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Medication Guide

CARBATROL
(CAR-BA-TROL)
(carbamazepine) Extended-Release Capsules

Read this Medication Guide before you start taking CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release) and each time you get a refill. There may be new information. This information does not take the place of talking to your healthcare provider about your medical condition or treatment.

What is the most important information I should know about CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release) ?

Do not stop taking CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release) without first talking to your healthcare provider. Stopping CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release) suddenly can cause serious problems.

CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release) can cause serious side effects, including:

1. CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release) may cause rare but serious rashes that may lead to death. These serious skin reactions are more likely to happen within the first four months of CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release) treatment but may occur at later times. These reactions can happen in anyone, but are more likely in people of Asian descent. If you are of Asian descent you may need a genetic blood test before you take CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release) to see if you are at a higher risk for serious skin reactions with this medicine.

Symptoms may include:

• skin rash
• hives
• sores in your mouth
• blistering or peeling of the skin

2. CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release) may cause rare but serious blood problems. Symptoms may include:

• fever, sore throat or other infections that come and go or do not go away
• easy bruising
• red or purple spots on your body
• bleeding gums or nose bleeds
• severe fatigue or weakness

3. Like other antiepileptic drugs, CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release) may cause suicidal thoughts or actions in a very small number of people, about 1 in 500.

Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms, especially if they are new, worse, or worry you:

• thoughts about suicide or dying
• attempt to commit suicide
• new or worse depression
• new or worse anxiety
• feeling agitated or restless
• panic attacks
• trouble sleeping (insomnia)
• new or worse irritability
• acting aggressive, being angry, or violent
• acting on dangerous impulses
• an extreme increase in activity and talking (mania)
• other unusual changes in behavior or mood

How can I watch for early symptoms of suicidal thoughts and actions?

• Pay attention to any changes, especially sudden changes, in mood, behaviors, thoughts, or feelings.
• Keep all follow-up visits with your healthcare provider as scheduled.
• Call your healthcare provider between visits as needed, especially if you are worried about symptoms.

Do not stop CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release) without first talking to a healthcare provider.

Stopping CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release) suddenly can cause serious problems.

Suicidal thoughts or actions can be caused by things other than medicines. If you have suicidal thoughts or actions, your healthcare provider may check for other causes.

What is CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release) ?

CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release) is a medicine used to treat:

• certain types of seizures (partial, tonic-clonic, mixed)
• certain types of nerve pain (trigeminal and glossopharyngeal neuralgia).

CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release) is not a regular pain medicine and should not be used for aches or pains.

Who should not take CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release) ?

Do not take CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release) if you:

• have a history of bone marrow depression
• are allergic to carbamazepine or any of the ingredients in CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release) . See the end of this Medication Guide for a complete list of ingredients in CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release) .
• take nefazodone
• are allergic to antidepressant medications called tricyclic (TCAs).
• have taken a medicine called Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor (MAOI) in the last 14 days.

Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for a list of these medicines if you are not sure.

What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release) ?

Before you take CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release) , tell your healthcare provider if you:

• have or ever had heart problems
• have or ever had blood problems
• have or ever had liver or kidney problems
• have or ever had allergic reactions to medicines
• have or ever had increased pressure in your eye
• have or have had suicidal thoughts or actions, depression or mood problems
• have any other medical conditions
• drink grapefruit juice or eat grapefruit
• use birth control. CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release) may make your birth control less effective. Tell your healthcare provider if your menstrual bleeding changes while you take birth control and CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release) .
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release) may harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant while taking CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release) . You and your healthcare provider should decide if you should take CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release) while you are pregnant.
  • If you become pregnant while taking CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release) , talk to your healthcare provider about registering with the North American Antiepileptic Drug (NAAED) Pregnancy Registry. The purpose of this registry is to collect information about the safety of antiepileptic medicine during pregnancy. You can enroll in this registry by calling 1-888-233-2334.
• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release) passes into breast milk. You and your healthcare provider should discuss whether you should take

CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release) or breastfeed. You should not do both.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Taking CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release) with certain other medicines can cause side effects or affect how well they work. Do not start or stop other medicines without talking to your healthcare provider.

Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

How should I take CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release) ?

• Take CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release) exactly as prescribed. Your doctor will tell you how much CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release) to take.
• Your healthcare provider may change your dose. Do not change your dose of CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release) without talking to your healthcare provider.
• Do not stop taking CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release) without first talking to your healthcare provider. Stopping CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release) suddenly can cause serious problems. Stopping seizure medicine suddenly in a patient who has epilepsy can cause seizures that will not stop (status epilepticus).
• Take CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release) with or without food.
• Do not crush, chew, or break CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release) capsules or the beads inside of the capsules. But, CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release) capsules can be opened and sprinkled over food such as a teaspoon of applesauce. Tell your healthcare provider if you can not swallow CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release) whole.
• If you take too much CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release) , call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center right away.

What should I avoid while taking CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release) ?

• Do not drink alcohol or take other drugs that may make you sleepy or dizzy while taking CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release) until you talk to your healthcare provider. CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release) taken with alcohol or drugs may make your sleepiness or dizziness worse.
• Do not drive, or operate heavy machinery, or do other dangerous activities until you know how CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release) affects you. CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release) can slow your thinking and motor skills.

What are the possible side effects of CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release) ?

See “What is the most important information I should know about CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release) ?”

CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release) may cause other serious side effects including:

• Irregular heartbeat - symptoms include:
  • Fast, slow, or pounding heartbeat
  • Shortness of breath
  • Feeling lightheaded
  • Fainting
• Liver problems - symptoms include:
  • yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes
  • dark urine
  • pain on the right side of your stomach area (abdominal pain)
  • easy bruising
  • loss of appetite
  • nausea or vomiting

Get medical help right away if you have any of the symptoms listed above or listed in

“What is the most important information I should know about CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release) ”.

The most common side effects of CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release) include:

• dizziness
• drowsiness
• problems with walking and coordination (unsteadiness)
• nausea
• vomiting

These are not all the side effects of CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release) . For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you. or that does not go away.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

How should I store CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release) ?

• Store CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release) between 59°F to 86°F (15°C to 30°C).
• Keep CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release) out of the light.
• Keep CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release) capsules dry.

Keep CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release) and all medicines out of the reach of children.

General information about CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release)

Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Medication Guide. Do not use CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release) for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release) to other people, even if they have the same symptoms that you have. It may harm them.

This Medication Guide summarizes the most important information about CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release) . If you would like more information, talk with your healthcare provider. You can ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider for information about CARBATROL (carbamazepine extended-release) that is written for health professionals.

For more information go to www.carbatrol (carbamazepine extended-release) .com or call 1-800-828-2088.

What are the ingredients in CARBATROL?

Active ingredient: carbamazepine

Inactive ingredients: citric acid, colloidal silicon dioxide, lactose monohydrate, microcrystalline cellulose, polyethylene glycol, povidone, sodium lauryl sulfate, talc, triethyl citrate and Eudragit.

In addition:

• the 100 mg capsules contain gelatin-NF, FD&C Blue #2, Yellow Iron Oxide, and titanium dioxide and are imprinted with white ink
• the 200 mg capsules contain gelatin-NF, FD&C Red #3, FD&C Yellow #6, Yellow Iron Oxide, FD&C Blue #2, and titanium dioxide, and are imprinted with white ink
• the 300 mg capsules contain gelatin-NF, FD&C Blue #2, FD&C Yellow #6, Red Iron Oxide, Yellow Iron Oxide, and titanium dioxide, and are imprinted with white ink

Last reviewed on RxList: 3/18/2011
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.