Generic Name: carbamazepine

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A dibenzazepine anticonvulsant - treats Trigeminal Neuralgia, Bipolar Disorder, Epilepsy, and Diabet... more

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carbamazepine

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(kar ba MAZ e peen)

Most Important What is...? Before Taking How to Take Missed Dose Avoid Taking Side Effects Interactions Overdose More Info

What is the most important information I should know about carbamazepine?

You should not take this medicine if you have a history of bone marrow suppression, or if you are allergic to an antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil), desipramine (Norpramin), imipramine (Tofranil), or nortriptyline (Pamelor).

Do not take carbamazepine if you have taken an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), tranylcypromine (Parnate), phenelzine (Nardil), or selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam) in the past 14 days.

You may have thoughts about suicide while taking this medication. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.

Call your doctor at once if you have any new or worsening symptoms such as: mood or behavior changes, depression, anxiety, or if you feel agitated, hostile, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.

There are many other medicines that could cause a drug interaction if you take them together with carbamazepine. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use.

Do not use carbamazepine without telling your doctor if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn baby. Ask your doctor about using a non-hormone method of birth control (not birth control pills) to prevent pregnancy while taking carbamazepine. Do not stop using carbamazepine without first talking to your doctor. You may have increased seizures or unpleasant side effects if you stop using carbamazepine suddenly.

What is carbamazepine?

Carbamazepine is in a group of drugs called anticonvulsants. It works by decreasing nerve impulses that cause seizures and pain.

Carbamazepine 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 other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking carbamazepine?

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to carbamazepine or to certain antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil), clomipramine (Anafranil), imipramine (Tofranil), and others. Do not use carbamazepine if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) within the past 14 days.

You should not take carbamazepine if you have a history of bone marrow suppression, or if you are also taking nefazodone.

Before taking carbamazepine, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

a history of serious side effects from any drug;
liver or kidney disease;
porphyria;
heart disease or heart block;
lupus;
a history of mental illness; or
glaucoma.

If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take carbamazepine.

You may have thoughts about suicide while taking this medication. Tell your doctor if you have new or worsening depression or suicidal thoughts during the first several months of treatment, or whenever your dose is changed.

Your family or other caregivers should also be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.

Patients of Asian ancestry may have a higher risk of developing a rare but serious skin reaction to carbamazepine. Your doctor may recommend a blood test before you start the medication to determine your risk of this skin reaction.

FDA pregnancy category D. Do not use carbamazepine without telling your doctor if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. Carbamazepine can make birth control pills less effective. Ask your doctor about using a non-hormone method of birth control (such as a condom, diaphragm, spermicide) to prevent pregnancy while taking carbamazepine. Carbamazepine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

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FDA Alerts

Special Alerts:

[Posted 12/12/2007] FDA informed healthcare professionals that dangerous or even fatal skin reactions (Stevens Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis), that can be caused by carbamazepine therapy, are significantly more common in patients with a particular human leukocyte antigen (HLA) allele, HLA-B*1502. This allele occurs almost exclusively in patients with ancestry across broad areas of Asia, including South Asian Indians. Patients with ancestry from areas in which HLA-B*1502 is present should be screened for the HLA-B*1502 allele before starting treatment with carbamazepine. If these individuals test positive, carbamazepine should not be started unless the expected benefit clearly outweighs the increased risk of serious skin reactions. Patients who have been taking carbamazepine for more than a few months without developing skin reactions are at low risk of these events ever developing from carbamazepine. This is true for patients of any ethnicity or genotype, including patients positive for HLA-B*1502. For more information visit the FDA website at: http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2007/safety07.htm#carbamazepine, http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/InfoSheets/HCP/carbamazepineHCP.htm and http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/infopage/carbamazepine/default.htm.

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