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carbamazepine (oral)

carbamazepine (oral)

Pronunciation: kar ba MAZ e peen

Brand: Carbatrol, Epitol, Equetro, TEGretol, TEGretol XR

TEGretol

slide 1 of 42, TEGretol,

200 mg, capsule, pink, imprinted with Tegretol, 27 27

Image of TEGretol
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TEGretol XR

slide 2 of 42, TEGretol XR,

100 mg, round, yellow, imprinted with T, 100 mg

Image of TEGretol XR
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TEGretol XR

slide 3 of 42, TEGretol XR,

200 mg, round, pink, imprinted with T, 200 mg

Image of TEGretol XR
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TEGretol XR

slide 4 of 42, TEGretol XR,

400 mg, round, brown, imprinted with T, 400 mg

Image of TEGretol XR
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Epitol

slide 5 of 42, Epitol,

200 mg, round, white, imprinted with 93 93, EPITOL

Image of Epitol
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CarBAMazepine

slide 6 of 42, CarBAMazepine,

200 mg, round, white, imprinted with 109, TEVA

Image of CarBAMazepine
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CarBAMazepine

slide 7 of 42, CarBAMazepine,

100 mg, round, pink/red specks, imprinted with 93 93, 778

Image of CarBAMazepine
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CarBAMazepine ER

slide 8 of 42, CarBAMazepine ER,

100 mg, capsule, green, imprinted with 93 5512

Image of CarBAMazepine ER
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CarBAMazepine ER

slide 9 of 42, CarBAMazepine ER,

200 mg, capsule, gray/green, imprinted with 93 5513

Image of CarBAMazepine ER
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CarBAMazepine ER

slide 10 of 42, CarBAMazepine ER,

300 mg, capsule, black/green, imprinted with 93 5514

Image of CarBAMazepine ER
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CarBAMazepine ER

slide 11 of 42, CarBAMazepine ER,

200 mg, round, pink, imprinted with SZ 787

Image of CarBAMazepine ER
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CarBAMazepine ER

slide 12 of 42, CarBAMazepine ER,

400 mg, round, brown, imprinted with SZ 788

Image of CarBAMazepine ER
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CarBAMazepine

slide 13 of 42, CarBAMazepine,

100 mg, round, pink, imprinted with 271

Image of CarBAMazepine
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CarBAMazepine

slide 14 of 42, CarBAMazepine,

200 mg, capsule, pink, imprinted with 268

Image of CarBAMazepine
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CarBAMazepine

slide 15 of 42, CarBAMazepine,

100 mg, round, pink, imprinted with 271

Image of CarBAMazepine
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Equetro

slide 16 of 42, Equetro,

200 mg, capsule, blue/yellow, imprinted with SPD417, SPD417 200 mg

Image of Equetro
slide 16 of 42

CarBAMazepine

slide 17 of 42, CarBAMazepine,

100 mg, round, pink/red specks, imprinted with 93 93, 778

Image of CarBAMazepine
slide 17 of 42

CarBAMazepine

slide 18 of 42, CarBAMazepine,

200 mg, round, white, imprinted with TARO 11

Image of CarBAMazepine
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CarBAMazepine

slide 19 of 42, CarBAMazepine,

100 mg, round, pink/white specks, imprinted with TARO 16

Image of CarBAMazepine
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CarBAMazepine ER

slide 20 of 42, CarBAMazepine ER,

200 mg, round, white, imprinted with T26

Image of CarBAMazepine ER
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CarBAMazepine ER

slide 21 of 42, CarBAMazepine ER,

400 mg, oval, white, imprinted with T29

Image of CarBAMazepine ER
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Carbatrol

slide 22 of 42, Carbatrol,

100 mg, capsule, green, imprinted with Shire, CARBATROL 100 mg

Image of Carbatrol
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Carbatrol

slide 23 of 42, Carbatrol,

200 mg, capsule, gray/green, imprinted with Shire, CARBATROL 200 mg

Image of Carbatrol
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Carbatrol

slide 24 of 42, Carbatrol,

300 mg, capsule, black/green, imprinted with Shire, CARBATROL 300 mg

Image of Carbatrol
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CarBAMazepine

slide 25 of 42, CarBAMazepine,

200 mg, round, white, imprinted with APO 200

Image of CarBAMazepine
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CarBAMazepine

slide 26 of 42, CarBAMazepine,

100 mg, round, pink/white specks, imprinted with TARO 16

Image of CarBAMazepine
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CarBAMazepine

slide 27 of 42, CarBAMazepine,

200 mg, round, white, imprinted with APO 200

Image of CarBAMazepine
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CarBAMazepine ER

slide 28 of 42, CarBAMazepine ER,

200 mg, capsule, gray/green, imprinted with S433, 200 mg

Image of CarBAMazepine ER
slide 28 of 42

CarBAMazepine ER

slide 29 of 42, CarBAMazepine ER,

300 mg, capsule, black/green, imprinted with S433, 300mg

Image of CarBAMazepine ER
slide 29 of 42

CarBAMazepine

slide 30 of 42, CarBAMazepine,

200 mg, round, white, imprinted with TARO 11

Image of CarBAMazepine
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CarBAMazepine

slide 31 of 42, CarBAMazepine,

200 mg, round, white, imprinted with TARO 11

Image of CarBAMazepine
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CarBAMazepine

slide 32 of 42, CarBAMazepine,

200 mg, round, white, imprinted with R, 143

Image of CarBAMazepine
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CarBAMazepine

slide 33 of 42, CarBAMazepine,

200 mg, round, white, imprinted with T 109

Image of CarBAMazepine
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CarBAMazepine ER

slide 34 of 42, CarBAMazepine ER,

100 mg, capsule, green/white, imprinted with APO, C100

Image of CarBAMazepine ER
slide 34 of 42

CarBAMazepine ER

slide 35 of 42, CarBAMazepine ER,

200 mg, capsule, green/white, imprinted with APO, C200

Image of CarBAMazepine ER
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CarBAMazepine ER

slide 36 of 42, CarBAMazepine ER,

300 mg, capsule, green/white, imprinted with APO, C300

Image of CarBAMazepine ER
slide 36 of 42

Carbatrol

slide 37 of 42, Carbatrol,

200 mg, gray/pink, imprinted with Shire, CARBATROL 200 mg

Image of Carbatrol
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Carbatrol

slide 38 of 42, Carbatrol,

300 mg, capsule, black/green, imprinted with Shire, CARBATROL 300 mg

Image of Carbatrol
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TEGretol

slide 39 of 42, TEGretol,

100 mg, round, white/red specks, imprinted with TEGRETOL, 52 52

Image of TEGretol
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TEGretol

slide 40 of 42, TEGretol,

200 mg, oblong, pink, imprinted with TEGRETOL, 27 27

Image of TEGretol
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TEGretol XR

slide 41 of 42, TEGretol XR,

100 mg, round, white, imprinted with T, 100 mg

Image of TEGretol XR
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TEGretol XR

slide 42 of 42, TEGretol XR,

400 mg, round, brown, imprinted with T, 400 mg

Image of TEGretol XR
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What is the most important information I should know about carbamazepine?

You should not take carbamazepine if you have a history of bone marrow suppression, or if you are allergic to carbamazepine or to certain antidepressant medications.

Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using. Many drugs can interact, and some drugs should not be used together.

Carbamazepine may cause serious blood problems or a life-threatening skin rash or allergic reaction. Call your doctor if you have a fever, unusual weakness, bleeding, bruising, or a skin rash that causes blistering and peeling.

Some people have thoughts about suicide while taking seizure medicine. Stay alert to changes in your mood or symptoms. Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor.

Do not stop taking carbamazepine without asking your doctor first, even if you feel fine.

What is carbamazepine?

Carbamazepine is an anticonvulsant that 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 should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking carbamazepine?

You should not take carbamazepine if you have a history of bone marrow suppression, or if you are allergic to carbamazepine or to an antidepressant such as amitriptyline, desipramine, doxepin, imipramine, or nortriptyline.

Do not use carbamazepine if you have taken an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include furazolidone, isocarboxazid, linezolid, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, and tranylcypromine.

Carbamazepine may cause severe or life-threatening skin rash, and especially in people of Asian ancestry. Your doctor may recommend a blood test before you start the medication to determine your risk.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

  • heart problems;
  • liver or kidney disease;
  • glaucoma;
  • porphyria;
  • depression, mood disorder; or
  • suicidal thoughts or actions.

You may have thoughts about suicide while taking carbamazepine. Your doctor should check your progress at regular visits. Your family or other caregivers should also be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms.

Do not start or stop taking seizure medication during pregnancy without your doctor's advice. Carbamazepine may harm an unborn baby, but having a seizure during pregnancy could harm both mother and baby. The benefit of preventing seizures may outweigh any risk. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant.

If you are pregnant, your name may be listed on a pregnancy registry to track the effects of carbamazepine on the baby.

Carbamazepine can make birth control pills or implants less effective. Use a barrier form of birth control (such as a condom or diaphragm with spermicide) to prevent pregnancy.

You should not breastfeed while you are using carbamazepine.

How should I take carbamazepine?

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Take with food.

Swallow the extended-release tablet or capsule whole and do not crush, chew, or break it. Tell your doctor if you cannot swallow a pill whole.

The chewable tablet must be chewed before you swallow it.

Shake the oral suspension (liquid) before you measure a dose. Use the dosing syringe provided, or use a medicine dose-measuring device (not a kitchen spoon).

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.

You will need frequent medical tests.

Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.

Do not stop using carbamazepine suddenly, even if you feel fine. Stopping suddenly may cause increased seizures. Follow your doctor's instructions about tapering your dose.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Overdose symptoms may include severe drowsiness, weak or shallow breathing, and loss of consciousness.

What should I avoid while taking carbamazepine?

Drinking alcohol with this medicine can cause side effects, and can also increase your risk of seizures.

Grapefruit may interact with carbamazepine and lead to unwanted side effects. Avoid the use of grapefruit products.

Avoid driving or hazardous activity until you know how this medicine will affect you. Your reactions could be impaired.

Carbamazepine could make you sunburn more easily. Avoid sunlight or tanning beds. Wear protective clothing and use sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) when you are outdoors.

What are the possible side effects of carbamazepine?

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction (hives, difficult breathing, swelling in your face or throat) or a severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning in your eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash that spreads and causes blistering and peeling).

Seek medical treatment if you have a serious drug reaction that can affect many parts of your body. Symptoms may include: skin rash, fever, swollen glands, muscle aches, severe weakness, unusual bruising, or yellowing of your skin or eyes.

Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor, such as: sudden mood or behavior changes, depression, anxiety, insomnia, or if you feel agitated, hostile, restless, irritable, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

  • a skin rash, no matter how mild;
  • loss of appetite, right-sided upper stomach pain, dark urine;
  • slow, fast, or pounding heartbeats;
  • anemia or other blood problems --fever, chills, sore throat, mouth sores, bleeding gums, nosebleeds, pale skin, easy bruising, unusual tiredness, feeling light-headed or short of breath; or
  • low levels of sodium in the body --headache, confusion, severe weakness, feeling unsteady, increased seizures.

Common side effects may include:

  • dizziness, loss of coordination, problems with walking;
  • nausea, vomiting; or
  • drowsiness.

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?

Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medications at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you take, which may increase side effects or make the medications less effective.

Using carbamazepine with other drugs that make you drowsy can worsen this effect. Ask your doctor before using opioid medication, a sleeping pill, a muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety or seizures.

Many drugs can affect carbamazepine, and some drugs should not be used at the same time. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed here.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about carbamazepine.

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content.

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