About carbamazepine
Anticonvulsant; mood stabilizer
Used for
- Treats epilepsy and certain seizure types
- Treats trigeminal neuralgia nerve pain
- Sometimes used for bipolar disorder
Usual adult dose
Epilepsy: usually starts at 100–200 mg once or twice daily, then increases gradually. Trigeminal neuralgia: starts at 100 mg twice daily, then increases as needed.
Usual dose in children
Epilepsy: usually starts at 10–20 mg/kg daily in divided doses; the dose is adjusted gradually by age and response.
Common side effects
- Dizziness, sleepiness, or unsteadiness
- Nausea or vomiting
- Blurred or double vision
- Rash
Important warnings
- Can rarely cause severe skin reactions or serious blood disorders.
- Seek urgent care for rash with blisters, facial swelling, fever, or unusual bruising.
- Do not stop suddenly; seizures may worsen.
- May reduce the effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives.
Pregnancy
May cause birth defects, especially early in pregnancy; treatment needs careful specialist review. Do not stop suddenly.
Breastfeeding
Passes into breast milk. Many people can breastfeed while taking it, with monitoring for infant sleepiness, poor feeding, or jaundice.
Interactions
- Can reduce effects of hormonal contraceptives and many other medicines.
- Some medicines, including certain antibiotics and antifungals, can raise carbamazepine levels.
- Grapefruit may increase carbamazepine levels.
- Alcohol can worsen drowsiness and impaired coordination.
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 It may be incomplete or out of date.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.