<p><strong>What Carbamazepine is used for:</strong></p> <p><strong>Carbamazepine is used:</strong></p> <ul> <li>To treat some forms of epilepsy</li> <li>To treat a painful condition of the face called trigeminal neuralgia</li> <li>To help control serious mood disorders when some other medicines don’t work.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Do not take Carbamazepine if:</strong></p> <ul> <li>you think you may be hypersensitive (allergic) to Carbamazepine or similar drugs,</li> <li>you think you may be allergic to any of the other ingredients of this medicine,</li> <li>you have any heart problems,</li> <li>you have had serious blood illnesses in the past,</li> <li>you have ever had problems with your bone marrow,</li> <li>you have a blood disorder called porphyria,</li> <li>you have taken drugs called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs</li> <li>you are taking herbal preparations containing St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum).</li> </ul> <p><strong>Warnings and precautions:</strong></p> <p><strong>Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Carbamazepine if:</strong></p> <ul> <li>you have blood problems (including those caused by other medicines)</li> <li>you are allergic to phenytoin (a medicine used to treat epilepsy)</li> <li>you have the form of epilepsy where you have mixed fits which include absences</li> <li>you have ever had any heart, liver or kidney problems</li> <li>you are over 65 years of age</li> <li>you have an under-active thyroid (hypothyroidism)</li> <li>you have any eye problems such as glaucoma (increased pressure in the eye)</li> <li>you have difficulty emptying your bladder (urinary retention)</li> <li>you have problems with your mental health</li> <li>you have thinning of the bones (osteopenia or osteoporosis).</li> <li>you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.</li> <li>you are a female of childbearing age</li> </ul> <p><strong>Possible side effects :</strong></p> <p><strong>These include:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Leucopenia; dizziness and tiredness; feeling unsteady or finding it difficult to control movements; feeling or being sick; changes in liver enzyme levels; skin reactions which may be severe.</li> <li>Changes in the blood including an increased tendency to bruise or bleed; fluid retention and swelling; weight increase; low sodium in the blood which might result in confusion; headache; double or blurred vision; dry mouth.</li> <li>Abnormal involuntary movements including tremor or tics.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Other medicines and Carbamazepine:</strong></p> <p><strong>Tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Hormone contraceptives, e.g. pills, patches, injections or implants.</li> <li>Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). Carbamazepine can make HRT less effective.</li> <li>Any medicines for depression or anxiety.</li> <li>Corticosteroids (‘steroids’). You might be taking these for inflammatory conditions such as</li> <li>asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, muscle and joint pains.</li> <li>Anticoagulants to stop your blood clotting.</li> <li>Antibiotics to treat infections including skin infections and TB (e.g. ciprofloxacillin).</li> <li>Antifungals to treat fungal infections.</li> <li>Painkillers containing paracetamol, dextropropoxyphene, tramadol, methadone or buprenorphine.</li> <li>Other medicines to treat epilepsy.</li> <li>Medicines for high blood pressure or heart problems.</li> <li>Antihistamines (medicines to treat allergy such as hayfever, itch, etc).</li> <li>Diuretics (water tablets).</li> <li>Cimetidine or omeprazole (medicines to treat gastric ulcers).</li> <li>Isotretinoin (a medicine for the treatment of acne).</li> <li>Metoclopramide or aprepitant (anti-sickness medications).</li> <li>Acetazolamide (a medicine to treat glaucoma - increased pressure in the eye).</li> <li>Danazol or gestrinone (treatments for endometriosis).</li> <li>Theophylline or aminophylline (used in the treatment of asthma).</li> <li>Ciclosporin, tacrolimus or sirolimus.</li> <li>Drugs to treat schizophrenia (e.g. paliperidone, aripiprazole).</li> <li>Cancer drugs (e.g. temsirolimus, cyclophasphamide, lapatinib).</li> <li>The anti-malarial drug, mefloquine.</li> <li>Drugs to treat HIV.</li> <li>Levothyroxine (used to treat hypothyroidism).</li> <li>Tadalafil (used to treat impotence).</li> </ul> <p><strong>How to take Carbamazepine:</strong></p> <p><strong>To treat epilepsy the usual doses are:</strong></p> <p><strong>Adults:</strong></p> <ul> <li>800-1,200 mg a day, although higher doses may be necessary.</li> <li>If you are elderly you might require a lower dose.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Children</strong>:</p> <ul> <li>Aged 5-10 years: 400-600 mg a day/ Aged 10-15 years: 600-1,000 mg a day.</li> </ul> <p><strong>To treat trigeminal neuralgia the usual dose is:</strong></p> <ul> <li>600-800 mg a day. The maximum dose is 1200mg a day.</li> <li>If you are elderly you might require a lower dose.</li> </ul> <p><strong>To treat mood swings the usual dose is: </strong></p> <ul> <li>400-600 mg a day</li> </ul> <p><strong>How to store Carbamazepine:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.</li> <li>Do not store above 25°C. Store in the original package in order to protect from moisture.</li> <li>Do not take Carbamazepine after the expiry date which is printed on the outside of the pack.</li> </ul> <p><strong>* Dosage form and route of administration of Carbamazepine 100 mg/5ml Oral Suspension and</strong><strong>Carbamazepine 200mg and 400mg Prolonged Release Tablets should be prescribed according to therapeutic indication and disease severity of each individual patient.</strong></p><p> </p>