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In this Article

• What is carbamazepine (Tegretol)?
• What are the possible side effects of carbamazepine (Tegretol)?
• What is the most important information I should know about carbamazepine (Tegretol)?
• What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking carbamazepine (Tegretol)?
• How should I take carbamazepine (Tegretol)?
• What happens if I miss a dose (Tegretol)?
• What happens if I overdose (Tegretol)?
• What should I avoid while taking carbamazepine (Tegretol)?
• What other drugs will affect carbamazepine (Tegretol)?
• Where can I get more information?

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking carbamazepine (Tegretol)?

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to carbamazepine or to certain antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil), clomipramine (Anafranil), imipramine (Tofranil), and others.

Do not use carbamazepine if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) within the past 14 days.

You should not take carbamazepine if you have a history of bone marrow suppression, or if you are also taking nefazodone.

Before taking carbamazepine, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

• a history of serious side effects from any drug;
• liver or kidney disease;
• porphyria;
• heart disease or heart block;
• lupus;
• a history of mental illness; or
• glaucoma.

If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take carbamazepine.

You may have thoughts about suicide while taking this medication. Tell your doctor if you have new or worsening depression or suicidal thoughts during the first several months of treatment, or whenever your dose is changed.

Your family or other caregivers should also be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.

Patients of Asian ancestry may have a higher risk of developing a rare but serious skin reaction to carbamazepine. Your doctor may recommend a blood test before you start the medication to determine your risk of this skin reaction.

FDA pregnancy category D. Do not use carbamazepine without telling your doctor if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

Carbamazepine can make birth control pills less effective. Ask your doctor about using a non-hormone method of birth control (such as a condom, diaphragm, spermicide) to prevent pregnancy while taking carbamazepine.

Carbamazepine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take carbamazepine (Tegretol)?

Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results from this medication.

Do not crush, chew, or break an extended-release tablet. Swallow the pill whole. Breaking the pill would cause too much of the drug to be released at one time.

You may open the extended-release capsule and sprinkle the medicine into a spoonful of pudding or applesauce to make swallowing easier. Swallow this mixture right away without chewing. Do not save the mixture for later use. Discard the empty capsule.

Shake the oral suspension (liquid) well just before you measure a dose. Measure the liquid with a marked measuring spoon or medicine cup, not with a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one. Do not take other liquid medicines at the same time.

The carbamazepine chewable tablet must be chewed before you swallow it.

Carbamazepine can lower the blood cells that help your body fight infections. This can make it easier for you to bleed from an injury or get sick from being around others who are ill. To be sure your blood cells do not get too low, your blood will need to be tested on a regular basis. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.

Your doctor may recommend having your eyes checked regularly while you are taking this medicine.

It may take up to 4 weeks of using this medicine before your symptoms improve. Do not stop taking the medication even if you feel better. You may have increased seizures or unpleasant side effects if you stop using carbamazepine suddenly.

Call your doctor promptly if this medicine does not seem to be working as well in preventing your seizures.

Carry an ID card or wear a medical alert bracelet stating that you are taking carbamazepine, in case of emergency. Any doctor, dentist, or emergency medical care provider who treats you should know that you are taking carbamazepine.

Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with carbamazepine and cause unwanted side effects. Do not change the amount of grapefruit products in your diet without first talking to your doctor.

Store carbamazepine at room temperature away from moisture and heat.