Snoopy, thank goodness you're feeling better, and you're a smart woman to do the research. Thank you for the links.

Funny I see Carbamazepine on the list. I had such a crazy reaction to that stuff day 2 of taking it... it changed my pitch perception of music. I was bawling my eyes out while my ex bf listened to the same songs as I had on the same computer and said, "They sound fine to me". I was scared I had permanently damaged my brain or something. Thank goodness it resolved in 24-48 hours.

It's not listed in the warnings, yet I truly did experience it. I only made the connection when I sat at my pc frantically searching "Music change" "Pitch change" with Carbamazepine. Then I found cases like mine.

http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/j...TRY=1&SRETRY=0

And this link "There are also reports of an auditory side effect, whereby patients perceive musical notes about a semitone lower than their actual pitch (so middle C would be heard as the note B3 just below it, etc)."

http://www.answers.com/topic/carbamazepine

(not the best resources surely, but I'm not a medical Internet savy person, so if you find any reliable resources, please post them up, because I'm still curious about this side effect!).

The drug was originally prescribed to me when Trigeminal Neuralgia was suspected prior to MS being in the picture.

Oh yeah, I should have added. I told my neurologist (current) about this side effect that I had, and that I would never take the drug again. He looked at me with a smile and said, "That means you are musically trained to perceive that. You should start playing an instrument!". LOL. I love my neuro.

Snoopy
I'm sorry for your scare, and am so relieved you are okay. Having recommended Trilepal I can't help but feel responsible. Are you sure you're ok?

I just saw my neuro and we are working on upping my dosage to try and relieve some of hands' sx, now that siezures are controlled. I appreciate all the info you provided. I'm going to be more vigilant then ever.

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Im so happy you are feeling better but being in pain stinks

Wishing you continued improvement

Wow, how scary for you, Snoopy. Thank goodness you had the presence of mind enough to make the connection and take yourself off that drug.

I hope you can find something to give you relief from the pain without the bad side effects. Seems like we always have to put up with side effects that are sometimes worse than the problem we're trying to correct.

Beth, you CANNOT and SHOULD NOT blame yourself . Each of us reacts differently to meds. As much as I appreciate any and all feedback on medications in the end it's up to my neuro and myself to make the call about what if any medication to use.

I AM much better than I was. Each day without the Trileptal improves my mental state.

If my story and the links I provided helps just one person then that's all I can ask for.

I know, Cherie. I have the same concerns about those who are newly diagnosed. Their looking for some magic pill to make everything fine again and it's just not there. Of course, even some of us "oldies" keep looking



Even though what you experienced is not on the side affect list doesn't mean Carbamazepine didn't cause it. I am very glad your pitch perception was short lived

The first link I couldn't access but the second one I could. Thanks, it made for some interesting reading.

Weird, first link isn't working you're right.

Oh well, you get the idea. I saw it listed on another site as a "very rare" side effect of the drug. That site included a long long long list of side effects with the drug. Scary stuff.

I was put on three 200mg Tegretol pills each day to help with benzo withdrawal and now I have the weird "musical pitch lower" side effect. It is not going away. I want to withdraw from the 600mg of Tegretol a day but do not know if that will be good enough to stop this devastating side effect. Can someone please help me? I am very scared. Psychiatric medications have permanently destroyed my sexual functioning and I do not want my hearing to be destroyed next.

Zant808, first, welcome to the clubhouse.

I am sorry you are having trouble with some medicines. Do you have MS? (multiple sclerosis) there are so many wonderful places on this board for so many different sub specialties, its sometimes hard to know if you wandered into the right room.

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum72.html is a link to the Medications forum where you may end up with more answers.

We would love it if you stopped in to introduce yourself Just click this one. http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum88.html and tell us more about you.

Im glad you found your way here. I dont have answers to your question, but hope that helps you find your way around a bit more.