What is this drug used for?
• It is used to treat seizures.
• It is used to treat pain caused by a problem with a nerve in the face.
• It is used to treat bipolar problems.
• It may be given to you for other reasons. Talk with the doctor.
Frequently reported side effects of this drug
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Dry mouth
• Loss of strength and energy
• Constipation
Other side effects of this drug: Talk with your doctor right away if you have any of these signs of:
• Swelling in your throat
• Infection
• Aplastic anemia like fever, sore throat, mouth sores, infections, bruising, or purple skin splotches.
• Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis like red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin (with or without fever); red or irritated eyes; or sores in mouth, throat, nose, or eyes.
• Liver problems like dark urine, fatigue, lack of appetite, nausea, abdominal pain, light-colored stools, vomiting, or yellow skin.
• Low sodium like headache, difficulty focusing, trouble with memory, confusion, weakness, seizures, or change in balance.
• Pancreatitis like severe abdominal pain, severe back pain, severe nausea, or vomiting.
• Kidney problems like unable to pass urine, blood in the urine, change in amount of urine passed, or weight gain.
• DVT like edema, warmth, numbness, change in color, or pain in the extremities.
• Neuroleptic malignant syndrome like fever, muscle cramps or stiffness, dizziness, severe headache, confusion, change in thinking, fast heartbeat, abnormal heartbeat, or sweating a lot.
• Depression like thoughts of suicide, anxiety, emotional instability, or confusion.
• Agitation
• Irritability
• Panic attacks
• Mood changes
• Heart problems like cough or shortness of breath that is new or worse, swelling of the ankles or legs, abnormal heartbeat, weight gain of more than five pounds in 24 hours, dizziness, or passing out.
• Seizures
• Change in speech
• Sensing things that seem real but are not
• Involuntary eye movements
• Slow heartbeat
• Vision changes
• Swollen glands
• Severe muscle pain
• Severe joint pain
• Abnormal movements
• Burning or numbness feeling
• Signs of a significant reaction like wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; seizures; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Note: This is not a comprehensive list of all side effects. Talk to your doctor if you have questions.
Pronunciation
(kar ba MAZ e peen)
Medication Safety Issues
Sound-alike/look-alike issues:
CarBAMazepine may be confused with OXcarbazepine
Epitol may be confused with Epinal
TEGretol, TEGretol-XR may be confused with Mebaral, Toprol-XL, Toradol, TRENtal
Storage and Stability
Carbatrol, Equetro: Store at controlled room temperature (25°C [77°F]); excursions permitted to 15°C to 30°C (59°F to 86°F); protect from light and moisture.
Tegretol-XR: Store at controlled room temperature, 15°C to 30°C (59°F to 86°F); protect from moisture.
Tegretol tablets and chewable tablets: Store at ≤30°C (86°F); protect from light and moisture.
Tegretol suspension: Store at ≤30°C (86°F); shake well before using.
Adverse Reactions
Cardiovascular: Arterial insufficiency (cerebral artery), atrioventricular block, cardiac arrhythmia, cardiac failure, collapse, coronary artery disease (aggravation), edema, exacerbation of hypertension, hypertension, hypotension, pulmonary embolism, syncope, thromboembolism, thrombophlebitis
Central nervous system: Abnormality in thinking, agitation, ataxia, chills, confusion, depression, dizziness, drowsiness, fatigue, headache, hyperacusis, involuntary body movements, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, paresthesia, peripheral neuritis, speech disturbance, talkativeness, twitching, unsteadiness, vertigo, visual hallucination
Dermatologic: Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis, alopecia, diaphoresis, dyschromia, erythema multiforme, erythema nodosum, erythematous rash, exfoliative dermatitis, maculopapular rash, onychomadesis, pruritic rash, pruritus, skin photosensitivity, skin rash, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, urticaria
Endocrine & metabolic: Acute porphyria, albuminuria, decreased serum calcium, glycosuria, hirsutism, hyponatremia, porphyria cutanea tarda, porphyria (variegate), SIADH
Gastrointestinal: Abdominal pain, anorexia, constipation, diarrhea, gastric distress, glossitis, nausea, pancreatitis, stomatitis, vomiting, xerostomia,
Genitourinary: Acute urinary retention, azotemia, defective spermatogenesis, impotence, microscopic urine deposits, oliguria, reduced fertility (male), urinary frequency
Hematologic & oncologic: Adenopathy, agranulocytosis, aplastic anemia, bone marrow depression, eosinophilia, hypogammaglobulinemia, leukocytosis, leukopenia, lymphadenopathy, pancytopenia, purpura, thrombocytopenia
Hepatic: Abnormal hepatic function tests, cholestatic jaundice, hepatic failure, hepatitis, hepatocellular jaundice, increased liver enzymes
Hypersensitivity: Hypersensitivity reaction
Immunologic: DRESS syndrome
Neuromuscular & skeletal: Arthralgia, exacerbation of systemic lupus erythematosus, leg cramps, lupus-like syndrome, myalgia, osteoporosis, tremor, weakness
Ophthalmic: Blurred vision, conjunctivitis, diplopia, increased intraocular pressure, nystagmus, oculomotor disturbance, punctate cataract
Otic: Tinnitus
Renal: Increased blood urea nitrogen, renal failure
Respiratory: Dry throat, pulmonary hypersensitivity
Miscellaneous: Fever
Rare but important or life-threatening: Anaphylaxis, angioedema, aseptic meningitis, decreased thyroid hormones, dysgeusia (Syed 2016), eyelid edema, glottis edema, hepatotoxicity (idiosyncratic: Chalasani 2014), intrahepatic cholestasis (vanishing bile duct syndrome), laryngeal edema, lip edema, suicidal tendencies
