Compare Tegretol vs. Neurontin
Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, ratings, and more.
Treats seizures and epilepsy.
Tegretol (carbamazepine) is useful for preventing seizures and relieving certain types of nerve pain, but reduces how well many other medications work.
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3.3/ 5 average rating with 61 reviewsforTegretol
Treats tingling and burning nerve pain.
Neurontin (gabapentin) is an old seizure disorder medicine that is now used to treat nerve-related pain caused by different conditions.
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3.4/ 5 average rating with 620 reviewsforNeurontin
Upsides
- Lowers the frequency of seizures, especially for people with tonic-clonic and partial seizures.
- First-choice option for trigeminal neuralgia (nerve pain involving the face, head, and neck), and can relieve other types of nerve pain.
- Equetro is helpful in stabilizing mood for people with bipolar disorder.
- Available as a generic in many forms: pill, extended-release pill, suspension, and chewable tablet.
- Originally used to treat epilepsy (partial seizures), but now it primarily treats neuropathic pain that's caused by nerve stimulation or damage.
- Studies show it's most effective for nerve pain from diabetes, shingles, and fibromyalgia (a painful muscle condition).
- It's available as a generic, so it's less expensive than similar medications.
Downsides
- Takes several weeks to feel the full effects.
- Interacts with many other medicines and supplements.
- Higher risk of skin reactions compared to other antiepileptic medicines, ranging from mild to life-threatening rash.
- Requires routine blood tests to see how the medicine is affecting your body.
- Can't take the suspension form with other liquid medications.
- Neurontin (gabapentin) can cause some side effects, including memory problems, drowsiness, dizziness, or confusion. There is a higher risk for these side effects if you drink alcohol, so it might not be the best medication for heavy drinkers.
- You can't skip or miss doses since suddenly stopping Neurontin (gabapentin) can cause seizures.
Used for
- Partial seizures
- Generalized tonic-clonic seizures
- Mixed seizure patterns
- Trigeminal neuralgia
- Nerve pain
- Pain
- Agitation
- Depression
- Psychosis
- Alcohol withdrawal syndrome
- Restless legs syndrome
Dosage forms
- Pill
- Extended-release pill
- Suspension
- Chewable tablet
- Pill
- Oral solution
- Extended release
Price
Lowest price
$35.12
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$599.50
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Reviews
61 reviews so far
56%
saidit'sworth it
43%
saiditworked well
23%
saidit'sa big hassle
Have you used Tegretol (carbamazepine)?
Leave a review620 reviews so far
57%
saidit'sworth it
40%
saiditworked well
19%
saidit'sa big hassle
Have you used Neurontin (gabapentin)?
Leave a reviewSide effects
The Tegretol (carbamazepine) FDA package insert doesn’t have numbers about how common side effects are.
20possible side effects
- Dizziness28%
- Drowsiness21%
- Swelling in the limbs8%
- Abnormal physical weakness6%
- Diarrhea6%
- Infection5%
- Dry mouth5%
- Constipation4%
- Nausea4%
- Headache3%
- Accidental injury3%
- Stomach pain3%
- Vomiting3%
- Worse coordination3%
- Thinking abnormal3%
- Decreased vision3%
- Gas2%
- Weight gain2%
- Abnormal gait2%
- Lack of coordination2%
Risks and risk factors
- Life-threatening skin reactions
- Carrying HLA-B*1502 gene
- Asian ancestry
- Blood disorders
- Suicidal thoughts or behavior
- History of depression
- Serious allergic reactions
- History of allergic reaction to Trileptal (oxcarbamazepine)
- Pregnancy
- Mental changes due to low sodium
- Age 65 or older
- Dehydration
- Taking diuretics (water pills)
- Suicidal thoughts or behavior
- Neurologic and psychiatric side effects (children)
- Children ages 3 to 12
- Serious allergic reaction and multiple organ problems
- Driving impairment
- Taking Neurontin (gabapentin) with alcohol
- Taking other medicines that cause dizziness and/or drowsiness
- Withdrawal seizures
- Stopping Neurontin (gabapentin) suddenly