I've been taking Trileptal for 9 years. I had the least side affects of any medication I've ever taken. I was able to have 2 beautiful, healthy children while still taking my medication. I just have to go have blood draws once a year or so, more often in the beginning. When I've had symptom flare ups my doc has upped my dose, I think twice since I started it, and the symptoms were under control within weeks. All people who start the same medication can have different results but my greatest fear with trileptal is that it will stop working and I'll have to go on some other medication and go through that adjustment period again.
Good luck