This week was especially hard for me, I was in excuriating pain, the buring in my mouth, tongue, throat and chin was just too much for me take and crying does NOT help at all. Seems when storms roll in it makes the burning alot worse. I called my doctors office again seeking her help for relief. She called in a new medication, Trileptal 300 mg. The pain is now changing along with some uncomfortable side effects. I am disoriented, loss of balance and coorindation, slow to react, headaches and no focus/concentration. I would rather have the side effects than the pain and burning if that makes any sense. I am tired of hurting, anger and frustration has set in. I need to keep my cool and do the best I can, my daughter depends on me. I just pray......
I didn't mention that my right eye droops more. I was having trouble seeing out of my right eye before starting this medication but now it is alot worse, I worry about driving to and from work. I have also noticed alot more electrical shocks (jabbing) in my face, ear, gums, nose. Please just go away and leave me in peace..
I am on trileptal and you are experiencing all the side effects I have. I recommend that you don't drive for awhile. 300mg is a low dose and you will probably have to go up slowly. But I can tell you the side effects do lessen as the day goes on and the longer you are on it. If I have to drive I wait and take my pills until I get to a point where I won't have to drive for at least 4 hours. The electrical shocks also lessen as you increase the meds. I am on 750mg in the morning and 750 mg at night. I don't think I can go up because the side effects are two strong. But I have only one or two electrical shocks a day. I can live with that. It works for me better if I don't eat but the side effects are also stronger. I also have two other side effects, my sense of taste has changed. Things are sweeter than before or do not taste as good. I also have mild ataxia where my muscles will jump for no reason. Caffeine makes me so nauseous that it makes me vomit. But for me it is better than the pain but please be careful driving or have someone else drive you for awhile. I don't have trouble seeing but it's not uncommon from what I read. And this is supposed to have less side effects than Tegretol.
Doctor's office asked that I check in with them today. I told Michelle, I would rather have the side effects than the burning and pain. My right ear and lymph nodes hurt quite a bit today. I hope that goes away. Michelle is checking with doctor and will call me back today. I would prefer to keep taking this med as it takes away the constant burning. I can deal with the drunk feeling.
Tkal: Thanks for the information. I am currently on 900 mg per day tomorrow I will start 1200 mg per day. Do you discomfort in your ear and lymp nodes? Since I have started this med, I have felt drunk all the time. I try not to make fast movements, otherwise, I feel whoosy. This morning when I woke up, my right ear and lymp nodes had alot of discomfort. The burning in my face, mouth and tongue is more like stinging from a bad burn. I quite drinking coffee awhile back though I do drink green tea. I am on a 60% alkaline and 40% acidic diet. I eat as much fresh veggies and fruits as possible. I am hoping all these changes will help.
Tkal: Oh, I meant to ask if you have headaches. I have had a headache on the right side since starting this med and was wondering if that had anything to do with the vision in my right eye as well. Any tips or advise is greatly appreciated.
Viral infections ARE an uncommon side effect but I'd get that lymph node checked because it could be an ear infection or tonsils or something that can be treated. I do get occasional headaches but someone said once that they get bad headaches on this med. Oh and stay out of the sun! Two days ago I was outside for about two hours and my face turned red. It gets me out of yard work!!! So my DH now has to do it all. Here are two links about the side effects.
I do feel drunk! But that is starting to lessen.
But get that lymph node checked out. You just might be getting sick at the same time you started taking these meds. A bad coincidence.
About 15 min after I take my dose I can feel it hitting me.
http://www.crazymeds.us/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Meds/Trileptal
http://epilepsy.emedtv.com/trileptal/trileptal-side-effects.html