Handouts · Medications
Carbamazepine (Tegretol)
A mood stabilizer and anti-seizure medicine. Effective, but it needs blood monitoring and interacts with many other drugs.
What It Is
Carbamazepine treats bipolar mania, seizures, and certain nerve pains.
It speeds up the liver’s breakdown of many medicines (including itself), so doses and interactions need attention.
How to Take It
Take with food to reduce stomach upset and dizziness. Swallow extended-release forms whole.
Take consistently; do not stop suddenly.
Black Box Warnings
- Serious skin reactions (Stevens-Johnson syndrome). People of Asian ancestry should be tested for the gene HLA-B*1502 before starting.
- Serious blood problems — rare drops in red cells, white cells, or platelets (aplastic anemia/agranulocytosis).
Common (Usually Mild) Side Effects
- Dizziness, drowsiness.
- Nausea.
- Double or blurred vision.
- Unsteadiness.
Serious — Seek Care Now
- Any rash, especially with blisters, peeling, or mouth/eye sores.
- Fever, sore throat, mouth sores, easy bruising — possible blood problem.
- Low sodium: headache, confusion, weakness, nausea.
- Yellow skin/eyes (liver).
Alcohol & Interactions
Avoid alcohol — it adds to drowsiness and dizziness.
Many interactions: it can make birth control pills less effective and lower levels of many drugs. Always check before adding or stopping a medicine.
Required Monitoring
• Blood count (CBC) — baseline and periodically
• Liver tests (LFTs)
• Sodium level
• Carbamazepine blood level
• HLA-B*1502 gene test before starting if you have Asian ancestry