Blood tests with carbamazepine?

[MuayThaiFighter]

Sorry if their is a duplicate post but im starting this new med tonight because my seizures aren't really stopping to well. The Dr. informed me id have to have a blood test shortly after taking this med but then told me I would not need blood tests for this med.

I'm pretty confused because I swear someone said this med requires fairly regular labs and I even read it somewhere. Any one have experiences with this med/Tegretol?

 

[Crash]

Yes Muay,i had regular blood tests when i first started on Tegretol,and for a good while after,im sure it had something to do with the liver(but don't quote me on that) Once i got up to the dose the docs were happy with,the blood tests got less and less.I hope that this helps you,all the best.

 

[qtowngirl]

well, two things here.
-on anti-seizure meds we're to have blood tests (at the least) annually. no question. they can affect many areas of our bodies and going more than a year at a time without having labs done is ludicrous.
-defo to carbamazepine. been on it nine years and it's not to be taken lightly (don't let that scare you, it's just that it's one of the oldest anti-E drugs out there (the top 3 are phenobarb, dilantin, and carb.), so it hasn't gone through the same regime as newer drugs that are sometimes labeled as safer).
that being said, carb is still so well prescribed b/c of it's high ability to help, esp. w/grand mals. two things to keep in mind are liver function (once a year is enough unless you see a problem), and bone thinning. again, don't worry too much, it's only a 'possibility,' when i was on year 8 i had a bone scan done and they were top notch
like any drug muay just keep an eye on side-effects if any.
tbh i've been on 3 other drugs and the least amount of problems i've had are with carb.

 

[Crash]

Good point there Q,im the same,of the three medications i have been on Tegrretol has without a doubt been the best medication iv'e been on,since i was twenty six and am now thirty seven and has caused me no problems so far.

 

[momof3boys]

Im starting Carbatrol tonight, and was told after 2 weeks I had to go in to get my blood drawn. My neuro gave me a paper listing what he wants done. I'll get it out and let you now what it says. But yeah, I was on carbatrol for years, and my neuro always had labs drawn at least once every 6 months.

 

[qtowngirl]

yeah, it's for our safety and total peace of mind. i LOVE going to my doc after bloodwork and her going, 'all looks good, levels are fine!'

 

[pita300]

I've been on Tegretol since I was 18. I've had blood work done every year since. I can remember when I first started on it as I was ramping up seems like they were doing blood work every time I saw the doctor. Main reason is you don't want it to go toxic in the blood. Yes there are long term side effects as qtown said I have Osteopenia Like I said I've been on it since I was 18 and I'm pushing 50 now. Its not going to happen over night. It will also increase you liver enzymes. I had gal stones a few years back and for the longest time my liver enzmes were high. Doctors could'nt decide if it was the tegretol or gal stones. Well the pain the stones caused answered that question and now the gal bladder is gone. Tegretol is well tolerated with other anti seizure meds. I'm also on Generic Keppra and Lomotgine. Hope that helps. Hang in there Muay!

 

[momof3boys]

Thats interesting you bring this up about gall stones and gallbladder removal... In May 2006 I found out I had gall stones and had to get them removed along with my gallbladder. My OB found them since I was in my first trimester of my third pregnancy. I was on Keppra and Carbatrol at the time. She said it was probably due to having all my pregnancies back to back. 2004, 2005 and 2006. But maybe it was due to the Carbatrol too? I never thought to ask my neuro about it. They found 12 huge gallstones, which the surgeron gave my husband one in a container, and said to tell me Happy Mothers Day since it was done a couple of days after then! Here's a picture of the stone! lol I had this in my photobucket album! I cant believe they pulled 12 of these out of me! Damn!

 

[qtowngirl]

good god girl. ouchhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!

 

[momof3boys]

Yeah.. thats a close up of the stone... but size wise... its Id say about the size of a grape? 12 of those were in me! I cant imagine there being 12 in a gallbladder!

 

[qtowngirl]

Main reason is you don't want it to go toxic in the blood.

same as anything we take really. it's always a possibility.

Tegretol is well tolerated with other anti seizure meds. I'm also on Generic Keppra and Lomotgine. Hope that helps. Hang in Muay![/QUOTE]

yes you're right about that pita, never had an interaction either. i'm on lamotrigine and vimpat, and if anything's an issue it's the lamot. and vimpat.
i also took just carb and topomax for a few years and that was fine.

what else are you on muay?

 

[pita300]

I'm Jeallous I did'nt get any of my stones! My stones wern't caused by the meds. It was caused more by years of not eating as well as I should have.

 

[Crash]

Yeah.. thats a close up of the stone... but size wise... its Id say about the size of a grape? 12 of those were in me! I cant imagine there being 12 in a gallbladder!

If there were an im not worthy smillie,i would be sending you one right now,momof3boys,you deserve it!!!

 

[qtowngirl]

an im not worthy smillie

good one! yes, :adore: mom... that would f'ing suck.

 

[MuayThaiFighter]

thanks for the info, I figured blood tests were needed. And it had something to do with liver enzymes from what I was told. I'm giving this a run, because I've never tried it.

Jeeze Kristen, GROSS! j/k.

Right now just Carb and valium. Obviously I want to get valium out of there, but it seemed to help momentarily. Keppra just wasn't reacting to my body. It used to work well but idk the med just wouldn't take so its time for something new.

 

[qtowngirl]

oh good luck muay.......... fingers crossed for ya!!!

 

[Crash]

I know what your saying about the valium Muay,im on it as well and as you say it does help.A lot of my seizures are triggered by stress and i have no doubt the valium helps.It's not the ideal soloution,but if it works im kind off happy to stay with it.

 

[momof3boys]

thanks for the info, I figured blood tests were needed. And it had something to do with liver enzymes from what I was told. I'm giving this a run, because I've never tried it.

Jeeze Kristen, GROSS! j/k.

Right now just Carb and valium. Obviously I want to get valium out of there, but it seemed to help momentarily. Keppra just wasn't reacting to my body. It used to work well but idk the med just wouldn't take so its time for something new.

Yeah make sure you get your blood levels checked with taking the Carb. I go in two weeks to get them checked. My neuro Im seeing now said at first he would probably have me checked every three months, then go to every six months. Just making sure things are going good.

Those stones were gross! I just cant picture how big my gallbladder was with 12 of those suckers in there! Once I saw the size of that damn thing I knew right then what serious pain I was having before... I seriously thought I was dying!

 

[momof3boys]

good one! yes, :adore: mom... that would f'ing suck.

Oh god it did... I wouldnt wish anyone that kind of pain ever!

 

[CQ:)]

Hi Muay,
Good luck with the carbamazepine, hope it helps with your seizures.
I have been on Tegretol since 2002, my local neurologist used to do regular blood tests to check my Tegretol levels & make sure everything was ok. I can't remember how long it's been since I've had blood tests done to check my med levels but think it's been a couple of years.
I am currently slowly being taken of the Tegretol, the neurologist at the epilepsy clinic started lowering my Tergetol in March last year. I go back to the epilepsy clinic on Monday & am hoping my neurologist will tell me he is going to reduce the Tegretol some more .

I saw my GP the other day & he ordered some blood tests just as a routine thing to make sure everything was OK (cholesterol, thyroid etc). While I was in at the blood place getting my blood taken I was chatting to the lady who was taking my blood & was saying how I am used to having blood tests mainly to check my levels for my epilepsy meds. She asked me if I was on Epilum & I said no then she asked if I was on tegretol & I said yes. She then said yes you need to have your blood tested regularly while on Tegretol.