AEDs and sun exposure

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bernbern

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So I picked up my monthly refill of Trileptal from the drug store yesterday and I notice a new sticker that I have never seen before. I can't remember the exact wording, but it was something to the effect about staying away from sunlight and artificial light.

I look and think...say what now? I am going to the beach for a week in 3 weeks. The same beach I was at when I had my first and have gone back back to for family vacations for the last 8 years.

I was on Trileptal for 2.5 years(2006) without issue or notice to avoid the sun and have been back on it for 6 months now.

Is avoiding sun exposure and easier sunburns a common thing or is it just one of one of the terrifying possible side effects that occur in less than 1%?
 
Tegretol, a close cousin to Trileptal, can make one more susceptible to sunburn and can cause slight skin discoloration with Sun exposure. I have had the warning on my Tegretol prescription the two years I've been taking it. Check with your pharmacist for details, but I just cover up when I am in direct Sun and hit the shade at peak times. Something everyone should do anyway given what we know about skin cancer!
 
As above, did some research into it, also found out you can get water intoxication from tegretol wow.... things they dont tell us
 
The side effects listing for Trileptal says "Skin sensitivity to sunlight also may increase, and patients could experience severe sunburns as a result of sun exposure. The frequency of adverse effects rises above a daily dosage of 1200 mg." So you may or may not have a problem depending on your individual reactions and dose. be careful until you know for sure how the sun affects you -- hat and sunscreen...
 
Thanks for all the comments.

Odd that neither of the two neurologists I have seen have mentioned this at all. I am on a fairly low dose, 600mg a day.
 
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