Bad batch of Tegretol XR400?

[IslandLiz]

Hello --

I'm new to the forum, but I'm trying to determine whether anyone else has had sudden changes in seizure patterns over the last couple of months, something that's happened to me and seems to be congruent with the dates I got my Tegretol XR400 refilled.

I am 57 years old, have had complex-partial seizures for 38 years, and now take a combination of Keppra and Tegretol. Between October 2007 and February 14 2008 I had only seven or eight seizures, but after a February 14 refill of the aforementioned Tegretol, I had several a day, and within the week, two convulsive seizures (both of which occurred while I was conscious -- AWFUL).

Luckily my pharmacy was willing to trade me my month of refilled pills for some from a different bottle, and I went back to "normal." But now I've had another refill, and after two days, have started to have some of the symptoms that went along with the exacerbated seizure condition I just mentioned.

Has anyone else had sudden trouble with Tegretol in the last several weeks?

[skillefer]

Do your pills look exactly the same? Sometimes, pills will be made by a different manufacturer...or the pharmacy will use a generic brand.....I'd definitely ask the pharmacy for a different refill.

[IslandLiz]

They look just the same, and are not generic. I think all brand-name Tegretol is made by the same manufacturer, isn't it?

[RobinN]

My daughter was taking Gabapentin and I had no clue that this one was coming from another country. It had to be stopped due to a bad additive.

Gabapentin recall

How do you really know what you are taking?

[skillefer]

Sometimes, drug manufacturers will change their "recipes". Or, one drug company will sell the right for another company to produce the medicine. So medicine isn't always the same.....

[Eyes_herself]

Yeah... My Tegretol a few months ago was basically nothing. It was confusing. I had 2 different bottles and sometimes I'd feel much better for a week, set up a new pill box and feel godawful, as if I were weening off of medication. I finally figured that out and figured I mixed an old bottle with a newer one.

Interesting that it has happened with others...

[forward2007]

I take Tegretol XR (one 100mg, one 200mg, and one 400mg). I haven't noticed anything different in seizure patterns though. I also take Keppra and Topamax though so maybe that's why I haven't had a change in seizure patterns. That would be scary if the 400 mg Tegretol XR currently on the market isn't any good though.

[Bernard]

Hi IslandLiz, welcome to the forum.