVD, I did exactly as Donna, splitting it into 3 dosages. Whenever I upped my dosage, I would take the additional tablet (or half a tablet) as a separate dosage again (eg morning tea time) for a few days to give my body a chance to get used to it, then would add it to my morning, noon or night dosage. My doc encouraged me to do whatever worked. This worked for me and didn't give me too much trouble.
Hopefully over time your body will get used to it and the side effects will lessen.
bless your heart. I do understand. I also work and take Tegretol. Thank God above most of the side effects have gone away. I take 600 mgs a day. The only thing I am dealing with now is the fatigue. I get so tired at the least amount of physical activity. I am only 41 and have always been so active. Now I can't do hardly anything without getting exhausted.