Talk Cancer

Question:

Been on teg for about 3 yrs. except for some of my hair falling out and growing back finer and wavy no probs at all. ’til then Jon

Response:

I originally started on lithium for 5 years and the side effects were horrible. I have been on tegretol for 4 years and have found it to be so much better. The side effects I felt in the beginning was mainly sleepiness which has now worn off but every now and then my bones or muscles ache. I just take motrin for that minor side effect. I haven’t been hypomanic that much since only when I have had medication changes but I am totally happy with tegretol. Good luck to you my friend, everything will be okay all you have to do is ride the small wave of side effects for a short time. Shadow – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Someone in our family had 2 manic episodes 9 years ago & had another one from Jan. thru May;  her doctor has prescribed Tegratol.  We are interested in beginning use of/continued use of/effectiveness of/side effects of, etc.  Is this to be considered a possible long term medication with few side effects, or after a while does it lose its effectiveness?  We are very concerned & would like to learn from other’s experiences. —Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.—

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Someone in our family had 2 manic episodes 9 years ago & had another one from Jan. thru May;  her doctor has prescribed Tegratol.  We are interested in beginning use of/continued use of/effectiveness of/side effects of, etc.  Is this to be considered a possible long term medication with few side effects, or after a while does it lose its effectiveness?  We are very concerned & would like to learn from other’s experiences.

Lithium was very effective (do we have any editors or eng. majors: I hate making this mistake–effective or affective?  Well, that was certainly off topic); until I had neurotoxic problems at therapeutic levels.  Then, tegretol, don’t remember that as particularly helpful,  but it was years ago thrilled. Mostly, I remember the first week as filled with incredible nausea ( to the point of vomiting) but very quick relief from mania and inability to sleep. Easy trade-off.  Within a few months,  hair fell out (not in clumps, like cancer therapy–just big increased rate of loss, at the root).  That was a jolt to my self esteem.  But, I was able to realize—"Hey, dickhead.  Your self-esteem should have suffered way more (and in advance of) by behavior prior to mood stabilizer drug); and it did.  My hair leaves me and then returns, but always thinner, dryer and (good news) with little waves.  I have read lots and truly believe in the potential benefits of zinc and selenium.  I am just too damn impatient and forgetful, to remember to do it. If you can, I strongly advise, try it.  Plus, not everyone loses hair. My sanity, such as it is, is worth bad hair and weight gain but, if you can start and keep with it early (just in case), immediately increase your activity level and try reasonable amount (no excess) of zinc and selenium.   My best and good luck from, julie

Response:

Hi 8 yrs on  tegretol without a manic episode.  I think tegretol has been around before lithium, though used for sezure control. The list of side effects will make your hair stand up, at first. I was very sleepy the first month. No other major side effects. Good luck, Deb

Response:

Someone in our family had 2 manic episodes 9 years ago & had another one from Jan. thru May;  her doctor has prescribed Tegratol.  We are interested in beginning use of/continued use of/effectiveness of/side effects of, etc.  Is this to be considered a possible long term medication with few side effects, or after a while does it lose its effectiveness?  We are very concerned & would like to learn from other’s experiences.

For me it was effective for a few months with very few side effects, then wore off. jackie Web page at http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/close/xhq10/mem.htm I’ve been Jay H, Canarybird, Empty Cage, Serin, Phoenix, even Crow. Let’s see if I can stick with this one for a while.

Response:

Someone in our family had 2 manic episodes 9 years ago & had another one from Jan. thru May;  her doctor has prescribed Tegratol.  We are interested in beginning use of/continued use of/effectiveness of/side effects of, etc.  Is this to be considered a possible long term medication with few side effects, or after a while does it lose its effectiveness?  We are very concerned & would like to learn from other’s experiences. —Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.—

Response:

hello! Someone in our family had 2 manic episodes 9 years ago & had another one from Jan. thru May;  her doctor has prescribed Tegratol.  We are interested in beginning use of/continued use of/effectiveness of/side effects of, etc.  Is this to be considered a possible long term medication with few side effects, or after a while does it lose its effectiveness?  We are very concerned & would like to learn from other’s experiences.

I am happy that i have been successful with Tegretol so far.. i will tell you this.. the first three weeks are hell because of the major side effects – sleepiness, headache, dry mouth , ringing in ears, feeling ’stupid’… a great place to go to see the side effects is at www.mentalhealth.com where it has a large drug library… i’ll happily stay on Tegretol and live with the headaches and water retention.. stability is worth it good luck! – liz

Response:

I have taken tegretol for 4 years. It has done wonders for me. I have not had a mainc episode since taking it. (Except last year I had one but I was off my meds) The only major side effect I have found is sleepiness… that first month or so is h-e-l-l! But when her pdoc gets her dosage at a therpeutic level she will function just fine .at least that has been my experience…but it is different for everyone as you well know…and as with many of the drugs for bp you have to have blood levels checked every so often. Not tht it eliminates ALL mood swings … it really does help moderate them so they are much easier to manage! Anyway I wish her luck!

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