About carbamazepine
Anticonvulsant; sodium-channel blocker
Used for
- Focal and generalized tonic-clonic seizures
- Trigeminal neuralgia
- Bipolar disorder, as a mood stabilizer
Usual adult dose
Seizures: usually start at 200 mg twice daily, increasing gradually. Trigeminal neuralgia: start at 100 mg twice daily, increasing as needed.
Usual dose in children
For seizures, dosing is weight-based and increased gradually; the prescriber sets the dose for the child.
Common side effects
- Dizziness, drowsiness, or unsteadiness
- Nausea or vomiting
- Low sodium levels
- Rash
Important warnings
- Serious skin reactions and blood disorders can occur; urgent assessment is needed for concerning symptoms.
- Do not stop suddenly; seizures may worsen.
- Requires monitoring of blood counts, liver function, and sometimes sodium.
- The suspension and tablets are not directly interchangeable without dose review.
Pregnancy
May cause birth defects and affect folate levels; treatment needs specialist review. Do not stop suddenly during pregnancy.
Breastfeeding
Passes into breast milk. Often compatible with monitoring for infant sleepiness, poor feeding, jaundice, or rash.
Interactions
- Can reduce effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives and many other medicines.
- Grapefruit may increase carbamazepine levels.
- Some medicines, including erythromycin and azole antifungals, can raise levels.
- Other seizure medicines and St John's wort can alter levels.
AI-generated from general medical knowledge, not from this product's official leaflet. It may be incomplete or out of date. Not medical advice — ask a pharmacist or doctor before making any decision.