Carbamazepine (kar-ba-MAZ-e-peen)

Treats seizures.

Brand Name(s):

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used:

How to Use This Medicine:

Injectable

• Your doctor will prescribe your dose and schedule. This medicine is given through a needle placed in a vein.
• A nurse or other health provider will give you this medicine.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid:

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

• Do not use this medicine together with boceprevir, delavirdine, or nefazodone. Do not use this medicine and an MAO inhibitor (MAOI) within 14 days of each other.
• The list below includes some of the most commonly used medicines that can interact with carbamazepine. There are many other drugs not listed. Make sure your doctor knows the names of bold the medicines you use. Tell your doctor if you are using any of the following:
  • Acetaminophen, albendazole, alprazolam, aprepitant, aripiprazole, buprenorphine, bupropion, citalopram, clonazepam, clozapine, cyclophosphamide, cyclosporine, dicumarol, doxycycline, eslicarbazepine, ethosuximide, everolimus, felodipine, haloperidol, imatinib, isoniazid, itraconazole, lamotrigine, lapatinib, levothyroxine, lithium, loxapine, methadone, methsuximide, mianserin, midazolam, olanzapine, oxcarbazepine, paliperidone, phensuximide, phenytoin, praziquantel, quetiapine, risperidone, sertraline, sirolimus, tacrolimus, tadalafil, temsirolimus, theophylline, tiagabine, topiramate, tramadol, trazodone, valproate, ziprasidone, or zonisamide
  • Blood thinner (including apixaban, dabigatran, edoxaban, rivaroxaban, warfarin)
  • Diuretic (water pill)
  • HIV protease inhibitor (including atazanavir, darunavir, fosamprenavir, indinavir, lopinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir)
  • Medicine to treat an infection (including fluconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole, voriconazole)
  • Tricyclic antidepressant (including amitriptyline, imipramine, nortriptyline)
  • Steroid medicine (including dexamethasone, prednisolone, prednisone)
• Birth control pills, shots, and other hormonal birth control methods may not work as well while you use this medicine. You may want to use a second form of birth control.
• Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while you are using this medicine.

Warnings While Using This Medicine:

• It is not safe to take this medicine during pregnancy. It could harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant.
• Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding, or if you have kidney disease, liver disease, glaucoma, porphyria, or a history of bone marrow depression, suicidal thoughts, or depression. Tell your doctor if you had an allergic reaction to any other medicine (especially seizure medicines).
• Tell your doctor if you have Asian ancestry. Your doctor may test you for serious skin reactions before prescribing this medicine.
• This medicine may cause the following problems:
  • Serious skin reactions
  • Aplastic anemia or other blood problems
  • Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), which may damage organs such as the liver, kidney, or heart
  • Suicidal thoughts or behavior
  • Low sodium levels in the blood
  • Liver damage
• Do not stop using this medicine suddenly. Your doctor will need to slowly decrease your dose before you stop it completely.
• This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you.
• Your doctor will do lab tests at regular visits to check on the effects of this medicine. Keep all appointments. Your doctor may want to have your eyes checked by an eye doctor.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine:

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

• Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
• Blistering, peeling, red skin rash
• Blurred vision, changes in vision
• Change in how much or how often you urinate
• Confusion, memory problems, unusual tiredness, muscle spasms or weakness
• Dark urine or pale stools, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, stomach pain, yellow skin or eyes
• Fever, chills, cough, sore throat, or sores in your mouth
• Lightheadedness or fainting
• Swollen, painful, or tender lymph glands in your neck, armpit, or groin
• Thoughts of hurting yourself or others, unusual thoughts or behavior
• Unusual bleeding, bruising, or weakness

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

• Anxiety, agitation, depression, restlessness, or trouble sleeping
• Dizziness or drowsiness
• Pain, itching, burning, swelling, or a lump under your skin where the needle is placed

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088