[Moreta]

I just started taking tegretol on wed, and since then all I do is sleep. I don't remember this happening the last time I took it. Does anyone else have this problem?

[Travelinglady]

I think it does make me tired, but I haven't noticed that it actually puts me to sleep. Are you on a different dosage or taking other meds with it that you weren't taking before that might contribute to sleepiness?

[Waterpumpkin]

Tegretol is my main drug. It makes me VERY sleepy. I make sure I take it well BEFORE I go to bed. So if your bedtime is 9pm, take it two hours before.
I also take Lithium and Geodon. My cocktail keeps me pretty sleepy. No operating heavy machinery.

[mommyof2girls]

I am on 800 mg of Tegretol.....I take mine before I go to sleep so I do not have any side effects......Try taking it before bed.....

[Moreta]

I am taking it before bed. Next week though i'm supposed to start taking 200 mg in the morning. This is getting ridiculous, I slept 14 hrs yesterday. i'm going to give it a month and see how things work out. I'm also on geodon, lamictal, and ambien.

[Travelinglady]

Moreta, have you talked to your pdoc about your situation? Tegretol is my main med, too. I take 200 mg three times daily for Bipolar II and for facial pain. I also take Klonopin.

I'm wondering if the Tegretol just isn't working well enough. I see on the bottle that it can cause "drowsiness," but I would be surprised if it kept someone sleeping 14 hours a day. I know depression causes tiredness and the desire to sleep....

Of course, Ambien is a sleep medicine totally! That's its purpose.

Hope you'll be better soon!

[-jimi-]

In my med book it says drowsiness is the most common side effect. Also says it can get better after a few weeks.