CARBAMAZEPINE /TEGRETO

[maggiemay66]

I've recently been prescribed 100 mg of CARBAMAZEPINE morning and evening. It's too soon for me to assess whether it works or not. I've been on various medications without success over many years and am wondering if anyone has had experience of or success with this medication as I've never heard it mentioned as a cure or relief for RLS . I'd appreciate any feedback

[SueJohnson]

It may help, but you say on your profile that pregabalin didn't help. Many people think it doesn't help because they didn't take enough. How much were you taking?

[maggiemay66 in reply to SueJohnson]

I was taking 200mg Pregabalin initially but then when I was getting no relief I questioned why I was putting this classA drug into my body and subsequently reduced it to 100 mg. with the intention of coming off it altogether. Having done that I then went back to the Neurologist who prescribed Carbamazepine. I feel so disillusioned with the experimentation over the years of different medications and always with the fear of Augmentation of which I suffered some years ago that perhaps I'm too scared to increase the medication to a strength which would give me the relief which I crave. I can increase the dosage to 3mg am and pm but IM wary to do so for the above reasons What is your opinion? I'd appreciate any feedback

[SueJohnson in reply to maggiemay66]

Personally I would go back on pregabalin and increase the dose once you are on it for 3 weeks by 25 mg every couple of days until you get relief. The maximum dose is 450 mg and according to the Mayo Clinic Updated Algorithm on RLS: "Most RLS patients require 200 to 300 mg of pregabalin daily." Carbamazepine has more side effects than pregabalin and interacts with Vitamins C, D3, and B12. But of course that is your decision and your doctor's and you can certainly try increasing it. If you are not familiar with the Mayo article, it is at Https://mayoclinicproceedings.org/a...

[Joolsg]

Carbamazepine is briefly mentioned in the Mayo algorithm. It's an anti seizure drug ( Pregabalin and gabapentin are also anti seizure meds).There are old studies (1984) showing it helps RLS but it's not commonly used. Let us know if it improves your RLS.

[maggiemay66]

Thank you for your input. I'll study the Mayo Article and hopefully learn from it.

[ziggypiggy]

I used it for quite some time as a mood stabilizer for depression. I didn't notice much change in my RLS symptoms when on it. Some people find it works well for depression. For myself, it worked okay at first then not so much.