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| Pronunciation |
|
 (kar
ba MAZ e
peen) |
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| Brand Names |
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| Carbatrol®; Epitol®;
Tegretol®; Tegretol®-XR |
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| Foreign Brand
Names |
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| Apo-Carbamazepine® (Canada); Carbazep
(Mexico); Carbazina (Mexico); Mazepine® (Canada); Neugeron (Mexico);
Novo-Carbamaz (Canada); Nu-Carbamazepine (Canada); PMS-Carbamazepine
(Canada) |
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| Therapeutic
Categories |
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|
Anticonvulsant, Miscellaneous |
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| What key warnings should I know
about before taking this
medicine? |
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- Extremely rare, but potentially life-threatening blood cell
problems may occur in patients receiving this medication. Report any fever, sore
throat, mouth sores, infections, easy bruising, or purple "splotches" on your
skin to your healthcare provider IMMEDIATELY. If you have ever had a change in
your blood cells related to a medication, you may be at increased risk of a
serious side effect with carbamazepine. Consult your healthcare
provider.
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| Reasons not to take this
medicine |
|
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- If you have an allergy to carbamazepine or any other part of the
medicine.
- If you have an allergy to tricyclic antidepressants or poorly working
bone marrow.
- If you are taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (tranylcypromine,
isocarboxazid, phenelzine).
- If you are pregnant.
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| What is this medicine used
for? |
|
|
- This medicine is used to prevent seizures and to treat pain caused by
trigeminal and diabetic nerve disorders.
- Other uses include treatment of different types of mental illness,
restless leg syndrome, and alcohol, cocaine, and benzodiazepine
withdrawal.
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| How does it work? |
|
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- Carbamazepine affects sodium shifts in the brain. This stabilizes the
brain.
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| How is it best taken? |
|
|
- Take with or without food. Take with food if this medicine causes an
upset stomach.
- Swallow sustained-release tablet whole. Do not chew, break, or crush.
- Chew the chewable tablet well before swallowing.
- A liquid (suspension) is available if you cannot swallow pills. Those
who have feeding tubes can also use the liquid. Flush the feeding tube before
and after medicine is given. Shake well first and mix with an equal amount of
water before giving.
- Avoid grapefruit and grapefruit
juice.
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| What do I do if I miss a
dose? |
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- Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
- If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Return to
your regular schedule.
- Do not take a double dose or extra
doses.
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| What are the precautions when
taking this
medicine? |
|
|
- Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix
well with other medicines.
- Wear disease medical alert identification if using for seizure
disorder.
- If you are 65 or older, you may have more side effects. You could feel
sleepy and shaky.
- You may not be alert. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities
until you see how this medicine affects you.
- Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor).
- Diltiazem, danazol, verapamil, and propoxyphene may increase this
medicine's side effects. Talk with healthcare provider.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make
sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling
about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of
face, lips, tongue, throat; or any other symptoms involved.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting
pregnant.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are breast-feeding.
- Birth control pills may not work. Use another form of birth
control.
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| What are the common side effects
of this
medicine? |
|
|
- Feeling tired or lightheaded. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or
activities that require you to be alert until you see how this medicine affects
you.
- Changes in balance, feeling shaky or unsteady.
- Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking
hard candy, or chewing gum may
help.
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| What should I monitor? |
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- Check blood work. Talk with healthcare provider.
- Watch for change in symptoms. Is condition better, worse, or about the
same?
- Follow up with healthcare
provider.
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| Reasons to call healthcare
provider
immediately |
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- Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing;
tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits;
swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Fever and/or chills or other signs of infection.
- Changes in thinking clearly and logically.
- Too tired or sleepy.
- Severe nausea or vomiting.
- Sore throat, rash, mouth ulcers, easy bruising, swollen glands, not
feeling hungry, or yellowing of
skin.
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| How should I store this
medicine? |
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- Store in a tight, light-resistant container at room
temperature.
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| General statements |
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- Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's
medicine.
- Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
- Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements,
vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider
(doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
- Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine,
including over-the-counter or natural products (herbs,
vitamins).
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