Anyone using Oxcarbazepine instead of Carbamazepine (tegretol)?

It's more expensive (USA) but I can order it from an out of country pharmacy for much cheaper.

I have an appointment with my GP 1/15 to get a referral to the neuro and I plan to ask (demand) a prescription. I am not having any issues with tegretol (600mg daily) but hey.... it can't hurt.


So...

1.) Anyone using oxcarbazepine? How's that working for you compared to how Tegretol worked (if applicable)

2.) Anyone experience more/less side effects? If so, what?



Thanks!

Kenton

I don't think it is the same thing, but I take a form of the Carbamazepine drug that works better for my pain than the tegretol. It is time released capsule form and the side effects are not as strong. It too is more expensive, but worth it as long as I can afford it.

My episodes are sporadic, so I do not have to take it on a daily basis, but it does work better for my attacks than when I used to use the chewable generic tegretol tablets.

Good luck, hope your new meds work for you.

Rhonda

Thanks Rhonda!

Can you look at your bottle and tell me what you're taking. This would be of great use to me.

Random I wish I could help with info on meds but... nothing helped my pain as far as meds not even morphine. my options were to have a morphine pump screwed into back of my skull .. but daahh it didnt help when tried threw I.V. My other option was to try a neuro stim also called a P.E.N.S.
Which worked heavenly and so went ahead with the implant. As far as I know I am the first to try and then get a neuro stim implant for face pain ( T.N.) I have had it since July of 2002. I am no longer on medications . I am NOT pain free I still deal with pain everyday but now it I am able to control it most of the time and keep it at a level that is bearable . It saved my life and I know I could NOT live without it.

I am VERY THANKFUL to everyone else who is able to reply to the med questions as it is my weak area . I only know allergic reactions and with drawls and going to hosp. going threw detox... medications never helped and only were a nightmare for me. not saying that at times being a zombie wasnt a good change but to me if the pain is still there what is the point ?

anyways I just wanted to let you know I cant really help with meds and dont want you or anyone to think I am selective with replies or sharing info and such thats not true .
low pain and thanks for understanding .
PEACE
BMW

You're a good cat, don't worry.

We're all struggling through this together. I find myself lucky that I have friends who are sympathetic to my situation and are helping me try alternative therapies. Perhaps some of these I can reveal in the near future if they provide therapeutic results.

As I am so young with so much life ahead..... I will fight this with all my vigor and knowledge. No one should have to live like this.

I will stick around these forums and even though I'm a greenhorn -- if I can contribute to a thread I will.


Besides my wife, carbamazepine and xanax this is what gets me through:



Sugar, our 16 year old seal point Ragdoll

Sugar is BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!

Yes, the brand name is "CARBATROL" - 200 mg extended release capsules. They are fairly new I think because my Neuro gave me a couple of samples to try before I had them filled. The name of the drug company on the sample bottle looks like "Shire".

I am fairly certain that the only drug they contain is the basic carbamazepine, only it is formulated differently as time released. Again, all I can tell you is that they seem to work better than the others I had taken and don't make me feel quite so drugged out.

Good Luck Hope this helps!

BMW - there's no way anyone could accuse you of being selective with your response and information on this forum. You were the first one to come to my aid when I joined. You are the guardian angel of this site.

Thank you! CARBATROL is indeed carbamazepine in another shirt.

However, carbamazepine does seem to "help" my pressure/sensation/pain.

Perhaps I can investigate this medication as well, however I admit I am far more interested in the oxcarbazepine as it carries far less side effects (including one men in their 20s don't want. I'll leave it at that )

Luckily for me, carbamazepine -- up to 600-800mg a day doesn't make me feel any different. I drive, I work, I socialize, etc on this dose.

But again, thank you for the information. If oxcarbazepine is ineffective, I will try the ER carbamazepine you're on

It might work. It might not. Do you take a low dose or a high dose?
For me it didn't work...vertigo/vomiting/ and a trip to the ER. But I take meds for epilepsy and they are a lot higher than for pain.

Carbatrol is not exactly like tegretol if you ask a trusted pharmacist. Buffers. delivery etc. But it is way more expensive.

Good luck. Everyone is different and what works for one is trouble for anothery. Jubliee

Unfortunately I don't know the answer to your question Random, but have you thought about posting over in the Medication Forum for our resident medication expert (mrsD) to answer?

I've not looked to see if you've already posted so sorry if you have, but if you're interested, here's the link: http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum72.html