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Carbamazepine and running
Thu, 07/19/2018 - 09:40Topic: Medication Issues
I’m normally fine with a certain amount of exercise on Carbamazepine, but beyond a certain amount, I later feel dizzy, nausea, unable to think or go to work. Then it starts not really having a medical effect...
I take 1,100mg Carbamazepine a day (I’m 50kg, so it gives a high blood level), & 400mg Lamotrigine.
My boss is great about the fact that my medication causes nasty side effects, but I hate having to choose between sports I love, or ‘life’ and health. I do take some rehydration tablets in water, because I have low sodium normally (due to Carbamazepine).
But it also tends to go wrong after a coffee, so maybe that doesn’t help.
I have anti-sickness, but they don’t help much...
It is also HOT weather I’m running in, for over an hour.
Any suggestions/experiences I’ve got a while til my next doctors appointment.
Hi Runner. As you seem to
Submitted by kda on Tue, 2018-09-25 - 07:55
Hi Runner. As you seem to know, some medications (and activities!) can have a diuretic effect--just like coffee--and can wash some minerals right out of your body; since you're running for so long, you're probably sweating some of them out, too. (My parents used to run marathons.) For example, you may end up being low on potassium and/or magnesium, which can cause all sorts of problems. I like working out myself, and I probably don't need to tell you that it's always a good idea to stay well hydrated, but I'm going to say that it's even more important now. Personally, I think you should cut back on your more intense workouts and try a sports drink--or even some supplements--but putting a call in to your physician would be a smarter move first.