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Carbamazepine (Biston®; Calepsin®; Carbatrol®; Epitol®; Finlepsin®; Sirtal®; Stazepine®; Tegretol®; Telesmin®; Timonil®) is an anticonvulsant and mood stabilizing drug, used primarily in the treatment of epilepsy and bipolar disorder; but also used to treat schizophrenia.
Side Effects
Carbamazepine renders birth control pills ineffective. Common side effects include: drowsiness, loss of blood cells, loss of platelets, motor-coordination impairment, and/or upset stomach. Very rare side effects: loss of blood cells, loss of platelets. These side effects can be life-threatening if unnoticed so frequent simple blood tests are required for the first few months followed by three or four a year to detect them. Use of carbamazepine can result in blurry or doubled vision.
For people with bothersome side effects such as nausea, Tegretol XR® or Carbatrol® taken every 12 hours can greatly increase tolerability. (See psycheducation under external links)
There are reports of a bizarre auditory side effect, whereby patients perceive musical notes about a semitone lower than they truly are. (Middle C would be heard as a B.)
External links
- TA warning (http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/carbam.htm)
- Mood Stabilizersfrom (http://www.psycheducation.org/depression/meds/moodstabilizers.htm) PsychEducation.org
- Carbamazepine overviewfrom (http://www.psycheducation.org/depression/meds/carbamazepine.htm) PsychEducation.org
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