Starting med number 4 on monday (Tegretol)

[Loopy Lou]

Actually, i'm not sure if i'll get a generic carbamazepine or if i'll just get the brand name Tegretol. Depends on what the pharmacy has. Mind you, the doc did say that if i end up getting passed from one maker to another then she could stipulate on my prescription to get the brand name.

Just got back from the docs, i'm titrating up slowly for nearly 3 months until i'm on 600mg a day as well as the 3000mg Keppra i'm already on.

600mg a day seems like quite a lot. Anyhoo meds roundabout, here we go again. I had no luck whatsoever with Lamictal and Vimpat.

Hey, so long as i can stop the tonic clonics, i think i can deal with the rest. The neurologist already told me that there's a good chance the partials won't ever stop or go away.

[Cint]

Keeping my fingers crossed.

Tegretol didn't do it for me. Won't you need to have your Tegretol levels checked often?

[Loopy Lou]

Yeah i think so... does that involve blood tests? How often would they need to be checked do you know?

I'm dreading the weight gain/fluid retention. Hoping that i don't get many side effects from Tegretol but i'll be checking the side effects in the leaflet this time before taking it. My experience with Vimpat has taught me it's better to be prepared lol.

[Cint]

does that involve blood tests? How often would they need to be checked do you know?

Yep.... when I took Tegretol they were done every 6 months.

[Loopy Lou]

Meh, i can deal with that. Blood tests don't bother me much. Hopefully this will be the last med i need to try. Pharmacy closed today so i'm going to pick them up on monday, then start on monday night at 50mg.

At least i got the nice doc for my meds review today. Last time it was a different guy and he insisted on pointing out how much my meds cost the NHS every month, as if i was purposely being a drain on the "public purse". Pfffft, like i haven't paid taxes forever.

Edit - sorry for the little side-rant in the second paragraph there, don't even remember typing it. O.o

[epileric]

My tegretol levels were done every 6 months though after being stable for many years they're supposed to be done only once a year now.

[Cint]

Go girl........ Rant all you want!!!!! Remind the other doc how much of a pain in the **** he is and drains the tax payers..............

[Nakamova]

Good luck with the Tegretol; I hope it stops the tonic-clonics AND the partials! Think positive!

[Loopy Lou]

Yeah, i have been a little negative lately Nak lol.

Ok, think positive Lou

[Nakamova]

And that doesn't mean saying "I'm POSITIVE it's not going to work".

[Loopy Lou]

Lol :P

[Endless]

Good luck, Lou. Fourth time's the charm! (I mean, look at me -#4 was the big winner!)

It's very good that you ramping up low & slow.

[momof3boys]

Carbatrol and Keppra worked great for me for the past 12 years! I took 3000mgs of keppra, and 1200mgs of Carbatrol (600mgs twice a day)

I was 18 years old when I first got put on both of them together, and the only bad seizure I can recall was about a year or so later when I stayed out all night with some girlfriends. Stupid move, I know. But at the time, I just graduated high school and felt like celebrating!

Other than that time when I had a grand mal seizure, those two medications worked like a miracle for me!

I hope it works for you like it did for me!

[CQ:)]

Good luck with the Tegretol Lou