Bipolar Disorder Support Group

Bipolar disorder is not just a single disorder, but a category of mood disorders marked by periods of abnormally high energy and euphoria, often accompanied by bouts of clinical depression. This is the place to talk about your experience with bipolar disorder, learn from others' experiences, and find support.

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tegretol

juststartingout
juststartingout
Does anyone take tegretol?
I'm suppose to start taking it... but after reading about it online (reputable sites of course), I'm scared!!!

Only my family knows I'm going to be on meds... besides my doctors and therapist of course...I work full time.... I'm scared something will happen at work.. and everyone will find out.....
I have anxiety as well....so I'm really freaking out.....
deleted_user
deleted_user
I hate to say it, but you're at the mercy of your doctor. Try it. If you find anything AT ALL you don't feel right about, call him aqnd ask him to change meds. They will. Relax and give it a shot. I've been on 5. It takes time. Good luck!
deleted_user
deleted_user
I'm on tegretol, and it's alright. It's not my favorite of the medications I've been on, but it's really good at stopping impulsive behavior, overspending, etc... It's also good at relaxing me, and helps me to think out decisionzs.

Being on medication will help you, and is better than not, especially at work. Good luck!!
deleted_user
deleted_user
helps me heaps. been on it a long time.
deleted_user
deleted_user
My mother was BP and stable on Tegretol for over 15 years. So when I was DX with BP, tegretol was the 2nd try for meds. I have been stable on it for almost 8 months. It helps me keep a regular sleep pattern, I can focus well, I can get out of bed, I can drive normally, read, write, sit still for more than seconds at a time, etc. These were all things I was having trouble with on Lithium.

Will this be your first try with meds?
deleted_user
deleted_user
PS what was said online about it that scares you?
juststartingout
juststartingout
This will be my first try at meds...

The fatal skin reaction stuff... and.... the tiredness, clumsiness...

But it sounds like it would work for me... I have a hard time focusing... sitting still...... driving the speed limit...............so.... I think I will go fill the script tomorrow.....
Aurora03
Aurora03
I am on a similar med, Equetro. Been about two weeks, and it has started working for me thank goodness. So far no side effects other than some drowsiness.
It is my first mood stabilizer, I see pdoc next week to increase it and evaluate if anything else needs to be added.

Good luck with it!
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