Carbamazepine vs Lithium

CarbamazepineCarbamazepine LithiumLithium
Carbamazepine is used to prevent and control seizures. This medication is known as an anticonvulsant or anti-epileptic drug. It is also used to relieve certain types of nerve pain (such as trigeminal neuralgia). This medication works by reducing the spread of seizure activity in the brain and restoring the normal balance of nerve activity.This medication is used to treat manic-depressive disorder (bipolar disorder). It works to stabilize the mood and reduce extremes in behavior by restoring the balance of certain natural substances (neurotransmitters) in the brain.
Alternatives
Oxcarbazepine, Phenytoin
Lamictal, Xanax
Reviews
Add Carbamazepine review
IHateDrugs | 23.11.13
Since I started this my TN pain is gone, but I CAN'T BREATHE. My chest is tight all the time. My heart pounds. I had a bad rash for the first couple months which has slowly cleared but the sun brings it back. I have lupus which my idiot doctor knows. Apparently he doesn't know you aren't supposed to take this stuff if you have lupus. I can't wait to get off it.
Merryannb | 29.08.13
eliminates pain for long periods of time. Occasionally need to increase the dose when having pain after unusual stimulation as after dental work. I have been able to decrease the dose after a few days on the higher dose.
Add Lithium review
Greg | 27.06.13
I have seen or felt no change with my Bipolar, but have had the severe side-effects. NOT worth it to me.
jerry | 01.06.13
Lithium works very fast. Within a day I felt much better. It pulled me out of a depression that wanted to leave me crying for no good reason. It is a very wonderful mood stabilizer. So if you need something to work today and not 6 weeks from now I recommend lithium highly but beware of side effects. At the time this was the best thing for me but after awhile the side effects became worse. I gained 25 lb. in just a couple months. After two months I lost so much hair that my hair got so thin it felt like I had got a haircut. The worst thing of all was the restlessness which will keep you uneasy and twitchy the whole time. I'm sure this is dose dependent. I took 1200 mg daily. If you can deal with the fact that lithium might make you fat and bald then this may be the perfect bipolar medicine.