Carbamazepine
Information about Carbamazepine
Carbamazepine uses
Carbamazepine is used in the treatment of epilepsy/seizures and trigeminal neuralgia.
How carbamazepine works
Carbamazepine is an antiepileptic medication. It controls seizures or fits by decreasing the abnormal and excessive activity of the nerve cells in the brain.
Common side effects of carbamazepine
Dizziness, Nausea, Vomiting, Blurred vision, Constipation, Dryness in mouth, Itching, Sleepiness, Tremors, Abnormality of voluntary movements, SIADH (water retention due to excessive ADH), Drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, Toxic epidermal necrolysis
Available Medicine for Carbamazepine
Expert advice for Carbamazepine
- Take your medication regularly as directed by your doctor as missing doses can trigger seizures.
- Do not change the brand of your medicine and make sure that you have sufficient amount of medicine present with you.
- Some healthy tips to prevent seizures:
- Practice yoga every day.
- Get enough sleep at nighttime.
- Limit the use of screen time such as mobile/laptop.
- Take your medication on time.
- It may cause dizziness and sleepiness. Do not drive or do anything that requires mental focus until you know how it affects you.
- Your doctor may get regular tests done to monitor the level of blood cells in your blood while taking this medication.
- Talk to your doctor if you notice sudden mood changes or develop suicidal thoughts.
- Inform your doctor if you notice a rash or other skin changes such as reddish spot or circular patches while taking this medicine.
- Do not stop taking the medication suddenly without talking to your doctor as it may increase the seizure frequency.
Frequently asked questions for Carbamazepine
Carbamazepine
Q. Is Carbamazepine an analgesic? What is it used for?
No, Carbamazepine is not an analgesic and should not be used for regular aches or pains. It is an anti-epileptic medicine which is used to treat fits (seizures). It is also used in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia (intense facial nerve pain). In addition to that, Carbamazepine is used to control mood disorders when other medicines fail to work.
Q. What are the long-term effects of Carbamazepine?
The long-term side effects of Carbamazepine vary from person to person. While some people can take Carbamazepine safely for several years, some may develop side effects on using it for long term. These side effects include osteoporosis and osteopenia in which the bones become weak and can get easily fractured. Therefore, if you have been prescribed Carbamazepine for a long term, get your bone density checked at regular intervals, maintain a healthy diet and exercise daily.
Q. How do I stop taking Carbamazepine?
You should stop Carbamazepine only after consulting your doctor. It is advised to gradually decrease the dose of Carbamazepine so that the condition for which you are taking it does not recur.