Bipolar Drugs - Is Tegretol for You?

When Lithium the first choice of bipolar drugs doesn't work for a patient often times the doctors in the "Medical Practice" profession will prescribe the anticonvulsant bipolar drug carbamazepine, also known as Tegretol. Tegretol is generally prescribed for treatment of seizures (those who are suffering from epilepsy) as well as bipolar disorder.

Remember, my story about when I was allergic to lithium the psychiatrist, without further examination, prescribed Tegretol for me? Now hopefully you are like me and when your physician recommends Tegretol you will ask questions, lots of questions.

1. What is Tegretol?
2. Why should I take it?
3. How does it affect me?
4. What are the side effects?
5. How long do the side effects last?
6. Just exactly what are the risks of taking Tegretol?
7. Do the risks of taking Tegretol outweigh the symptoms of my bipolar disorder?

When I personally asked these questions I decided Tegretol was not for me. Here's why. First off the label warns if you have any serious blood or liver disease you are not to take Tegretol. Well, why not?

Because Tegretol makes these situations even more serious. So I figure if that is the case then even if I don't have a serious blood or liver disease I can develop one due to the continued poisoning of my blood stream and liver. And so can you!

How do I know that Tegretol poisons the body's systems you ask? First psychiatrists are to take a complete blood count of YOUR blood as well as blood tests of YOUR liver, kidney, and thyroid function. These tests establish a baseline against which any changes produced by Tegretol can be measured.

Now you are to be tested repeatedly while you are on Tegretol. Complete blood counts are performed frequently (ugh, ouch) on you. The "practicing professional" is checking to see if there a significant drop in YOUR blood cells. In most cases there is a small, "but insignificant," drop in blood cells.

That ought to tell us that Tegretol is doing something not good to us. In extremely rare cases, less than one in 50,000 patients (I hope you're not the one.) a very large drop in blood cells may occur and Tegretol must be stopped immediately. This condition is called aplastic anemia.

Aplastic anemia is caused by Tegretol. It is a very serious disease which depletes your immunes system considerably. Aplastic anemia is a condition when the bone marrow does not produce sufficient new cells to replenish blood cells. The term aplastic means the marrow suffers from an aplasia that renders it unable to function properly.

Anemia is when you have fewer red blood cells than normal, or fewer than needed to function properly. Typically anemia refers to low red blood cell counts, but aplastic anemia patients suffer lower blood counts of all three blood cell types: red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

The severe drop in the production of the blood cells puts the patient at great risk of developing serious anemia, infections, and bleeding problems. Warning signs of this disease includes fever, sore throat, easy bruising, purple spots on the skin, and ulcers in the mouth.

As mentioned above to avoid aplastic anemia, complete blood counts are drawn frequently and checked by your doctor should you decide this bipolar drug is for you. This doesn't sound good to me but everyone makes their own choices right?

Added risks of this bipolar drug Tegretol include interference with YOUR normal liver, kidney, or thyroid function. Why do you think the doctors check your blood tests for your liver, kidney and thyroid? Of course blood tests must be obtained (blood drawn out of your arm) every six months to a year. Though they claim the lowering of blood count is only a very rare occurrence.

But still these blood tests are necessary to measure blood levels of Tegretol in your body which then aids the doctor in your dose adjustment (there they go again practicing on you). Such tests are not necessary to avoid toxicity, as are lithium levels. According to psychiatrists a good Tegretol level ranges from 8.0 to 12.0.

The usual dose comes in a chewable tablet of 100 mg and regular tablets of 200 mg. It is best to start at a low dose of 200-400 mg a day so they tell us. Sounds like slow poisoning to me. In any regard, Tegretol is one of the more popular bipolar drugs used today and in fact there are testimonies of how well the drug works for some bipolar patients. According to doctors' reports most patients tolerate Tegretol well.

However, that is not enough to convince me. Side effects of Tegretol such as dizziness, drowsiness, unsteadiness, nausea, and vomiting usually occur early in treatment and often times "go away" after a month or so. But such adverse side effects are common signals which indicate rejection of whatever is poisoning the body.

Tegretol can cause a variety of skin reactions that require immediate discontinuance of Tegretol. Therefore any new skin rash should be shown to your doctor right away so he can help you make the best decision for you.

Unfortunately Tegretol sometimes does not work at all as a bipolar drug. Sometimes the mild highs and lows may still occur on Tegretol (so what's new about experiencing mild highs and lows - everybody experiences mild highs and lows).

Some doctors then will treat bipolar patients with brief curses (pun intended) of antidepressants or antipsychotic drugs (for mania). If severe mood swings continue however, most psychiatrist now recommend discontinuing both lithium and Tegretol and moving onto the next level of treatment. This next level of treatment means their next practice session on you. It is to determine if valproic acid otherwise known as Depakene another bipolar drug, will be a better alternative for you.

Me, I chose none of that. I personally believe such drugs are against nature's laws thus cause more damage than good. I chose to look at "alternative health medications" and found that to be successful for me.

Be mindful though if you are on Tegretol and you choose to discontinue the bipolar drug, you risk developing a new, serious depression or mania episode. When it is time to stop Tegretol, you should taper off slowly, very slowly.

Whichever you choose to do, the better information you have the better health you will have. I encourage you to take ownership of your health today. Get informed and then begin those things necessary to begin your journey toward optimal WELLNESS just like I did. Read here how I did and how you can to.

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So till next time,

Bon Voyage,

Dr. Cares™

Catherine Sinclair, PhD. uses the trade name Dr. Cares™. She is a licensed pastoral counselor. The information contained in this website is not to be taken as a substitute for professional advice from your qualified medical "practitioner."

The author of this website is not an M.D. and therefore must post this required FDA disclaimer. None of the statements, self testing, nor recommended alternatives to overcoming bipolar symptoms have been evaluated by the FDA. Therefore, the tested and proven experiences, testimonies, supplements and alternative and natural therapies are for informational purposes only and does not purport to prescribe, diagnose or cure any mental or physical condition.

Though as a licensed counselor she does advise her clients to be informed and involved in the recovery of their physical, spiritual and mental health. The above information has transformed many lives and the same can happen for you, but you alone are responsible for the decisions you make concerning all aspects of your health.

Bipolar Drugs to No More Bipolar Disorder