Tegretol/Carbamazepine bp IS USED FOR:

• Controlling certain types of seizures and relieving pain in patients with nerve pain in the face, jaw, tongue, or throat.
• Carbamazepine/Tegretol is an anticonvulsant. It works by controlling abnormal nerve impulses in the brain. In trigeminal neuralgia, it reduces the activity of nerve impulses in the nerves to the face, decreasing pain.

BEFORE USING Tegretol/Carbamazepine bp :

• Some medical conditions may interact with Carbamazepine/Tegretol . Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you: shift
  • if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
  • if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
  • if you have a history of increased pressure in the eye (glaucoma), liver or kidney problems, blood problems, heart problems or congestive heart failure, mood or mental problems, seizures, multiple sclerosis, or severe skin reactions (eg, Stevens-Johnson syndrome)
  • if you are allergic to other seizure medicines (eg, phenytoin/Phenytek er, phenobarbital)
  • if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
  • if you consume alcohol-containing beverages or have a history of alcoholism
• This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Carbamazepine/Tegretol may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.
• Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Carbamazepine/Tegretol . Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following: shift
  • Acetaminophen, anticoagulants, (eg, warfarin/Coumadin), butyrophenones (eg, haloperidol), clozapine/Clozaril, trazadone, tricyclic antidepressants (eg, amitriptyline/Elavil), or valproic acid because the side effects of these medicines may be increased by Carbamazepine/Tegretol
  • Antineoplastics (eg, cisplatin, doxorubicin), felbamate, hydantoins (eg, phenytoin/Phenytek er), phenobarbital, primidone/Mysoline, rifampin, or theophylline/Slo-phyllin sr because the effectiveness of Carbamazepine/Tegretol may be decreased
  • Lithium/Lithotabs because the risk of severe nervous system side effects may be increased
  • Anticoagulants (eg, warfarin/Coumadin), benzodiazepines (eg, alprazolam), birth control pills (eg, ethinyl/Ovral estradiol/norethindrone) or any other hormone-type contraceptive (eg, levonorgestrel/Levora implant), butyrophenones (eg, haloperidol), clozapine/Clozaril, corticosteroids (eg, hydrocortisone), cyclosporine/Sandimmune, doxycycline/Adoxa, erlotinib, ethosuximide and its derivatives, etretinate, felbamate, felodipine/Plendil, HIV protease inhibitors (eg, ritonavir/Norvir), HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (eg, simvastatin/Vytorin), imatinib, itraconazole/Sporanox, lamotrigine/Lamictal dispersable, methylphenidate, nifedipine/Adalat, nondepolarizing muscle relaxants (eg, vecuronium), praziquantel, quetiapine/Seroquel, sertraline/Zoloft, tiagabine, topirimate, tricyclic antidepressants (eg, amitriptyline/Elavil), or voriconazole because the effectiveness of these medicines may be decreased
  • Androgens (eg, testosterone), cimetidine, clarithromycin/Biaxin, diltiazem/Diltiazem cr , fluconazole, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, HIV protease inhibitors (eg, ritonavir), isoniazid, itraconazole, ketoconazole, lamotrigine, loratadine, macrolide antibiotics (eg, erythromycin), nefazodone, niacinamide, progabide, propoxyphene, stiripentol, terfenadine, theophylline, tricyclic antidepressants (eg, amitriptyline), troleandomycin, valproic acid, verapamil, or viloxazine because the side effects of Carbamazepine/Tegretol may be increased

HOW TO USE Tegretol/Carbamazepine bp :

• Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Carbamazepine/Tegretol .
• Use Carbamazepine/Tegretol as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions. shift
  • Eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice may affect the amount of Carbamazepine/Tegretol in your blood. Talk with your doctor before including grapefruit or grapefruit juice in your diet.
  • If you miss a dose of Carbamazepine/Tegretol , take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.
  • Take Carbamazepine/Tegretol regularly to receive the most benefit from it.
  • Taking Carbamazepine/Tegretol at the same time each day will help you remember to take it.
  • Carbamazepine/Tegretol may be taken with or without food.

DO NOT USE Tegretol/Carbamazepine bp IF:

• • you are allergic to tricyclic antidepressants (eg, amitriptyline/Elavil, imipramine, desipramine) or similar medications
  • you are allergic to any ingredient in Carbamazepine/Tegretol
  • you have a heart condition known as atrioventricular block
  • you are taking or have taken a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor (eg, phenelzine) within the last 14 days
  • you have a history of bone marrow depression, the blood disorder porphyria, or other serious blood disorders
• Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF Tegretol/Carbamazepine bp :

• Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:
  • swelling of ankles or fingers
  • involuntary muscle movements
  • stomach pain
  • rapid eye movement
  • severe sweating
  • bone, joint, or muscle pain
  • ringing in the ears
  • hair loss
  • reddened, blistered, or swollen skin
  • vision changes
  • unusual bruising or bleeding
  • sore throat
  • Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue)
  • fever
  • ulcers or sores in the mouth
  • shortness of breath
  • seizures
  • hallucinations
  • yellowing of the eyes or skin.
  • fainting
  • fast or irregular heartbeat
  • pain, tenderness, or unusual swelling in the neck, groin, or under the arms
  • chills
• This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions or need medical advice about side effects, contact your doctor or health care provider. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088) or at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.
• All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:
  • headache
  • drowsiness
  • vomiting.
  • nausea
  • Blurred vision
  • dry mouth or throat
  • unsteadiness
  • dizziness
  • confusion

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION:

• Important safety information about Carbamazepine/Tegretol :
  • LAB TESTS, including blood cell counts, blood iron levels, liver function, kidney function, eye exams, and carbamazepine/Tegretol blood levels, may be performed to monitor your progress or to check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
  • Carbamazepine/Tegretol may interfere with certain lab tests, including thyroid function tests. Be sure your doctor or laboratory personnel know you are taking Carbamazepine/Tegretol .
  • Carbamazepine/Tegretol may cause drowsiness, dizziness, or blurred vision. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how you react to Carbamazepine/Tegretol . Using Carbamazepine/Tegretol alone, with certain other medicines, or with alcohol may lessen your ability to drive or perform other potentially dangerous tasks.
  • PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: Carbamazepine/Tegretol has been shown to cause harm to the fetus. Avoid becoming pregnant while taking Carbamazepine/Tegretol . If you think you may be pregnant, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using Carbamazepine/Tegretol during pregnancy. Carbamazepine/Tegretol is excreted in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Carbamazepine/Tegretol .
  • This medicine may interfere with some pregnancy test results. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking Carbamazepine/Tegretol and have questions or concerns about the result of a pregnancy test.
  • Carbamazepine/Tegretol may cause increased sensitivity to the sun. Avoid exposure to the sun, sunlamps, or tanning booths until you know how you react to Carbamazepine/Tegretol . Use sunscreen or protective clothing if you must be outside for a prolonged period of time.
  • Before you have any medical or dental surgery, tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking Carbamazepine/Tegretol .

What is the shelf life of the pills?

• The expiry date is mentioned on each blister. It is different for different batches. The shelf life is 2 years from the date of manufacture and would differ from batch to batch depending on when they were manufactured.