What is carbamazepine (oral)?
Carbamazepine is in a group of drugs called anticonvulsants. 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 other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking carbamazepine (oral)?
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 (oral)?
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.
What happens if I miss a dose of carbamazepine (oral)?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose,
skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time.
Do not
take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Where can I get more information about carbamazepine (oral)?
Your pharmacist has information about carbamazepine (oral) written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of carbamazepine (oral)?
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.
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.
Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
-
fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling,
and red skin rash;
-
pale skin, easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness;
-
white patches or sores inside your mouth or on your lips;
-
feeling short of breath, swelling of your ankles or feet;
-
nausea, stomach pain, loss of appetite, jaundice (yellowing
of the skin or eyes); or
-
urinating less than usual.
Less serious side effects may include:
-
feeling dizzy, drowsy, or unsteady;
-
vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, stomach pain;
-
confusion, headache, blurred vision;
-
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. Tell
your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about carbamazepine (oral)?
You should not take this medicine if you have a history of bone marrow suppression, or if
you are allergic to an antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil), desipramine (Norpramin),
imipramine (Tofranil), or nortriptyline (Pamelor).
Do not take carbamazepine if you have taken an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid
(Marplan), tranylcypromine (Parnate), phenelzine (Nardil), or selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam) in the
past 14 days.
You may have thoughts about suicide while taking this medication. Your doctor will
need to check you at regular visits. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.
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 medicines that could cause a drug interaction if you
take them together with carbamazepine.
Tell your doctor about all the prescription
and over-the-counter medications you use.
Do not use carbamazepine without telling your doctor if you are
pregnant.
It could harm the unborn baby. Ask your doctor about using a non-hormone
method of birth control (not birth control pills) to
prevent pregnancy
while
taking carbamazepine.
Do not stop using carbamazepine without first talking to your doctor. You may have
increased seizures or unpleasant side effects if you stop using carbamazepine suddenly.
What should I avoid while taking carbamazepine (oral)?
Carbamazepine can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be
careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and 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 artificial UV rays (sunlamps or tanning beds).
Carbamazepine can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight and sunburn may result. Use a
sunscreen (minimum SPF 15) and wear protective clothing if you must be out in the sun.
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.
What other drugs will affect carbamazepine (oral)?
There are many other medicines that could cause a drug interaction if you
take them together with carbamazepine.
Tell your doctor about all the prescription
and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products,
and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your
doctor. Keep a list with you of all the medicines you use and show this list to any doctor or other
healthcare provider who treats you.
What happens if I have an overdose of carbamazepine (oral)?