trigeminal neuralgia
"I started taking gabapentin for my trigeminal neuralgia nearly 3 years ago but it gave me alarming mood swings, I nearly hit my wife! This sent me back to the doctor and I was put on pregabalin which was slightly better on the moods swings but became less effective over time. Now on Tegretol slow release (400mg morning and 600mg evening) it allows me to work but in some pain. I tried 600mg twice a day but I slept all day every day for a month. Breakthrough pain can be helped by taking tramadol and Co-codamol although only slightly. Overall good but it will leave you sleepy and forgetful - don't forget it's job is to slow the neurons in you're brain (I believe it was originally developed for epilepsy). Don't expect to be completely pain free and good luck."