Hi Bob. I wanted to tell you how although I started having absences
(petit mal seizures) at 9 years of age, and full blown tonic-clonic
seizures at 11 years of age, when I began my menstrual cycle, my seizures
always multiplied to a much higher level.

Like Julie, the reason I was given for why this happened was the effect of
hormone changes in the body. This rapid multiplication of seizures still
happens once every month today, just before, and during my menstrual cycle
because of these hormone changes, but nowadays, I simply mark them out on
my calendar so that both my husband and myself know that we should expect
and prepare for them.

All the best

Sofie

 If Emma is under a certain age (18?) her bones, teeth etc are still
growing and some people experience Tegretol robbing calcium in a (small?)
part of the population.  Most times they don't give it to 'kids'  until
they're olde, like me... probably over 20 unless there's good reason.
   Tegretol and some Other Anti Ep Drugs (AEDs), are absorbed into the
blood.  If she were later to become pregnant, the unborn child also would
have Tegretol in their blood.  One thing to avoid With Tegretol is Prompt
Withdrawal of the Drug except under a Doctor's supervison.  When a Fetus is
born, it doesn't have that option and could undergo other? problems with the
prompt removal of the Carbamazepine (Tegretol).   I think I had read also
that some of the AEDs can produce birth defects in a part of the population,
but don't have a link wrt. that, unless there's an advisory under the
Tegretol site about 'discuss with your doctor if you plan to become
pregnant'  sort of thing.
   Unless you get a website from your Chemist (or you could speak to them
about this too, as they might have other websites or printouts they can give
you),  you could search under the U.S. Ep. Foundation website, under
Medications and type Tegretol and search? or go?  at the search entry. Some
sites might list it under the Medical 'geek name'  Carbamazepine.  If
Tegretol doesn't turn up any hits (it should) on searches, you could try the
latter as see if the Med. name pulls info. in.
  Almost ALL of the prescriptions written now are Time Released versions,
either Tegretol CR, XR or Retard.   Those are designed to keep a stable
level in bloodstream, more reliably than the original Tegretol.   Many of us
just call it Tegretol since we know that it's part of that family.

   If you missed an older post, alcohol (including in some cough medicines)
and Grapefruit should not be used with Tegretol.    The EFA site is at
http://efa.org  .     Gordon.
(I don't think I replied already, as you appeared to want a gender-specific
reply at bottom here.)

Hi Emma and Bob, here is information from the Epilepsy Foundation here in the
USA about Tegretol.
http://efa.org/answerplace/Medical/treatment/medications/typesmedicine/tegretol.cfm

Hope this is beneficial.
Take care,
Julie