Health Library

Carbamazepine (By mouth)

Carbamazepine (kar-ba-MAZ-e-peen)

Treats seizures, nerve pain, or bipolar disorder.

Brand Name(s):

Carbatrol, Epitol, Equetro, TEGretol, TEGretol-XR

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used:

How to Use This Medicine:

Long Acting Capsule, Liquid, Tablet, Chewable Tablet, Long Acting Tablet

• Take your medicine as directed. Your dose may need to be changed several times to find what works best for you. This medicine may be used alone or together with other seizure medicines.
• Chewable tablet:
  • It is best to take this medicine with food or milk.
  • Chew the tablet well before swallowing it.
• Extended-release capsule:
  • Swallow the capsule whole. Do not break, crush, or chew it.
  • You may open the capsule and sprinkle the contents over a teaspoon of applesauce. Swallow the mixture right away. Do not crush or chew the beads.
• Oral liquid:
  • It is best to take this medicine with food or milk.
  • Measure the oral liquid medicine with a marked measuring spoon, oral syringe, or medicine cup. Shake the bottle well just before each use.
  • Do not take this medicine at the same time as other oral liquid medicines.
• Tablet:
  • It is best to take this medicine with food or milk.
  • Swallow the tablet whole. Do not crush, break, or chew it.
  • Do not use an extended-release tablet that is cracked or chipped.
• This medicine should come with a Medication Guide. Ask your pharmacist for a copy if you do not have one.
• Missed dose: Take a dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then and take a regular dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.
• Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid:

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

• Do not use this medicine together with nefazodone, delavirdine, or certain other medicines for HIV or AIDS (including efavirenz, etravirine). Do not use this medicine and an MAO inhibitor (MAOI) within 14 days of each other.
• There are many other drugs that can interact with carbamazepine. Make sure your doctor knows the names of all the medicines you use. Tell your doctor if you are using any of the following:
  • Acetaminophen, acetazolamide, alprazolam, aminophylline, aprepitant, aripiprazole, brivaracetam, buprenorphine, bupropion, buspirone, chloroquine, cimetidine, ciprofloxacin, cisplatin, citalopram, clarithromycin, clobazam, clomipramine, clonazepam, clozapine, cyclophosphamide, cyclosporine, dalfopristin, danazol, dantrolene, delavirdine, desipramine, diazepam, dicumarol, diltiazem, doxorubicin, doxycycline, erythromycin, eslicarbazepine, ethosuximide, everolimus, felbamate, felodipine, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, fosphenytoin, haloperidol, ibuprofen, imatinib, isoniazid, lamotrigine, lapatinib, levothyroxine, lithium, loratadine, lorazepam, loxapine, mefloquine, methadone, methsuximide, mianserin, midazolam, mirtazapine, nefazodone, niacinamide, nicotinamide, olanzapine, omeprazole, oxcarbazepine, oxybutynin, paliperidone, phenobarbital, phensuximide, phenytoin, phosphenytoin, praziquantel, primidone, propoxyphene, quetiapine, quinine, quinupristin, rifampin, risperidone, sertraline, sirolimus, tacrolimus, tadalafil, temsirolimus, theophylline, ticlopidine, topiramate, tiagabine, tramadol, trazodone, triazolam, troleandomycin, valproate, verapamil, zileuton, ziprasidone, zonisamide
  • Blood thinner (including apixaban, dabigatran, edoxaban, rivaroxaban, warfarin)
  • HIV protease inhibitor (including atazanavir, darunavir, fosamprenavir, indinavir, lopinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir)
  • Medicine to treat depression (including amitriptyline, imipramine, nortriptyline)
  • Medicine to treat fungal infection (including albendazole, fluconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole, voriconazole)
  • Steroid medicine (including dexamethasone, prednisolone, prednisone)
• Birth control pills, shots, and other hormonal birth control methods may not work as well while you use this medicine. You may want to use a second form of birth control.
• Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while you are using this medicine.
• Tell your doctor if you use anything else that makes you sleepy. Some examples are allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, and alcohol.
• Do not drink alcohol while you are using this medicine.

Warnings While Using This Medicine:

• It is not safe to take this medicine during pregnancy. It could harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant.
• Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding, or if you have kidney disease, liver disease, heart disease, glaucoma, heart rhythm problems, porphyria, an intolerance to fructose, increased pressure in the eye, or a history of bone marrow depression, suicidal thoughts, or depression. Tell your doctor if you had an allergic reaction to any other medicine (especially seizure medicines).
• Tell your doctor if you have Asian ancestry. Your doctor may test you for serious skin reactions before giving this medicine.
• This medicine may cause the following problems:
  • Serious skin reactions, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis
  • Aplastic anemia or other blood problems
  • Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), which may involve multiple organs, including your liver or kidneys
  • Changes in mood or behavior, including thoughts of suicide
  • Heart rhythm problems
  • Liver problems
• This medicine may make you bleed, bruise, or get infections more easily. Take precautions to prevent illness and injury. Wash your hands often.
• Do not stop using this medicine suddenly. Your doctor will need to slowly decrease your dose before you stop it completely. Your seizures may return or occur more often if you stop this medicine suddenly.
• Tell any doctor or dentist who treats you that you are using this medicine. This medicine may affect certain medical test results.
• This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you.
• Your doctor will do lab tests at regular visits to check on the effects of this medicine. Keep all appointments.
• Some men using this medicine have become infertile (unable to have children). If you plan to have children, talk with your doctor before using this medicine.
• Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine:

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

• Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
• Blistering, peeling, red skin rash
• Blurred vision, changes in vision
• Change in how much or how often you urinate
• Chest pain, trouble breathing, cold sweats, bluish skin
• Confusion, memory problems, unusual tiredness, muscle spasms or weakness
• Dark urine or pale stools, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, stomach pain, yellow skin or eyes
• Fast, slow, pounding, or uneven heartbeat
• Fever, chills, cough, sore throat, or sores in your mouth
• Lightheadedness or fainting
• Swollen, painful, or tender lymph glands in your neck, armpit, or groin
• Thoughts of hurting yourself or others, unusual thoughts or behavior
• Unusual bleeding, bruising, or weakness

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

• Anxiety, agitation, depression, restlessness, or trouble sleeping
• Dizziness or drowsiness
• Dry mouth
• Mild nausea, vomiting, constipation

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088

Last Updated: 9/6/2024