Carbamazepine: functions, dosage, side effects, how to use it

What drug is Carbamazepine?

What is Carbamazepine for?

Carbamazepine is a drug used to prevent and control seizures. This drug belongs to a class of drugs known as anticonvulsants or antiepileptic drugs. In addition, this medication may also be used to treat certain mental or mood conditions such as bipolar disorder. Carbamazepine is also used to relieve certain types of nerve pain, such as trigeminal neuralgia.

Carbamazepine works by reducing the spread of seizure activity in the brain and restoring a normal balance of neural activity.

How do I use Carbamazepine?

Read the instructions for use given by your pharmacist before using Carbamazepine. If you have any questions, consult your doctor or pharmacist. Some things you should pay attention to before taking carbamazepine are:

• The dosage is based on your health condition and response to treatment. To reduce side effects, your doctor may direct you to start a low dose of medication and gradually increase your dose. Follow your doctor's instructions.
• Avoid consuming grapefruit or grapefruit juice while using this medicine unless your doctor has said it is safe to do so. Grapefruit can increase the chance of side effects with this drug. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
• Use this remedy regularly for best results. To help you remember drinking at the same time every day.
• Do not stop treatment without consulting a doctor. Some conditions (such as seizures) can get worse when treatment is stopped. Your dose may need to be gradually decreased.
• Tell your doctor if the condition does not improve or if it gets worse.

How is Carbamazepine stored?

This medication is best stored at room temperature, away from direct light and damp places. Don't keep it in the bathroom. Don't freeze it. Other brands of this drug may have different storage rules. Observe the storage instructions on the product package or ask your pharmacist. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

Do not flush medicines down the toilet or down the drain unless instructed to do so. Discard this product when it has expired or when it is no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company about how to safely dispose of your product.

Carbamazepine dosage

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment.

What is the dose of Carbamazepine for adults?

For the treatment of epilepsy, the carbamazepine dosage is:

• Initial dose: 200 mg orally twice a day (immediate and extended release) or 100 mg orally 4 times a day (suspension).
• Follow-up dose: 800-1200 mg / day.
• Maximum dose: 1200 mg / day. However, doses up to 1600 mg / day have been used in rare cases.

To treat trigeminal neuralgia, carbamazepine dosages are:

• Initial Dose: 100 mg orally twice a day (immediate or extended release) or 50 mg orally 4 times a day (suspension).
• Follow-up dose: 400-800 mg / day.
• Maximum dose: 1200 mg / day.

For bipolar disorder, the carbamazepine dosage is:

• Initial dose: 200 mg orally in tablet or capsule form every 12 hours or 100 mg oral solution 4 times a day.
• Follow-up dose: up to 1200 mg per day in 3-4 doses may be required to maintain plasma levels in the therapeutic range.

For diabetic neuropathy, the carbamazepine dosage is:

• Initial dose: 100mg orally in tablet form every 12 hours or 50mg oral solution 4 times a day.
• Follow-up dose: 600-1200 mg daily in 3-4 doses may be needed to maintain plasma levels in the therapeutic range.

What is the dosage of Carbamazepine for children?

For epilepsy in children younger than 6 years, the carbamazepine dosage is:

• Initial dose: 10-20 mg / day orally in 2-3 doses (tablets) or 4 doses (suspension).
• Maximum dose: 35 mg / day.

For epilepsy in children aged 6-12 years, the carbamazepine dosage is:

• Initial dose: 100 mg orally 2 times a day (tablet immediate or extended release) or 50 mg orally 4 times a day (suspense).
• Follow-up dose: 400-800 mg / day
• Maximum dose: 1000 mg / day

For epilepsy in children older than 12 years, the carbamazepine dosage is:

• Initial dose: 200 mg orally twice a day (immediate or extended release) or 100 mg orally 4 times a day (suspension).
• Follow-up dose: 800-1200 mg / day.
• Maximum dose: 100 mg in children 12-15 years of age and 1200 mg in patients> 15 years. Doses up to 1600 mg / day have been used in rare cases.

In what dosage is Carbamazepine available?

Carbamazepine is available in the following dosages:

• 100 mg tablet; 200 mg; 400 mg
• Suspension 100 mg / 5 mL

Carbamazepine side effects

What side effects can be experienced due to Carbamazepine?

The most common side effects of using the carbamazepine drug are:

• Dizzy
• Sleepy
• Nausea and vomiting
• Dry mouth
• Swollen tongue
• Loss of balance or coordination

Not everyone experiences the above side effects. There may be some side effects not listed above. If you have concerns about certain side effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Tell your doctor right away if you experience serious side effects such as:

• Fever, feeling tired, tiredness, confusion, pale skin color, lightheadedness, difficulty breathing.
• Easy bruising, unusual bleeding (nose, mouth, vagina, or rectum), purple or red spots under the skin.
• Slow, fast, or racing heartbeat
• Confusion, problems with vision, and hallucinations.
• Nausea, pain in the upper abdomen, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, pale stools, and jaundice.
• Urinating less, or not at all.
• Swelling, rapid weight gain.
• Problems with fingernails or toenails.
• Severe skin reaction, fever, sore throat, swelling of the face or tongue, burning feeling in the eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple rash that spreads and causes blisters and peeling skin.

Carbamazepine Drug Warnings and Cautions

What should be known before using Carbamazepine?

Do not use this medication if you have a history of bone marrow suppression, or if you have an allergy to Carbamazepine or to an antidepressant such as amitriptyline, desipramine, doxepin, imipramine, or nortriptyline.

Do not use Carbamazepine if you have taken an MAO blocker in the past 14 days. Dangerous drug interactions can occur. MAO inhibitors include furazolidone, isocarboxazid, linezolid, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegilinem and tranylcypromine.

Carbamazepine can cause a fatal skin rash especially in Asian people. Your doctor may recommend blood tests before starting treatment to determine your risk.

Is Carbamazepine safe for pregnant and lactating women?

There are no adequate studies regarding the risks of using this drug in pregnant or breastfeeding women. Always consult your doctor to weigh the potential benefits and risks before using this medication. This drug is included in the risk of pregnancy category D according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The following references the pregnancy risk categories according to the FDA:

• A = Not at risk
• B = No risk in several studies
• C = May be risky
• D = There is positive evidence of risk
• X = Contraindicated
• N = Unknown

Carbamazepine Drug Interactions

What medicines may interact with Carbamazepine?

Although certain drugs are not recommended to be used together, in other cases two different drugs can be used together even though drug interactions may occur. In these cases, your doctor may change the dose, or other precautions need to be taken. Tell your health care provider if you are using other prescription or nonprescription drugs.

Use of this drug with the drugs listed below is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to continue treatment with this drug or change other drugs that you are taking.

• Amifampridine
• Artemether
• Atazanavir
• Boceprevir
• Clorgyline
• Daclatasvir
• Delamanid
• Delavirdine
• Efavirenz
• Etravirine
• Furazolidone
• Iproniazid
• Isocarboxazid
• Linezolid
• Lumefantrine
• Lurasidone
• Maraviroc
• Methylene Blue
• Moclobemide
• Nefazodone
• Nevirapine
• Nialamide
• Pargyline
• Phenelzine
• Praziquantel
• Procarbazine
• Ranolazine
• Rasagiline
• Rilpivirine
• Selegiline
• Telaprevir
• Toloxatone
• Tranylcypromine
• Voriconazole

Use of this drug with the drugs listed below is generally not recommended, but may be needed in some cases. If the two drugs are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often one or the other drug is used.

• Abiraterone Acetate
• Adenosine
• Ado-Trastuzumab Emtansine
• Afatinib
• Alfentanil
• Almotriptan
• Alprazolam
• Amiodarone
• Amlodipine
• Amprenavir
• Apixaban
• Apremilast
• Aprepitant
• Aripiprazole
• Astemizole
• Atorvastatin
• Axitinib
• Bedaquiline
• Bosutinib
• Brentuximab Vedotin
• Brinzolamide
• Bromocriptine
• Budesonide
• Buprenorphine
• Bupropion
• Buspirone
• Cabazitaxel
• Cabozantinib
• Ceritinib
• Chlorpromazine
• Cilostazol
• Cinnarizine
• Cisapride
• Citalopram
• Clarithromycin
• Clevidipine
• Clonazepam
• Clozapine
• Cobicistat
• Conivaptan
• Crizotinib
• Cyclophosphamide
• Cyclosporine
• Dabigatran Etexilate
• Dabrafenib
• Darifenacin
• Darunavir
• Dasatinib
• Desogestrel
• Desvenlafaxine
• Dexamethasone
• Dienogest
• Dihydroergotamine
• Diltiazem
• Docetaxel
• Dolasetron
• Dolutegravir
• Doxorubicin
• Doxorubicin Hydrochloride Liposome
• Dronedarone
• Drospirenone
• Dutasteride
• Eletriptan
• Eliglustat
• Elvitegravir
• Enzalutamide
• Eplerenone
• Ergotamine
• Erlotinib
• Erythromycin
• Eslicarbazepine Acetate
• Estradiol
• Estradiol Valerate
• Ethinyl Estradiol
• Ethynodiol Diacetate
• Etonogestrel
• Everolimus
• Exemestane
• Ezogabine
• Felodipine
• Fentanyl
• Fluconazole
• Fluoxetine
• Fluticasone
• Fosamprenavir
• Fosaprepitant
• Fosphenytoin
• Gestodene
• Granisetron
• Halofantrine
• Hydrocodone
• Hydroxytryptophan
• Ibrutinib
• Idelalisib
• Ifosfamide
• Iloperidone
• Imatinib
• Indinavir
• Irinotecan
• Isoniazid
• Isradipine
• Itraconazole
• Ivabradine
• Ivacaftor
• Ixabepilone
• Ketoconazole
• Ketorolac
• Lamotrigine
• Lapatinib
• Ledipasvir
• Letrozole
• Levomilnacipran
• Levonorgestrel
• Linagliptin
• Lomitapide
• Lopinavir
• Lorcaserin
• Losartan
• Lovastatin
• Loxapine
• Macitentan
• Medroxyprogesterone
• Mefloquine
• Meperidine
• Mestranol
• Methadone
• Mifepristone
• Mirtazapine
• Mitotane
• Nateglinide
• Nelfinavir
• Netupitant
• Nifedipine
• Nilotinib
• Nimodipine
• Nintedanib
• Nisoldipine
• Norethindrone
• Norgestimate
• Norgestrel
• Olanzapine
• Ondansetron
• Oritavancin
• Orlistat
• Paclitaxel
• Palonosetron
• Pazopanib
• Perampanel
• Phenytoin
• Pimozide
• Piperaquine
• Pixantrone
• Pomalidomide
• Ponatinib
• Prednisolone
• Prednisone
• Primidone
• Propafenone
• Propoxyphene
• Quetiapine
• Quinidine
• Quinine
• Regorafenib
• Rifabutin
• Riociguat
• Ritonavir
• Rivaroxaban
• Roflumilast
• Romidepsin
• Salmeterol
• Saquinavir
• Saxagliptin
• Sildenafil
• Siltuximab
• Simvastatin
• Sirolimus
• Sofosbuvir
• Sorafenib
• Sunitinib
• Tacrolimus
• Tamoxifen
• Tamsulosin
• Tasimelteon
• Telithromycin
• Temsirolimus
• Terfenadine
• Thioridazine
• Ticagrelor
• Tipranavir
• Tofacitinib
• Tolvaptan
• Trabectedin
• Tramadol
• Trazodone
• Triamcinolone
• Triazolam
• Ulipristal Acetate
• Vandetanib
• Vardenafil
• Vemurafenib
• Verapamil
• Vigabatrin
• Vilanterol
• Vilazodone
• Vincristine Sulfate
• Vincristine Sulfate Liposome
• Vinflunine
• Vorapaxar
• Vortioxetine
• Zaleplon
• Zileuton
• Zolpidem

Using this medication with the medicines listed below may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, however using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one drug for the other.

• Acetaminophen
• Acetylcysteine
• Aminophylline
• Amitriptyline
• Amoxapine
• Anisindione
• Caspofungin
• Dalfopristin
• Danazol
• Desipramine
• Dicumarol
• Doxepin
• Etretinate
• Felbamate
• Flunarizine
• Furosemide
• Ginkgo
• Haloperidol
• Hydrochlorothiazide
• Imipramine
• Influenza Virus Vaccine
• Levetiracetam
• Lithium
• Methylphenidate
• Methylprednisolone
• Metronidazole
• Mianserin
• Midazolam
• Miokamycin
• Nafimidone
• Niacinamide
• Nortriptyline
• Omeprazole
• Ospemifene
• Oxcarbazepine
• Paliperidone
• Phenobarbital
• Phenprocoumon
• Pipecuronium
• Primidone
• Protriptyline
• Psyllium
• Quinupristin
• Remacemide
• Rifampin
• Rifapentine
• Risperidone
• Rocuronium
• Rufinamide
• Sabeluzole
• Sertraline
• St. John's Wort
• Theophylline
• Tiagabine
• Ticlopidine
• Topiramate
• Troleandomycin
• Valnoctamide
• Valproic Acid
• Vecuronium
• Viloxazine
• Warfarin
• Ziprasidone

Can food or alcohol interact with Carbamazepine?

Certain drugs should not be used with meals or when eating certain foods because drug interactions can occur. Consuming alcohol or tobacco with certain drugs can also cause interactions to occur. Discuss your use of drugs with food, alcohol, or tobacco with your health care provider.

What health conditions may interact with Carbamazepine?

The presence of other health problems can affect the use of this drug. Tell your doctor if you have other health problems, especially:

• Heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or triglycerides
• Liver or kidney disease
• Glaucoma
• Thyroid disorders
• Lupus
• Porphyria
• History of psychiatric illness, psychosis, or suicidal thoughts or attempts.

Carbamazepine overdose

What should I do in an emergency or overdose?

In case of an emergency or overdose, contact the local emergency services provider (112) or immediately to the nearest hospital emergency department.

Overdose symptoms include:

• Unconscious
• Seizures
• Anxiety
• Muscle spasms
• Movement is not normal
• Shaking in uncontrollable parts of the body
• Instability
• Drowsiness
• Dizzy
• Myopic
• Irregular or slowed breathing
• Fast or racing heartbeat
• Nausea
• Gag
• Difficulty urinating

What should I do if I miss a dose?

If you forget a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, when it is nearing the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to the usual dosing schedule. Don't double the dose.