Carbamazepine is a medicine used to treat epilepsy. It can also be taken for nerve pain caused by diabetes (peripheral neuropathy) or if you have a painful condition of the face called trigeminal neuralgia. Carbamazepine is occasionally used to treat bipolar disorder when other medicines have not worked.
Carbamazepine is also known as Tegretol.
What is Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a physical condition that starts in the brain – a neurological condition. It is a symptom that the way person’s brain works is sometimes disrupted. When this happens, person may suddenly have a seizure. If a person has epilepsy it means they have had more than one seizure that began in the brain. Epilepsy is a disorder in which nerve cells of the brain from time to time release abnormal electrical impulses. These cause a temporary malfunction of the other nerve cells of the brain, resulting in alteration of, or complete loss of consciousness.
Tegretol works by preventing brain cells from working as fast as a seizure requires them to. In this way, seizures can be stopped when they are just beginning. Brain cells need to work at a certain rate to function normally. During a seizure, brain cells are forced to work much more rapidly than normal.
Common Use
Tegretol is used for controlling certain types of epileptic 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 for other conditions as determined by your doctor.
Use Tegretol as directed by your doctor.
- Take Tegretol by mouth with or without food.
- Eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice may increase the risk of this medicine’s side effects. Talk with your doctor before including grapefruit or grapefruit juice in your diet.
- Do not suddenly stop taking Tegretol . You may have an increase risk of side effects (e.g., seizures). If you need to stop Tegretol or add a new medicine, your doctor will gradually lower your dose.
- Take Tegretol on a regular schedule to get the most benefit from it.
- Taking Tegretol at the same time each day will help you remember to take it.
- Continue to take Tegretol even if you feel well. Do not miss any doses.
Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Tegretol.
Drug Class and Mechanism
Tegretol is an anticonvulsant. It works to control seizures by blocking certain nerve impulses in the brain. It works to treat trigeminal neuralgia by altering nerve impulses in certain facial nerves, which relieves pain.
Dosage
Adults for Seizures
The usual dose for adults and children over 12 years of age is 200 milligrams (1 tablet or 2 chewable or extended-release tablets) taken twice daily. Your doctor may increase the dose at weekly intervals by adding 200-milligram doses twice a day for Tegretol-XR or 3 or 4 times per day for the other forms. Dosage should generally not exceed 1,000 milligrams daily in children 12 to 15 years old and 1,200 milligrams daily for adults and children over 15. The usual daily maintenance dosage range is 800 to 1,200 milligrams.
Adults for Trigeminal Neuralgia
The usual dose is 100 milligrams (1 chewable or extended-release tablet) twice a day. Your doctor may increase this dose using increments of 100 milligrams every 12 hours or one-half teaspoonful 4 times daily only as needed to achieve freedom from pain. Doses should not exceed 1,200 milligrams daily and are usually in the range of 400 to 800 milligrams a day for maintenance.
Children for Seizures
The usual dose for children 6 to 12 years old is 100 milligrams twice daily. Your doctor may increase the dose at weekly intervals by adding 100 milligrams twice a day for Tegretol-XR, 3 or 4 times a day for the other forms. Total daily dosage should generally not exceed 1,000 milligrams. The usual daily dosage range for maintenance is 400 to 800 milligrams.
The usual daily starting dose for children under 6 years of age is 10 to 20 milligrams per 2.2 pounds of body weight. The total daily dose is divided into smaller doses taken 2 or 3 times a day for tablets or 4 times a day for suspension. Daily dosage should not exceed 35 milligrams per 2.2 pounds.
Side Effects
The decision to buy Tegretol for Epilepsy should be taken after due consultation with the doctor regarding probable Tegretol Side Effects.
Though Generic Tegretol Side Effects are not so common they are known to occur. It is always advisable to consult a doctor for drug Information if the symptoms are severe. The most common Tegretol side effects include dizziness, drowsiness, nausea, unsteadiness and vomiting. Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. It is better to talk to the doctor about any Tegretol side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.
Safe use of Tegretol during pregnancy has not been established. One should inform the doctor if one is pregnant, or have plans to become pregnant. If one is breast-feeding one should take the doctor into counsel before taking Tegretol tablet for Epilepsy since most drugs pass into milk.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose of Tegretol, 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.
Storage
Store Tegretol at room temperature, between 68 and 77 degrees F (20 and 25 degrees C). Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Keep Tegretol out of the reach of children and away from pets.