I was diagnosed with mild epilepsy in July 2005. Haven't been on here in a while, because I've been doing really well dealing with all of this. I have been on the same dosage of Tegretol CR (200mg) per day. I haven't had a seizure since July. Doing really well! The last week or so, though, I've been feeling this strange sensations in my lip and cheek. Almost like a numbing, "dull achy" feeling. It's not "PAINFUL" per se, but it's like a dull ache. It lasts for about 20 mins or so, and then subsides. It catches my attention, though...it makes the muscles in my cheeks feel "heavy". IT doesn't hurt to smile, laugh or talk, mind you. I am not sure why it's happening. Someone told me once that Tegretol (XR) is also used for a neurological condition called Trigeminal Neuralgia, which is a result of excruciating shooting pain in certain areas of the face, neck and back of the head. Well, my pain isn't excruciating, but there was one time....when I was sitting at work, and I got this shooting pain in my temple and jaw line....a stabbing feeling.....and then this is when I started feeling the twitches, and the dull aches....but....I had never felt it BEFORE I started taking Tegretol XR...only months after. I also discovered that this "facial pain" is also an early symptom of MS. That scared me even more! So, I wonder what this is? I kept thinking maybe the dosage was now becoming less effective, and perhaps I needed a dosage increase, however...I am not having any seizures...so no need to increase, right? Has anyone ever experienced this? Am I going out of my mind?