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Carbamazepine

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(kar ba maz' e peen)

Brand name(s): Atretol; Depitol; Epitol; Tegretol

Contents of this page:

IMPORTANT WARNING:

Carbamazepine can cause a blood disorder. Call your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms: sore throat, unusual bleeding or bruising, fever, or mouth sores. Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain lab tests to check your response to carbamazepine.

Why is this medication prescribed?

Carbamazepine is used to treat certain types of seizures in the treatment of epilepsy. It also relieves facial nerve pain.

This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

How should this medicine be used?

Carbamazepine comes as a tablet, chewable tablet, and liquid to take by mouth. It is taken two to four times a day. To treat nerve pain, it is taken once a day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take carbamazepine exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Shake the liquid suspension well before you use it each time.

Continue to take carbamazepine even if you feel well. Do not stop taking carbamazepine without talking to your doctor, especially if you have taken large doses for a long time. Abruptly stopping the drug can cause seizures. Your doctor probably will decrease your dose gradually. This drug must be taken regularly for a few weeks before its full effect is felt.

Other uses for this medicine

Carbamazepine also is used to treat certain psychiatric disorders, drug and alcohol withdrawal, restless leg syndrome, and a disease in children called chorea. Talk to your doctor about the possible risks of using this drug for your condition.

What special precautions should I follow?

Before taking carbamazepine,

What special dietary instructions should I follow?

Carbamazepine may cause an upset stomach. Take carbamazepine with food or milk.

Avoid drinking grapefruit juice or eating grapefruit 1 hour before or 2 hours after taking carbamazepine.

What should I do if I forget a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is within 4 hours of the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

What side effects can this medication cause?

Although side effects from carbamazepine are not common, they can occur. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

What storage conditions are needed for this medicine?

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature, away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication.

In case of emergency/overdose

In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.

Symptoms of overdose may include:

What other information should I know?

Call your doctor if you continue to have seizures or convulsions while taking this medication.

If you give this drug to a child, observe and keep a record of the child's moods, behavior, attention span, hand-eye coordination, and ability to solve problems and perform tasks requiring thought. Ask the child's teacher to keep a similar record. This information can help the child's doctor determine whether to continue the drug or to change the dose or drug.

Wear identification (Medic Alert) indicating medication use and epilepsy.

Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.

Last Revised - 01/01/2003


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