How does it work?

Carbamazepine is an antiepileptic medicine that is used to regulate the activity of nerves. The brain and nerves are made up of many nerve cells that communicate with each other through electrical signals. These signals must be carefully regulated for the brain and nerves to function properly. When abnormally rapid and repetitive electrical signals are released in the brain, it becomes over-stimulated and normal function is disturbed. This results in fits or seizures. Chemicals must pass through openings on nerve cells for electrical signals to be generated. Carbamazepine works by blocking some of these openings. By blocking these openings, carbamazepine prevents excessively rapid and repetitive firing of electrical signals. Thereby electrical nerve activity in the brain is stabilised, leading to prevention of fits and maintenance of normal brain function. As carbamazepine stabilises electrical nerve activity, it may also be used to prevent nerve signals being sent inappropriately. This occurs in conditions such as trigeminal neuralgia, where facial nerves spontaneously send messages of pain to the brain. Carbamazepine may also be used for the prevention of manic depressive psychoses in people who have not responded to lithium therapy. It is not fully understood how carbamazepine works in this condition.

What is it used for?

Generalised tonic-clonic seizures

Partial seizures

Prevention of manic-depressive psychoses (bipolar affective disorder)

Severe facial pain caused by malfunctioning nerves (trigeminal neuralgia)

Warning!

This medicine may cause skin rashes. Contact your doctor if a rash, itching or related allergic reaction develops.

This medicine may cause blood or liver disorders. Regular blood tests should be conducted. If fever, sore throat, mouth ulcers, easy bruising or rash occur, notify your doctor immediately.

This medicine may cause fatigue and dizziness. If affected, caution is required when driving or operating machinery due to the possible reduction in physical and/or mental ability.

Carbamazepine decreases the blood levels of hormonal contraceptives, resulting in contraceptive failure or breakthrough bleeding. Women who require contraception should be prescribed a contraceptive containing at least 50 micrograms of oestrogen, or use non-hormonal methods of contraception, such as condoms.

You should not stop taking this medicine suddenly unless your doctor tells you otherwise, as this may result in your seizures returning or getting worse. If it is decided that you should stop taking this medicine, it should be withdrawn gradually, according to the instructions given by your doctor.

Use with caution in

Elderly people

History of blood disorders that were caused by any other medication

History of heart disease

History of kidney disease

History of liver disease

History of previous carbamazepine therapy that was interrupted due to side-effects or allergy

History of psychiatric illness

Mixed seizures including absence seizures

Raised pressure in the eye (intraocular pressure), eg glaucoma

Not to be used in

Allergy to any tricyclic antidepressant medication

Blockage of an electrical message pathway in the heart (atrioventricular block)

History of decreased blood cell production by the bone marrow (bone marrow depression)

Life long inherited blood diseases which can cause a variety of symptoms, including mental health problems (porphyrias)

People who have taken monoamine-oxidase inhibitor antidepressants (MAOIs) in the last 14 days

This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy. If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.

It is very important for women with epilepsy to talk to the doctor responsible for their epilepsy treatment before becoming pregnant. Antiepileptic medicines are associated with an increased risk of developmental disorders and malformations in the baby. However, stopping antiepileptic treatment during pregnancy runs the risk of the mother having seizures, which can harm both the mother and the foetus. This risk may be higher than that from continuing the medication. It is important that all the risks and benefits of treatment are weighed up. Seek medical advice from your doctor.

This medicine passes into breast milk in small amounts. The benefits of breastfeeding should be weighed against any possible risks to the infant. Breast-fed infants should be observed for possible adverse reactions, such as excessive drowsiness, skin rashes or poor weight gain. Discuss this with your doctor.

Label warnings

Do not stop taking this medication except on your doctor's advice.

This medication may cause drowsiness. If affected do not drive or operate machinery.

Go To Next Page>>
The documents contained in this web site are presented for information purposes only. The material is in no way intended to replace professional medical care or attention by a qualified practitioner. The materials in this web site cannot and should not be used as a basis for diagnosis or choice of treatment. Conditions for use



© Copyright 1998 - 2004 NetDoctor.co.uk - All rights reserved