INDICATIONS
Tegretol (carbamazepine) can be an anticonvulsant. It works by decreasing nerve impulses that induce seizures and pain.
Tegretol is used to deal with seizures and nerve pain such as trigeminal neuralgia and diabetic neuropathy. Carbamazepine can be used to treat bipolar disorder.
Tegretol may also be used for purposes unpublished in this medication guide.
INSTRUCTIONS
Take Tegretol just as prescribed from your doctor. Do not take in larger or smaller amounts or longer than recommended. Follow the directions in your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally make positive changes to dose to ensure that you acquire the best results.
Do not crush, chew, or break an extended-release Tegretol tablet. Swallow the pill whole. Breaking the pill would cause too much of the drug to be sold in the past.
Shake the Tegretol oral suspension (liquid) well just before you measure a dose. Measure the liquid which has a special dose-measuring spoon or medicine cup, not having a regular table spoon. If you usually do not have a very dose-measuring device, ask your friendly phamacist for one.
It usually takes as much as 4 weeks before your symptoms improve. Keep with all the medication as directed and call a medical expert promptly if this type of medicine appears to stop working at the same time in preventing your seizures. Tegretol can lower blood cells that help your body fight infections. This may make it easier that you should bleed from a trauma or get sick from being around individuals that are ill.
To be certain Tegretol isn't causing harmful effects, your blood cells and kidney function may need to be tested often. Do not miss any check in visits to your doctor for blood or urine tests. Your doctor can also recommend having your eyes checked regularly while you are investing in this medicine.
Do not stop using Tegretol without first talking to your medical professional, in case you feel awesome. You could have increased seizures or unpleasant withdrawal symptoms in case you stop using this medicine suddenly. Wear a medical alert tag or carry an ID card stating that you take Tegretol. Any medical treatment provider who treats you have to know that you take seizure medication.
STORAGE
Store this medicine at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and lightweight.
MORE INFO:
Active Ingredient: Carbamazepine
Get emergency medical help in the event you have all of these signs and symptoms of a hypersensitivity to Tegretol: hives; breathlessness; swelling of one's face, lips, tongue, or throat. Report any new or worsening symptoms to your physician, such as: mood or behavior changes, depression, anxiety, or in case you feel agitated, hostile, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.
Call a medical expert at once in the event you possess a serious complication including:
pale skin, feeling light-headed, rapid pulse rate, trouble concentrating;
fever, chills, sore throat, mouth and throat ulcers;
easy bruising or bleeding, severe tingling, numbness, pain, muscle weakness;
confusion, agitation, vision problems, hallucinations;
feeling in short supply of breath, swelling of the ankles or feet;
urinating below usual;
jaundice (yellowing of the epidermis or eyes); or
severe skin reaction -- fever, sore throat, swelling with your face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, then a red or purple skin rash that spreads (particularly in the face or torso) to cause blistering and peeling.
Less serious Tegretol unwanted effects may include:
feeling dizzy, drowsy, or unsteady;
nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, stomach pain;
headache, ringing in your ears;
dry mouth, swollen tongue; or
joint or muscle pain, leg cramps.
This just isn't a complete set of unwanted effects among others may occur. Call your medical professional for health advice about unwanted side effects.
Tegretol may cause severe or life-threatening skin rash, particularly in people of Asian ancestry. Your doctor may recommend a blood test prior to starting the medication to find out your probability of this skin reaction. Seek emergency medical help if you use a fever, sore throat, headache and skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads and results in blistering and peeling.
You must not take Tegretol in the event you possess a history of bone marrow suppression, if you are also taking nefazodone, or should you are allergic to an antidepressant like amitriptyline (Elavil, Vanatrip, Limbitrol), desipramine (Norpramin), imipramine (Tofranil), or nortriptyline (Pamelor).
Tegretol might cause harm to a unborn baby, but creating a seizure during pregnancy could harm the mother as well as the baby. Tell a medical expert without delay if you conceive while taking Tegretol for seizures. Do not start or stop taking Tegretol when pregnant without your medical professional's advice.
Before you take Tegretol, tell your medical professional if you have heart problems, blood pressure, high cholesterol, liver or kidney disease, glaucoma, a thyroid disorder, lupus, porphyria, or previous mental illness or psychosis.
You could possibly have thoughts about suicide while taking Tegretol. Your doctor will have to check you at regular visits. Call your doctor immediately in case you have any new or worsening symptoms like: mood or behavior changes, depression, anxiety, or should you feel agitated, hostile, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.
There a wide range of other drugs that could interact with Tegretol. Tell your physician about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not begin a new medication without telling a medical expert. Keep a report on all of your medicines and show it to your healthcare provider who treats you.
Do not stop using Tegretol without first talking to a medical expert, although you may feel awesome. You could possibly have increased seizures or unpleasant withdrawal symptoms if you stop using Tegretol suddenly.
Do not use Tegretol if you have used an MAO inhibitor for example furazolidone (Furoxone), isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) during the last fourteen days. You should not take Tegretol if you are allergic to carbamazepine, or should you have:
past bone marrow suppression
if you are also taking nefazodone; or
in the event you are allergic with an antidepressant for example amitriptyline (Elavil, Vanatrip, Limbitrol), desipramine (Norpramin), imipramine (Tofranil), or nortriptyline (Pamelor).
Important safety information:
Tegretol could cause severe or life-threatening skin rash, particularly in people of Asian ancestry. Your doctor may recommend a blood test before starting the medication to determine your chance of this skin reaction.
To be sure to can safely take Tegretol, tell your doctor in the event you have some of these other conditions:
heart problems, blood pressure, high cholesterol levels or triglycerides;
liver or kidney disease;
glaucoma;
a thyroid disorder;
lupus;
porphyria; or
a history of mental illness or psychosis.
Patients of Asian ancestry may possess a higher chance of making a rare but serious skin a reaction to Tegretol. Your doctor may recommend a blood test before starting the medication to determine your chance of this skin reaction.
Your family or other caregivers should also be tuned in to changes within your mood or symptoms. Your doctor will have to check you at regular visits. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.
You may have thoughts about suicide while taking Tegretol. Tell your medical professional in the event you have new or worsening depression or suicidal thoughts through the first several months of treatment, or whenever your dose is changed.
Seizure control is vital during pregnancy. The benefit of preventing seizures may outweigh any risks resulting from taking Tegretol. Follow a medical expert's instructions about taking Tegretol when you are pregnant.
FDA pregnancy category D. Tegretol could cause harm with an baby. Do not start investing in this medcine without telling a medical expert if you are pregnant or likely to get pregnant. Use effective contraceptive if you are investing in this medicine. Although Tegretol may harm an unborn baby, developing a seizure during pregnancy could harm both mother and baby. If you conceive while taking Tegretol, usually do not stop taking the medicine without a medical expert's advice.
Carbamazepine can pass into breast milk and may even harm a nursing baby. You ought not breast-feed when you are using Tegretol. Carbamazepine will make birth control pills less capable. Ask your doctor about using a non-hormone approach to birth control (including a condom, diaphragm, spermicide) to prevent pregnancy while taking Tegretol.
This medication may impair your notions or reactions. Be careful in case you drive or a single thing that requires that you be alert. Avoid having a drink. It can increase many of the unwanted side effects of Tegretol, which enable it to also increase your chance of seizures.
Avoid experience sunlight or tanning beds. Tegretol will make you sunburn with less effort. Wear protective clothing and employ sunscreen (SPF 30 or more) when you might be outdoors.
Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may talk with Tegretol and cause very damaging effects. Discuss using grapefruit products with a medical expert.
Airmail: 2-3 business weeks
EMS: 3-8 business days