Learn more about usage, cautions, and possible side effects .
Chemical Name: CARBAMAZEPINE (kar-ba-MAZ-e-peen)
This medicine 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: This medicine 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 this medicine. These tests will be used to check for side effects. THIS MEDICINE 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 this medicine to determine whether they have a greater risk of developing a severe skin reaction. Some medicines or medical conditions may interact with this medicine. INFORM YOUR DOCTOR OR PHARMACIST of all prescription and over-the-counter medicine that you are taking. DO NOT TAKE THIS MEDICINE 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 asthma, blood thinning, diabetes, infections, inflammation, aches and pains, high blood pressure, heart problems, high cholesterol, birth control, hormone replacement, 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 this medicine. 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, liver or kidney problems, mood or mental problems (eg, depression), multiple sclerosis, other types of seizures (eg, absence or atonic), blood problems, allergies, pregnancy, or breast-feeding. Tell your doctor if you have a history of suicidal thoughts or actions, have taken this medicine before, or if you have been tested and know whether or not you have a genetype called HLA-B*1502. Tell your doctor if you are allergic to other seizure medicines (eg, phenytoin, phenobarbital). USE OF THIS MEDICINE IS NOT RECOMMENDED if you have a history of certain severe heart problems (eg, atrioventricular block), bone marrow depression, the blood disorder porphyria, or other severe blood disorders. Contact your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns about taking this medicine.
Follow the directions for using this medicine provided by your doctor. 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 THIS MEDICINE with food or milk. EATING GRAPEFRUIT OR DRINKING GRAPEFRUIT JUICE while you are taking this medicine may increase the amount of this medicine 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. STORE THIS MEDICINE between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C), in a tightly closed container, away from heat, moisture, and light. CONTINUE TO TAKE THIS MEDICINE even if you feel well. Do not miss any doses. IF YOU MISS A DOSE OF THIS MEDICINE, 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 THIS MEDICINE 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 OR STOP USING THIS MEDICINE without checking with your doctor. Some conditions may become worse when the medicine is suddenly stopped. Your dose may need to be slowly lowered to avoid side effects. Laboratory 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 this medicine. This medicine 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 this medicine. THIS MEDICINE 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 this medicine. Using this medicine 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 drinking alcohol. PATIENTS WHO TAKE THIS MEDICINE MAY BE AT INCREASED RISK FOR SUICIDAL THOUGHTS OR ACTIONS. Watch patients who take this medicine 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. THIS MEDICINE MAY CAUSE increased sensitivity to the sun. Avoid exposure to the sun, sunlamps, or tanning booths until you know how you react to this medicine. THIS MEDICINE MAY REDUCE THE NUMBER OF BLOOD CELLS THAT ARE NEEDED FOR CLOTTING. To prevent bleeding, avoid situations where bruising or injury may occur. THIS MEDICINE 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 this medicine. 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 THIS MEDICINE IN THE ELDERLY because they may be more sensitive to the effects of the medicine. FOR WOMEN: THIS MEDICINE MAY DECREASE THE EFFECTIVENESS of your birth control pills. To prevent pregnancy, use an additional form of birth control while you are taking this medicine. THIS MEDICINE HAS BEEN SHOWN TO CAUSE HARM to the human fetus. IF YOU PLAN ON BECOMING PREGNANT, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using this medicine during pregnancy. THIS MEDICINE IS EXCRETED IN BREAST MILK. DO NOT BREAST-FEED while taking this medicine.
SIDE EFFECTS that may occur while taking this medicine include drowsiness, dizziness, dry mouth, unsteadiness, nausea, or vomiting. If they continue or are bothersome, check with your doctor. CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE if you experience decreased coordination; joint pain; severe or persistent dizziness or headache; stomach pain; sudden unusual weight gain; swelling of the hands, ankles, or feet; uncontrolled muscle movements; or blurred vision or other vision or eye problems. 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; fainting; fast or irregular heartbeat; fever, chills, or sore throat; hallucinations; loss of appetite; new or worsening mental or mood changes (eg, depression); menstrual changes; pain, tenderness, or unusual swelling in the neck, groin, or under the arms; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin; severe or persistent nausea or vomiting; shortness of breath; speech problems; suicidal thoughts or actions; swollen lymph nodes; ulcers or sores in the mouth; unusual bleeding or bruising; unusual tiredness; or yellowing of the skin or eyes. AN ALLERGIC REACTION to this medicine is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include rash, itching, swelling, severe dizziness, or trouble breathing. 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
If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. Symptoms of overdose may include decreased urination; fast or irregular heartbeat; loss of consciousness; muscle twitching or tremor; seizures; severe dizziness or drowsiness; severe nausea or vomiting; slow, shallow, or irregular breathing.
DO NOT SHARE THIS MEDICINE with others for whom it was not prescribed. DO NOT USE THIS MEDICINE for other health conditions. DO NOT SWITCH from the tablets form of this medicine to the suspension form without checking with your doctor. The same dose may not have the same effects. KEEP THIS MEDICINE out of the reach of children and pets. This medicine 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 THIS MEDICINE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, obtain refills before your supply runs out.
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