Hi Mel26

I am taking tegretol retard and I do not have any children, but my neuro has told me that if I were planning on having any children, there is no problem with taking tegretol while pregnant. This is an old drug and according my neuro it has been studied and proven to be safe for pregnancy.

I also have to take added med on top of this and just for your own info, he did inform me that when women are pregnant you are better off to be taking meds than not taking meds at the end of the day. If you had a seizure while pregnant this can be more harmful,not just from from the seizure but what if you fall and have an injury?

I'm not a doctor, I can only tell you what I was informed. I hope that helps anyway.

Good luck!

Quirky

Epilepsy is like diabetes as, with the exception of a few childhood varities, once you have it you will always need meds.

And you are right to be concerned about returning seizures.
In fact, it's common for many people who are completely controlled on drugs to think the problem has vanished, stop taking meds & to have a reaction.

Just remember, in US states ,if you seize, it is illgal to drive until controlled for at least 6 months (plus if you didn't tell your insurance company about the E, it's likely now invalid).
So, before you opt off the meds just perhaps you'd do best to see what your specialist says.

As for plans to nix meds even after 2 years, unless your reason for seizures will be eradicated, I'd suggest you see an epileptologist (a neurologist that specializes in E) before you jump to any conclusions.
Stopping taking AEDs often makes seizures return more strongly.

I had 2 heathy children while on AEDs (Tegretol being one).

~sol