INDICATIONS
Tegretol (carbamazepine) is definitely an anticonvulsant. It works by decreasing nerve impulses that can cause seizures and pain.
Tegretol is employed to take care of seizures and nerve pain for example trigeminal neuralgia and diabetic neuropathy. Carbamazepine can be used to help remedy bipolar disorder.
Tegretol may also be used for purposes not listed on this medication guide.
INSTRUCTIONS
Take Tegretol exactly as prescribed from your doctor. Do not take in larger or smaller amounts and for more than recommended. Follow the directions in your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally make positive changes to dose to ensure that you receive the best results.
Do not crush, chew, or break an extended-release Tegretol tablet. Swallow the pill whole. Breaking the pill would cause a lot of drug to be removed at one time.
Shake the Tegretol oral suspension (liquid) well just before you measure a dose. Measure the liquid with a special dose-measuring spoon or medicine cup, not which has a regular table spoon. If you usually do not have a dose-measuring device, ask the pharmacist for starters.
It usually takes as much as four weeks before your symptoms improve. Keep with all the medication as directed and call your physician promptly if it medicine generally seems to are amiss at the same time in preventing your seizures. Tegretol can lower blood cells that really help your body fight infections. This may make it easier that you should bleed from a personal injury or get sick from being around others who are ill.
To make certain Tegretol isn't causing harmful effects, your blood cells and kidney function may need to be tested often. Do not miss any follow up visits to a medical expert for blood or urine tests. Your doctor might also recommend your eyes checked regularly if you are taking this medicine.
Do not stop using Tegretol without first talking to your medical professional, even if you feel awesome. You could possibly 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 are taking seizure medication.
STORAGE
Store this medicine at room temperature far from moisture, heat, and light.
MORE INFO:
Active Ingredient: Carbamazepine
Get emergency medical help in case you have all of these signs and symptoms of a hypersensitivity to Tegretol: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat. Report any new or worsening symptoms to your physician, for example: mood or behavior changes, depression, anxiety, or in the event you feel agitated, hostile, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.
Call a medical expert at once if you have a serious unwanted effect including:
pale skin, feeling light-headed, rapid heartrate, 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 less than breath, swelling of one's ankles or feet;
urinating under usual;
jaundice (yellowing of your skin or eyes); or
severe skin reaction -- fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, burning inside your eyes, skin pain, then a red or purple skin rash that spreads (particularly in the eye or chest) to cause blistering and peeling.
Less serious Tegretol unwanted side effects may include:
feeling dizzy, drowsy, or unsteady;
nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, stomach pain;
headache, ringing with your ears;
dry mouth, swollen tongue; or
joint or muscle pain, leg cramps.
This just isn't a complete report on side effects and others may occur. Call your physician for medical advice about unwanted effects.
Tegretol could potentially cause severe or life-threatening skin rash, specifically in people of Asian ancestry. Your doctor may recommend a blood test before you begin the medication to discover your probability of this skin reaction. Seek emergency medical help should you use a fever, sore throat, headache and skin pain, as well as a red or purple skin rash that spreads to cause blistering and peeling.
You shouldn't take Tegretol should you possess a reputation bone marrow suppression, if you are also taking nefazodone, or in case you are allergic for an antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil, Vanatrip, Limbitrol), desipramine (Norpramin), imipramine (Tofranil), or nortriptyline (Pamelor).
Tegretol might cause harm to a unborn baby, but creating a seizure while pregnant could harm the mother as well as the baby. Tell your doctor without delay should you become pregnant while taking Tegretol for seizures. Do not start or stop taking Tegretol when pregnant without a medical expert's advice.
Before you're taking Tegretol, tell your medical professional if you have coronary disease, high blood pressure, high-cholesterol, liver or kidney disease, glaucoma, a thyroid disorder, lupus, porphyria, or past mental illness or psychosis.
You might have thoughts about suicide while taking Tegretol. Your doctor will have to check you at regular visits. Call your doctor simultaneously if you have any new or worsening symptoms such as: 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 are lots of other drugs that will interact with Tegretol. Tell your medical professional about all medications you have. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not find a new medication without telling a medical expert. Keep a set of your entire medicines and show it to the healthcare provider who treats you.
Do not stop using Tegretol without first speaking with a medical expert, even if you feel great. You could possibly have increased seizures or unpleasant withdrawal symptoms if you stop using Tegretol suddenly.
Do not use Tegretol in the event you have used an MAO inhibitor such as furazolidone (Furoxone), isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) over the last two weeks. You ought not take Tegretol should you are allergic to carbamazepine, or in the event you have:
a medical history of bone marrow suppression
if you are also taking nefazodone; or
in case you are allergic with an antidepressant such as 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 prior to starting the medication to find out your chance of this skin reaction.
To be sure you can safely take Tegretol, tell your physician in the event you have some of these other conditions:
coronary disease, high blood pressure, high-cholesterol or triglycerides;
liver or kidney disease;
glaucoma;
a thyroid disorder;
lupus;
porphyria; or
a medical history of mental illness or psychosis.
Patients of Asian ancestry may have a very higher probability of making a rare but serious skin reaction to Tegretol. Your doctor may recommend a blood test before you begin the medication to ascertain your chance of this skin reaction.
Your family and other caregivers should also be alert to changes with your mood or symptoms. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.
You might have thoughts about suicide while taking Tegretol. Tell your physician should you have new or worsening depression or suicidal thoughts through the first a few months of treatment, or when your dose is changed.
Seizure control is very important during pregnancy. The benefit of preventing seizures may outweigh any risks posed by taking Tegretol. Follow your doctor's instructions about taking Tegretol if you are pregnant.
FDA pregnancy category D. Tegretol could cause harm with an developing fetus. Do not start investing in this medcine without telling your doctor should you are pregnant or likely to become pregnant. Use effective contraception if you are taking this medicine. Although Tegretol may harm an child, creating a seizure when pregnant could harm both mother and baby. If you become pregnant while taking Tegretol, tend not to stop taking the medicine without your physician's advice.
Carbamazepine can pass into breast milk and could harm a nursing baby. You ought not breast-feed when you are using Tegretol. Carbamazepine could make birth control method pills less effective. Ask a medical expert about by using a non-hormone method of birth control (such as a condom, diaphragm, spermicide) to avoid pregnancy while taking Tegretol.
This medication may impair your notions or reactions. Be careful in case you drive or do just about anything that will need that you be alert. Avoid drinking alcohol. It can increase many of the unwanted effects of Tegretol, and will can also increase your risk of seizures.
Avoid experience of sunlight or tanning beds. Tegretol may make you sunburn easier. 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 the use of grapefruit products with a medical expert.
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