I am currently taking this drug and have read that it has some bad long term risks, I want to switch my meds and try Gabapentin. I was told it wont work as well keeping the pain at bay. Anyone know?
I just posted this to "oldriska":
" I am on Gabapentin (300 mg tablets) I take 3-4 tablets 3x a day. I have been very happy with this as there are no side effects. I did not like the way I felt when I was on Lyrica."
I can say the same for Tegritol. I tried so many neurological medications and have less side-effects and less pain on Gabapentin.
That is good to hear. My dr is against me switching. But I insisted. Thank you for your feed back.
Jess, we have many members here helped by both Gabapentin and Tegretol. I opt for Gabapentin as it is kinder to my body but we are all different.
Hi Jess,
Gabapentin has been a life saver for me. I take 2400 mg. a day. I didn't do very well on Tegretol (I broke out in a rash all over and had to go to the ER). I'd give it a try. :)
Hope you're feeling well today,
Vicki
Different things work differently for different people. If you are afraid of one type of medication, or the side effects are too much to bear, I would address the issue (in my humble opinion of course). This is a long-term marathon, so you may as well try to find the right med combos that make you feel as comfortable as possible, and as pain free as possible.
Hi Jess
I had liver failure after just 6 weeks on Tegretol. One of 1 in 15,000,000 (million) to have such an adverse reaction. Oh, lucky me!! I had a the life threatening rash as part of the reaction to this drug, the rash is something they term “Stephen Johnson” syndrome. Very sucky thing because the drug was actually making some impact on the nerve pain.
I spent weeks in hospital.
I’m now take Gabapentin - I agree, and do believe it is the poor cousin of the drug world!
I take a medley of drugs and one of them is Gabapentin and my dose is 600mg 3 times per day, I can say, yes, it is working but not as well as the Tegretol did (liver failure aside!).
Steph
Steph,
I am so sorry to hear you had such a crappy reaction to this drug. This is my fear. I also read that it can mess with your bone marrow. I have 5 babies to live for. I don't want to shorten my life by taking something that can hurt me that bad. Id suffer through pain first. Gabapentin is for me then. I will try it starting this Sunday. Thank you so much and I really hope you are feeling better.
Hi
I am on both teg and gab....i started with gab didn't see any benefit then started teg with it. dr told me to use both. teg was helping but i don't feel it is anymore. but only on 400 mg, going to dr tomorrow. does teg really help u? Yes I do hear the same thing that it can have long term risks with our liver and someone told me white blood cells. I don't know, I am all new to this, unfortunately.
Marla
The unfortunate thing is that the Tegretol is helping with the pain. I'm just not one to risk anything that may shorten my life or make it more difficult. I feel it would be 15 yrs from now, and I have failing liver or a bone marrow disease, I would look back and wish I just dealt with a lil more pain back then. I am hearing good things and some bad about Gabapentin. It seems like it works differently for everyone. I am gonna try it and will let you know.
Hey guys is tegretol all this dangerous? I was just told to make sure the liver functions are fine-like it was NO big deal. Please help. Not sure it's helping me anyway.
My understanding is that the prescribing doctor should be scheduling regular blood tests to monitor your health while on that drug.
I'm trying to recall how often I took blood tests ... and coming up empty unfortunately. I am now coming off tegretol after being on it for just under a year, and by total rough count, I'd say I've had about three or four blood draws that were not directly related to my surgery.
Well if my Dr. doesn't call for blood test, I will ask him for one. Thank you Wrigley.
I am on Tegretol 300 mg 3x/day and Amitryptilyn 75 to 150 mg for IBS and 300 mg for restless leg …all but Tegretol on for a long time before TN. My Neuro did blood tests every 2 weeks for 8 weeks, then he said quarterly. I have shaky hands and jerking hands as well as the foggy brain everyone talks about and difficulty “finding” words. I don’t know if these symptoms will ever go away:( but the pain is much less but still there. I HATE the side effects but am afraid to change meds because I don’t want the pain back full-force. When I asked my PCP when these side-effects will go away he said they just might never go away, although the nausea and vomiting have recently gone away after 4 weeks and liberal use of what I call my “anti-hurl” medicine. BUT it controls the ferocious pain.
I must say that I am lucky to not have any of these side effects only that I am drowsy until my body gets use to dosage. well I am at 600 mg's now and I will probably have to increase.
Glad it helps your pain TL
Im on gabapentin 2 in the am 600mg and 1 in evening and was just taken off of tegretol 250mg one in am and evening due to liver infection and when i was on the 2 with 15mg oxycodone i could handle the constant pain in jaw/temple/nose/ear and eye but now that they took me off of tegretol its 10 worse and i dont know what to do. I recommend talking to your doc about adding gabapentin and seeing if u get some relief or another medication that is similar to the effects of both tegretol and gabapentin.