Generic Name: carbamazepine (oral) (kar ba MAZ e peen)
Brand Names: Carbatrol, Epitol, Equetro, TEGretol, TEGretol XR
What is carbamazepine?
Carbamazepine is an anticonvulsant. It works by decreasing nerve impulses that cause seizures and pain.
Carbamazepine is used to treat seizures and nerve pain such as trigeminal neuralgia and diabetic neuropathy. Carbamazepine is also used to treat bipolar disorder.
Carbamazepine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about carbamazepine?
This medication may cause severe or life-threatening skin rash, especially in people of Asian ancestry. Your doctor may recommend a blood test before you start the medication to determine your risk of this skin reaction. Seek emergency medical attention if you have a fever, sore throat, headache and skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads and causes blistering and peeling. You should not take carbamazepine if you have a history of bone marrow suppression, if you are also taking nefazodone, or if you are allergic to an antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil, Vanatrip, Limbitrol), desipramine (Norpramin), imipramine (Tofranil), or nortriptyline (Pamelor). Carbamazepine may cause harm to an unborn baby, but having a seizure during pregnancy could harm both the mother and the baby. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant while taking carbamazepine for seizures. Do not start or stop taking carbamazepine during pregnancy without your doctor's advice. Do not use carbamazepine if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as furazolidone (Furoxone), isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) in the last 14 days.
Before you take carbamazepine, tell your doctor if you have heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, liver or kidney disease, glaucoma, a thyroid disorder, lupus, porphyria, or a history of mental illness or psychosis.
Treatments for depression are getting better everyday and there are things you can start doing right away.
You may have thoughts about suicide while taking this medication. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits. Call your doctor at once if you have any new or worsening symptoms such as: mood or behavior changes, depression, anxiety, or if you feel agitated, hostile, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.
There are many other drugs that can interact with carbamazepine. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor. Keep a list of all your medicines and show it to any healthcare provider who treats you.
Do not stop using carbamazepine without first talking to your doctor, even if you feel fine. You may have increased seizures or unpleasant withdrawal symptoms if you stop using carbamazepine suddenly.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking carbamazepine?
Do not use carbamazepine if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as furazolidone (Furoxone), isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) in the last 14 days. You should not take carbamazepine if you are allergic to it, or if you have:
a history of bone marrow suppression
if you are also taking nefazodone; or
if you are allergic to an antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil, Vanatrip, Limbitrol), desipramine (Norpramin), imipramine (Tofranil), or nortriptyline (Pamelor).
This medication may cause severe or life-threatening skin rash, especially in people of Asian ancestry. Your doctor may recommend a blood test before you start the medication to determine your risk of this skin reaction.
To make sure you can safely take carbamazepine, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:
heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or triglycerides;
liver or kidney disease;
glaucoma;
a thyroid disorder;
lupus;
porphyria; or
a history of mental illness or psychosis.
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.
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.
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.
Seizure control is very important during pregnancy. The benefit of preventing seizures may outweigh any risks posed by taking carbamazepine. Follow your doctor's instructions about taking carbamazepine while you are pregnant. FDA pregnancy category D. Carbamazepine may cause harm to an unborn baby. Do not start taking carbamazepine without telling your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Use effective birth control while you are taking carbamazepine. Although carbamazepine may harm an unborn baby, having a seizure during pregnancy could harm both mother and baby. If you become pregnant while taking carbamazepine, do not stop taking the medicine without your doctor's advice. Carbamazepine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while you are using carbamazepine. 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.
How should I take carbamazepine?
Take exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results.
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 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 special dose-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. It may take up to 4 weeks before your symptoms improve. Keep using the medication as directed and call your doctor promptly if this medicine seems to stop working as well in preventing your seizures. Carbamazepine can lower 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 this medication is not causing harmful effects, your blood cells and kidney function may need to be tested often. Do not miss any follow up visits to your doctor for blood or urine tests. Your doctor may also recommend having your eyes checked regularly while you are taking carbamazepine.
Do not stop using carbamazepine without first talking to your doctor, even if you feel fine. You may have increased seizures or unpleasant withdrawal symptoms if you stop using carbamazepine suddenly. Wear a medical alert tag or carry an ID card stating that you take carbamazepine. Any medical care provider who treats you should know that you take seizure medication. Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
Overdose symptoms may include shallow breathing, fast heartbeat, nausea, vomiting, urinating less or not at all, muscle twitches, restlessness, tremors, slurred speech, staggering walk, and feeling light-headed or fainting.
What should I avoid while taking carbamazepine?
This medication may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert. Avoid drinking alcohol. It can increase some of the side effects of carbamazepine, and can also increase your risk of seizures. Avoid exposure to sunlight or tanning beds. Carbamazepine can make you sunburn more easily. Wear protective clothing and use sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) when you are outdoors.
Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with carbamazepine and lead to potentially dangerous effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit products with your doctor.
Carbamazepine side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor, such as: mood or behavior changes, depression, anxiety, or if you feel agitated, hostile, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself. Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:
pale skin, feeling light-headed, rapid heart rate, trouble concentrating;
fever, chills, sore throat, mouth and throat ulcers;
easy bruising or bleeding, severe tingling, numbness, pain, muscle weakness;
confusion, agitation, vision problems, hallucinations;
feeling short of breath, swelling of your ankles or feet;
urinating less than usual;
jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
severe skin reaction -- fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.
Less serious side effects may include:
feeling dizzy, drowsy, or unsteady;
nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, stomach pain;
headache, ringing in your ears;
dry mouth, swollen tongue; or
joint or muscle pain, leg cramps.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What other drugs will affect carbamazepine?
Cold or allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, other seizure medicines, and medicine for depression or anxiety can add to sleepiness caused by carbamazepine. Tell your doctor if you regularly use any of these other medicines.
This list is not complete and there are many other drugs that can interact with carbamazepine. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor. Keep a list of all your medicines and show it to any healthcare provider who treats you.
More Equetro resources
- Equetro Side Effects (in more detail)
- Equetro Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
- Equetro Drug Interactions
- Equetro Support Group
- 1 Review for Equetro - Add your own review/rating
- Equetro Consumer Overview
- Equetro Prescribing Information (FDA)
- Equetro Sustained-Release Capsules MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)
- Equetro Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information
- Carbamazepine Prescribing Information (FDA)
- Carbamazepine Monograph (AHFS DI)
- Carbamazepine Professional Patient Advice (Wolters Kluwer)
- Carbamazepine MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)
- Carbatrol Prescribing Information (FDA)
- Carbatrol Sustained-Release Capsules MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)
- Epitol Prescribing Information (FDA)
- Tegretol Prescribing Information (FDA)
- Tegretol Consumer Overview
- Tegretol XR Sustained-Release Tablets MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)
Compare Equetro with other medications
- Bipolar Disorder
Where can I get more information?
- Your pharmacist can provide more information about carbamazepine.
See also: Equetro side effects (in more detail)
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