What is carbamazepine?
Carbamazepine is used to prevent seizures and may also treat migraine headaches and nerve pain. It is available as an immediate-release liquid suspension, 100 mg red-speckled pink tablets, 200 mg pink tablets, and extended-release tablets in 100 mg yellow, 200 mg pink, and 400 mg brown strengths. All forms are taken by mouth.
Possible late effects
- Nausea, vomiting, constipation, or diarrhea
- Blurred or double vision
- Decreased coordination
- Feeling dizzy, drowsy, or unsteady
- Feeling tired
- Agitation or irritability
- Slurred speech
- Headache
- Dry mouth
- Skin rash
- Easy bruising or unusual bleeding
- Low blood counts
- Trouble sleeping
- Allergic reaction with fever, rash, liver function changes, and muscle aches
Possible side effects
- Nausea and vomiting
- Feeling dizzy, drowsy, or unsteady
- Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include rash, hives, itching, chills, fever, headache, muscle ache, shortness of breath, coughing, tightness in the throat, or swelling of the face or neck
- Not all patients who take carbamazepine will experience these side effects. Common side effects are in bold, but there may be others. Please report all suspected side effects to your doctor or pharmacist.
Tips for patients and families
- Discuss all questions and instructions with your doctor or pharmacist.
- Do not stop taking this medicine unless instructed by your doctor to avoid increased seizure risk.
- This medicine may cause dizziness or drowsiness; avoid driving or operating heavy equipment until you know its effects.
- The dose may be increased slowly when starting treatment.
- Call the care team immediately if a rash develops after starting carbamazepine.
- Take the medicine exactly as prescribed to maintain steady blood levels.
- If a dose is missed and the next dose is more than 4 hours away, take it right away. If the next dose is due in less than 4 hours, skip the missed dose and take the next dose at the scheduled time. Do not double doses.
- Carbamazepine may interact with medicines such as warfarin, theophylline, cyclosporine, birth control pills, other seizure medicines, and doxycycline. Inform your doctor about all medicines you take.
- This medicine can increase the risk of falls.
