I tried a combination of depakote and tegretol when I first went to college. One made me nauseous, the other made me hungry. Despite all that, I gained 40 pounds the first year or so of college. Between the 2, I was often sick and missed my classes. Several teachers gave me incompletes and had to retake the classes. EventuaIy I switched doctors and they put me back on phenobarbitol and have mostly been seizure free since.

I have been on it for almost 15years and I have a lot of cognitive problems and once in a while hand tremors. My neuro said it was the meds (cognitive issues) but that could be the seizures wearing me down too. Ooh and it works but in combination with a rigid sleeping schedule. This is my experience.

I stopped taking this drug within 5 months of starting it because it was not effective and brought with it some pretty serious risks to liver health. I cant recall side effects at all but this was many years ago.