[lenjan]

Oooh, pdoc was going to start me on Tegretol but after reading up on it I'm a little freaked out. It can cause aplastic anemia, which I've nearly not survived once already, and I'm on a blood thinner for a clotting disorder. Is this really a good idea???

I know this is a weird problem to have so not expecting anyone to share it, just hoping....

CB

[EJ711]

Candy,

I'm so sorry you are having so much trouble getting on a medication which will help you with your relatively new bipolar diagnosis.

Hugs,

EJ

[Larry_Hoover]

I can't advise you on the risk/benefit decision, as it's not me who has to live with the decision. The incidence of aplastic anemia is 2/1,000,000 patients per year of treatment. Not huge, but more frequent than found in the population at large. Thrombocytopenia (reduced platelet count) is also a potential effect, so you'd have to monitor your clotting factors very closely.

There is an active metabolite of Tegretol (carbamazepine), marketed as Trileptal (oxcarbazepine) which does not carry the aplastic anemia warning, although it can also cause thrombocytopenia. I believe that Trileptal is easier to tolerate (for most people), but it would still be very prudent to monitor your blood parameters frequently.

Lar

[SerenitysWave]

<font color="purple">I dont know much about blood disorders but I wanted to give you some support (((((((((((( candybear))))))) I just started taking tegretol a couple weeks ago.... </font>

[katheryn]

(((((((((((candybear)))))))))) sorry cant help with your question, my daughter has been taking tegretol retard for a number of years, she changed to tegretol retard as the slow release med seemed to suit her she uses this med to help with her mood swings she is on a 600mg twice a day

[lauren_helene]

My husband takes Tegretol for his seizure disorder. His neurologist said that it doesn't cause aplastic anemia but I read that too!

[lenjan]

Wow, tell your husband's neurologist to check out the FDA black box warning on the stuff that says it causes aplastic anemia and should never be given to someone with a history of bone marrow suppression. I found it online and I don't even have an MD.

I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy -- I wasn't expected to live and spent 5 weeks in the hospital, most of it comatose and part on a ventilator, and months and months outpatient getting multiple transfusions and growth factor shots, etc. It isn't something I would take a chance with.

[psisci]

If you have had aplastic anemia I would stay away from it, although Tegretol causing this is super rare. It has other more common problems like hyponatremia and thrombocytopenia that you should probably be more concerned with.

[lauren_helene]

Hi Candy, I just remembered that I posted on here. You are right. This same doctor also said that Tegretol doesn't cause sexual issues and well, he has that too.

<shrug>