Learn more about usage, cautions, and possible side effects of Carbamazepine.
Chemical Name: CARBAMAZEPINE (kar-ba-MAZ-e-peen)
Carbamazepine 200mg is an anticonvulsant used to treat seizures. It is also used to treat severe pain of the jaw or cheek caused by a facial nerve problem (trigeminal neuralgia). It may also be used to treat other conditions as determined by your doctor.
WARNING: Carbamazepine 200mg may rarely cause severe blood problems (eg, aplastic anemia, agranulocytosis). Contact your doctor right away if you develop fever, chills, or sore throat; rash; ulcers or sores in the mouth; unusual bruising or bleeding; unusual tiredness; or swollen lymph nodes. Lab tests, including complete blood cell counts, will be performed before and during treatment with Carbamazepine 200mg. These tests will be used to check for side effects. CARBAMAZEPINE 200mg MAY RARELY CAUSE SERIOUS AND SOMETIMES FATAL SKIN REACTIONS. Contact your doctor at once if you develop red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin, with or without fever. The risk of this reaction may be greater in Asian patients. Asian patients may need to have a blood test before they start Carbamazepine 200mg to determine whether they have a greater risk of developing a severe skin reaction. Some medicines or medical conditions may interact with Carbamazepine 200mg. INFORM YOUR DOCTOR OR PHARMACIST of all prescription and over-the-counter medicine that you are taking. DO NOT TAKE CARBAMAZEPINE 200mg if you are also taking nefazodone, a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) (eg, phenelzine), or if you have taken an MAOI within the past 14 days. ADDITIONAL MONITORING OF YOUR DOSE OR CONDITION may be needed if you are taking other prescription or nonprescription medicines (eg, used for allergies, asthma, blood thinning, cancer, diabetes, infections, inflammation, aches and pains, heartburn or reflux disease, high blood pressure, heart problems, high cholesterol, birth control, hormone replacement, immune system suppression, mental or mood problems, sleep, seizures), multivitamin products, and herbal or dietary supplements (eg, herbal teas, coenzyme Q10, garlic, ginseng, ginkgo, St. John's wort). Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure if any of your medicines might interfere with Carbamazepine 200mg. DO NOT START OR STOP any medicine without doctor or pharmacist approval. Inform your doctor of any other medical conditions, including a history of heart problems (eg, heart block, heart failure, irregular heartbeat); abnormal electrocardiogram (ECG); high blood pressure; high blood cholesterol; glaucoma or increased pressure in the eye; liver or kidney problems; mood or mental problems (eg, depression); suicidal thoughts or actions; multiple sclerosis; other types of seizures (eg, absence or atonic); blood problems, including blood problems caused by other medicine; allergies; pregnancy; or breast-feeding. Tell your doctor if you have taken Carbamazepine 200mg before, or if you have been tested and know whether or not you have a gene type called HLA-B*1502. Tell your doctor if you are allergic to other seizure medicines (eg, phenytoin, phenobarbital). USE OF CARBAMAZEPINE 200mg IS NOT RECOMMENDED if you have a history of bone marrow problems, the blood disorder porphyria, or other severe blood disorders. Contact your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns about taking Carbamazepine 200mg.
Follow the directions for using Carbamazepine 200mg provided by your doctor. Carbamazepine 200mg has a MEDICATION GUIDE approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Read it carefully. Ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist any questions that you may have about Carbamazepine 200mg. SWALLOW WHOLE. Do not crush or chew before swallowing. Do not use a tablet if it is chipped, cracked, or damaged in any way. TAKE CARBAMAZEPINE 200mg with food or milk. EATING GRAPEFRUIT OR DRINKING GRAPEFRUIT JUICE while you are taking Carbamazepine 200mg may increase the amount of Carbamazepine 200mg in your blood, which may increase your risk for serious side effects. Talk with your doctor before including grapefruit or grapefruit juice in your diet. DO NOT SWITCH from the tablets form of Carbamazepine 200mg to the suspension form without checking with your doctor. The same dose may not have the same effects. STORE CARBAMAZEPINE 200mg between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C), in a tightly closed container, away from heat, moisture, and light. KEEP CARBAMAZEPINE 200mg out of the reach of children and away from pets. Take Carbamazepine 200mg regularly to receive the most benefit from it. Taking Carbamazepine 200mg at the same time each day will help you to remember. CONTINUE TO TAKE CARBAMAZEPINE 200mg even if you feel well. DO NOT SUDDENDLY STOP TAKING CARBAMAZEPINE 200mg. You may have an increased risk of seizures. If you need to stop Carbamazepine 200mg or add a new medicine, your doctor will gradually lower your dose. Do not miss any doses. IF YOU MISS A DOSE OF CARBAMAZEPINE 200mg, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.
DO NOT TAKE CARBAMAZEPINE 200mg if you have had an allergic reaction to it, to any ingredient in this product, or to any tricyclic medicines (eg, amitriptyline). DO NOT EXCEED THE RECOMMENDED DOSE without checking with your doctor. Lab and/or medical tests may be performed to monitor your progress or to check for side effects. KEEP ALL DOCTOR AND LABORATORY APPOINTMENTS while you are using Carbamazepine 200mg. Carbamazepine 200mg may interfere with certain lab tests. BEFORE YOU HAVE ANY MEDICAL OR DENTAL TREATMENTS OR SURGERY, tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking Carbamazepine 200mg. CARBAMAZEPINE 200mg MAY CAUSE drowsiness, dizziness, or blurred vision. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how you react to Carbamazepine 200mg. Using Carbamazepine 200mg alone, with other medicines, or with alcohol may lessen your ability to drive or to perform other potentially dangerous tasks. Check with your doctor before you drink alcohol or use medicines that may cause drowsiness while you are using Carbamazepine 200mg; it may add to their effects. Ask your pharmacist if you have questions about which medicines may cause drowsiness. PATIENTS WHO TAKE CARBAMAZEPINE 200mg MAY BE AT INCREASED RISK FOR SUICIDAL THOUGHTS OR ACTIONS. Watch patients who take Carbamazepine 200mg closely. Contact the doctor at once if new, worsened, or sudden symptoms such as depressed mood; anxious, restless, or irritable behavior; panic attacks; or any unusual change in mood or behavior occur. Contact the doctor right away if any signs of suicidal thoughts or actions occur. CARBAMAZEPINE 200mg MAY CAUSE increased sensitivity to the sun. Avoid exposure to the sun, sunlamps, or tanning booths until you know how you react to Carbamazepine 200mg. CARBAMAZEPINE 200mg MAY REDUCE THE NUMBER OF BLOOD CELLS THAT ARE NEEDED FOR CLOTTING. To prevent bleeding, avoid situations where bruising or injury may occur. CARBAMAZEPINE 200mg MAY LOWER YOUR RESISTANCE TO INFECTION. Prevent infection by avoiding contact with people with colds or other infections. PATIENTS WHO HAVE a certain gene type called HLA-B*1502 may have an increased risk for serious skin reactions from Carbamazepine 200mg. Tell your doctor if you have been tested and know whether or not you have the HLA-B*1502 gene type. BEFORE YOU BEGIN TAKING ANY NEW MEDICINE, either prescription or over-the-counter, check with your doctor or pharmacist. CAUTION IS ADVISED WHEN USING CARBAMAZEPINE 200mg IN THE ELDERLY; they may be more sensitive to the effects of the medicine. FOR WOMEN: CARBAMAZEPINE 200mg MAY DECREASE THE EFFECTIVENESS of hormonal birth control (eg, birth control pills). To prevent pregnancy, use an additional form of birth control (eg, condoms) while taking Carbamazepine 200mg. CARBAMAZEPINE 200mg MAY INTERFERE WITH SOME PREGNANCY TEST RESULTS. Check with your doctor if you have questions or concerns about your results. CARBAMAZEPINE 200mg HAS BEEN SHOWN TO CAUSE HARM to the human fetus. IF YOU THINK YOU MAY BE PREGNANT, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using Carbamazepine 200mg during pregnancy. CARBAMAZEPINE 200mg IS EXCRETED IN BREAST MILK. DO NOT BREAST-FEED while taking Carbamazepine 200mg.
SIDE EFFECTS that may occur while taking Carbamazepine 200mg include drowsiness, dizziness, dry mouth, unsteadiness, nausea, or vomiting. If they continue or are bothersome, check with your doctor. CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY if you experience black, tarry, or bloody stools; calf pain, swelling, or tenderness; change in the amount of urine produced; chest pain; confusion; dark urine; decreased coordination; fainting; fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat; fever, chills, or sore throat; hallucinations; joint pain; lightheadedness; loss of appetite; new or worsening mental or mood changes (eg, aggression, agitation, anger, anxiety, depression, irritability, restlessness); menstrual changes; pain, tenderness, or unusual swelling in the neck, groin, or under the arms; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin; red or purple spots on your body; severe or persistent dizziness or headache; severe or persistent nausea or vomiting; shortness of breath; speech problems; stomach pain; sudden unusual weight gain; suicidal thoughts or actions; swelling of the hands, ankles, or feet; swollen lymph nodes; trouble sleeping; ulcers or sores in the mouth; uncontrolled muscle movements; unusual bleeding or bruising (eg, bleeding gums, nose bleeds); unusual tiredness or weakness; vision (eg, blurred vision) or eye problems; or yellowing of the skin or eyes. AN ALLERGIC REACTION to Carbamazepine 200mg is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue. This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your healthcare provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Drug interactions can result in unwanted side effects or prevent a medicine from doing its job. Use our drug interaction checker to find out if your medicines interact with each other. Check drug interactions for Carbamazepine
If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. Symptoms of overdose may include decreased urination; fainting; fast or irregular heartbeat; loss of consciousness; muscle twitching or tremor; seizures; severe dizziness, headache, or drowsiness; severe nausea or vomiting; slow, shallow, or irregular breathing.
DO NOT SHARE CARBAMAZEPINE 200mg with others for whom it was not prescribed. DO NOT USE CARBAMAZEPINE 200mg for other health conditions. YOU MAY NOTICE THE TABLET SHELL in your stool with some brands of Carbamazepine 200mg. This is normal and not a cause for concern. CARBAMAZEPINE 200mg MAY CAUSE YOU TO BECOME SUNBURNED MORE EASILY. Use a sunscreen or wear protective clothing if you must be outside for more than a short time. IF USING CARBAMAZEPINE 200mg FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, obtain refills before your supply runs out. CHECK WITH YOUR PHARMACIST about how to dispose of unused medicine.