carbamazepine
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about Tegretol.
It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
The information in this leaflet was last updated on the date listed on the final page. More recent information on the medicine may be available.
You should ensure that you speak to your pharmacist or doctor to obtain the most up to date information on the medicine. You can also download the most up to date leaflet from www.novartis.com.au.
Those updates may contain important information about the medicine and its use of which you should be aware.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you or your child taking this medicine against the benefits they expect it will have.
If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet with the medicine.
You may need to read it again.
What Tegretol is used for
Tegretol has several uses:
to control epilepsy, a condition in which there are repeated seizures (fits). There are many different
types of seizures, ranging from mild to severe.
to control sudden, repeated attacks of facial pain, known as trigeminal neuralgia
to control mania, a mental condition with episodes of overactivity, elation or irritability
to control bipolar mood disorder where periods of mania alternate with periods of depression.
Tegretol belongs to a group of medicines called anticonvulsants.
These medicines are thought to work by regulating the way messages in the brain are passed on by nerves so that seizures do not happen. Tegretol also regulates other nerve functions in the body.
Tegretol may be used alone or in combination with other medicines to treat your condition.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why this medicine has been prescribed for you.
Your doctor may have prescribed it for another purpose.
Tegretol is only available with a doctor's prescription. There is no evidence that this medicine is addictive.
Before you take Tegretol
When you must not take it
Do not take Tegretol if you have an allergy to:
carbamazepine (the active ingredient of Tegretol) or any of the other ingredients of Tegretol listed at the end of this leaflet
any other medicine containing carbamazepine
tricyclic antidepressants, which are medicines use to treat depression
Tell your doctor if you are allergic to oxcarbazepine, the active ingredient in Trileptal, or to phenytoin. These two medicines are also used to treat epilepsy.
Some people who are allergic to oxcarbazepine or phenytoin are also allergic to Tegretol.
Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing; swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body; rash, itching or hives on the skin.
Do not take Tegretol if you are taking a medicine called a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) or have been taking it within the past 14 days.
Taking this medicine with a MAOI, or within 14 days of taking a MAOI, may cause a serious reaction with a sudden increase in body temperature, extremely high blood pressure and severe convulsions.
Do not take Tegretol if you have, or have had, any of the following conditions:
severe liver or heart disease
a disease of the blood
an irregular heartbeat caused by a condition called A-V block
systemic lupus erythematosus, also called SLE
hepatic porphyria, a disturbance in the production of porphyrin, a pigment important for liver function and blood formation
If you are not sure whether any of the above conditions apply to you, ask your doctor.
Do not take Tegretol after the expiry date printed on the pack or if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.
In that case, return it to your pharmacist.
If you are not sure whether you should start taking Tegretol, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Before you start to take it
Tell your doctor if you are allergic to any other medicines, foods, dyes or preservatives.
Your doctor will want to know if you are prone to allergies.
Tell your doctor if you have, or have had, any medical conditions, especially the following:
heart problems
glaucoma
prostate problems or if you cannot retain your urine
liver or kidney problems
problems with your blood in the past that were caused by medicines you were taking
a mental disorder such as depression or schizophrenia
Tell your doctor if you have an intolerance to fructose. In that case, you should not take Tegretol liquid but you can take Tegretol tablets.
Each mL of Tegretol liquid contains 175 mg of sorbitol. Sorbitol is converted by the liver to fructose. If people with intolerance to fructose take sorbitol, it can lead to stomach upset and diarrhoea.
Tegretol liquid contains parahydroxybenzoates which may cause allergic reactions.
Tell your doctor if you are of Asian descent, particularly if you are Chinese or Thai.
Your doctor may want to do a genetic test before you take Tegretol for the first time.
The risk of serious skin reactions in patients of Han Chinese or Thai origin associated with carbamazepine or chemically-related compounds may be predicted by testing a blood sample of these patients.
Your doctor should be able to advise if a blood test is necessary before taking Tegretol.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant.
Your doctor will discuss with you the potential risk of taking Tegretol during pregnancy since it may cause harm or abnormalities in your baby during pregnancy and soon after birth. But, if you have epilepsy, it is very important to control your fits while you are pregnant. Your doctor can help you decide whether or not you should take Tegretol in this case.
Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed.
Tegretol passes into breast milk but it is unlikely to affect your baby. With the advice of your doctor, you may breast-feed provided that you watch your baby for any signs of an unwanted side effect. If your baby develops a skin rash, becomes very sleepy or has other unusual symptoms, do not breast-feed again until you speak to your doctor.
If you have not told your doctor about any of these things, tell him/her before you take Tegretol.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including medicines that you buy without a prescription from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Many medicines and Tegretol may interfere with each other. These include:
MAOI medicines. Tegretol must not be taken together with a MAOI or within 14 days of taking a MAOI
other medicines used to treat depression such as fluvoxamine, nefazodone, paroxetine, bupropion, citalopram, tricyclic antidepressants and trazodone
other medicines used to treat seizures including phenytoin, levetiracetam and oxcarbazepine
some medicines used to treat mental disorders such as clozapine, haloperidol, thioridazine, lithium, olanzapine, quetiapine, risperidone and ziprasidone
some medicines used to treat heart problems or high cholesterol
some medicines used to help you sleep or calm you down
some pain relievers such as paracetamol, dextro-propoxyphene, tramadol and ibuprofen
warfarin, a medicine used to prevent blood clots
some diuretics (fluid tablets), which are medicines used to reduce water retention and high blood pressure
some antibiotics and antifungal medicines used to treat infections, such as erythromycin, clarithromycin, doxycycline, itraconazole, ketoconazole, fluconazole, voriconazole and rifampicin
corticosteroids such as prednisolone and dexamethasone
St John's wort, an ingredient in many medicines that you can buy without a prescription from a pharmacy, health food shop or supermarket.
antihistamines such as loratadine and terfenadine, which are medicines used to prevent or relieve the symptoms of allergies such as hay fever
isoniazid, a medicine used to prevent and treat tuberculosis
acetazolamide, a medicine used to reduce fluid retention and to treat glaucoma and some types of seizures
medicines used to treat stomach or duodenal ulcers, such as cimetidine and omeprazole
muscle relaxants such as dantrolene and oxybutynin
ticlopidine, a medicine used to prevent blood clotting
some medicines used to treat asthma, such as theophylline and aminophylline
some medicines used to prevent rejection of organ transplants and to treat severe rheumatoid arthritis and some skin diseases, such as cyclosporin and everolimus
some medicines used to treat cancer, such as cisplatin, doxorubicin and imatinib
methadone, a medicine used to control severe pain and to treat heroin addiction
metoclopramide, a medicine used to treat nausea and vomiting
isotretinoin, a medicine used to treat acne
danazol, a medicine used to treat endometriosis
a vitamin called nicotinamide
muscle relaxants, which are medicines used during surgery
medicines used to treat HIV such as indinavir, ritonavir and saquinavir
levothyroxine, a medicine used to treat underactive thyroids
praziquantel, a medicine used to treat worm infections of the blood
medicines containing oestrogen and progesterone, including hormone replacement therapy and contraceptives
The above medicines may be affected by Tegretol or they may affect how well it works. You may need to take different amounts of your medicines or you may need to take different medicines.
Tell your doctor if you are using hormonal contraceptives (e.g.birth control pills or injections).
If you are a female of childbearing age you should use an effective method of contraception throughout your treatment and for 2 weeks after your last dose. If you begin taking Tegretol while you are using hormonal contraceptives, they may not work as well as they should. Unplanned pregnancies can happen. Your doctor can suggest another form of birth control (non-hormonal) while you are taking Tegretol.
Tell your doctor immediately if you notice irregular vaginal bleeding or spotting.
Your doctor and pharmacist have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking Tegretol.
How to take Tegretol
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor and pharmacist carefully.
These directions may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
If you do not understand the instructions on the label, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.
How much to take
Your doctor will tell you how much Tegretol you need to take each day. This may depend on your age, your medical condition and whether or not you are taking other medicines.
Your doctor will usually start your treatment with a low dose and then slowly increase it to the lowest amount needed to control your condition. Some people will need higher doses than other people will.
How to take it
Tegretol is available in conventional tablets, controlled release (CR) tablets and in liquid form. The liquid is usually used for children or adults who have trouble swallowing tablets.
If you are taking Tegretol tablets, swallow them with a full glass of water.
If you are taking Tegretol CR tablets, do not crush or chew them.
The CR tablets have a special coating that would be destroyed by crushing or chewing the tablet.
If the dose is one-half tablet, you can buy a tablet cutter from your pharmacist to make sure the dose is accurate.
If you are taking Tegretol liquid, shake the bottle well before each dose is measured.
Shaking the bottle and using a medicine measure will make sure that you take the correct dose. You can get a medicine measure from your pharmacist.
When to take it
Take your dose of Tegretol during or after a meal.
This helps to prevent stomach upset.
Tegretol is usually taken in 2 or 3 doses during the day. But your doctor may tell you to take it more or less often, depending on your situation.
If you forget to take it
If your next dose is not due for more than 2 or 3 hours, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Then take your next dose at the usual time and continue on with your normal schedule.
If your next dose is due within 2 or 3 hours, skip the missed dose. Take your next dose at the usual time and continue on with your normal schedule.
Do not take a double dose to make up for the one that you missed.
This may increase the chance of you getting an unwanted side effect.
If you are not sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
If you have trouble remembering when to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints.
How long to take it
Continue taking your medicine for as long as your doctor tells you.
Tegretol helps to control your condition but does not cure it. You must take it every day, even if you feel well.
Do not stop taking Tegretol or lower the dose without first checking with your doctor. Do not let yourself run out of medicine over the weekend or on holidays.
Stopping your medicine suddenly or lowering the dose may cause unwanted side effects or make your condition worse. If you are taking this medicine to treat epilepsy, you could develop seizures (fits). Your doctor will usually reduce the dose slowly before you can stop taking it completely.
If you take too much (Overdose)
Immediately telephone your doctor or Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26) for advice, or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much Tegretol. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
Keep the telephone numbers for these places handy.
Some of the symptoms of an overdose may include agitation, disorientation, fainting, vomiting, difficulty breathing, fast and irregular heartbeat, blurred vision, shakiness and slurred speech. If you are taking the controlled release (CR) tablets, it may take longer for you to notice these effects.
While you are taking Tegretol
Things you must do
If you become pregnant while taking Tegretol, tell your doctor immediately.
Your doctor can discuss with you the risks of taking it while you are pregnant.
Be sure to keep all of your doctor's appointments so that your progress can be checked.
To help prevent unwanted side effects from happening, your doctor may want to do some tests before you start taking Tegretol and from time to time during the course of your treatment.
Contact your doctor immediately if at any time you have thoughts of harming or killing yourself.
A number of people being treated with antiepileptics have had such thoughts or behaviour.
Tell your doctor if, for any reason, you have not taken your medicine exactly as prescribed.
Otherwise your doctor may think that it was not effective and change your treatment unnecessarily.
Before having any surgery or emergency treatment, tell the doctor or dentist in charge that you are taking Tegretol.
This medicine may interfere with some of the medicines used during surgery.
If you are about to be started on any new medicine, remind your doctor and pharmacist that you are taking Tegretol.
Tell any other doctor, dentist or pharmacist who treats you that you are taking Tegretol.
Things you must not do
Do not stop taking Tegretol or lower the dose without first checking with your doctor.
Do not use Tegretol to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you to.
Do not give this medicine to anyone else, even if their symptoms seem similar to yours or they have the same condition as you do.
Things to be careful of
Avoid drinking grapefruit juice while you are being treated with Tegretol.
Grapefruit juice may interact with Tegretol and affect how your body uses this medicine.
Be careful driving, operating machinery or doing jobs that require you to be alert until you know how Tegretol affects you. Children should avoid doing things like riding bicycles or climbing trees.
This medicine may cause dizziness, drowsiness, blurred vision, double vision or lack of muscle coordination in some people, especially when you first start to use it or when the dose is increased.
Be careful when drinking alcohol while you are taking Tegretol.
The combination could make you more sleepy, dizzy or light headed than usual. Your doctor may suggest you avoid alcohol while you are being treated with Tegretol.
When outdoors, wear protective clothing and use at least a 15+ sunscreen. Do not use a sunlamp or tanning bed or booth.
This medicine may cause your skin to be much more sensitive to sunlight than it normally is. Exposure to sunlight may cause a skin rash, itching, redness or severe sunburn. If your skin does appear to be burning, tell your doctor.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking Tegretol.
All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects. If you are over 65 years old, you may have an increased risk of getting side effects.
Do not be alarmed by the following lists of possible side effects. You may not experience any of them.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following side effects and they worry you:
dizziness or light headedness
tiredness or drowsiness
eye pain
weakness, unsteadiness when walking
headache
restlessness, agitation or confusion
difficulty in speaking or slurred speech
numbness or tingling in hands or feet
muscle pain or cramps
nausea (feeling sick) or vomiting, loss of appetite
weight gain
stomach pain or discomfort
diarrhoea
constipation
dry mouth
swollen, red, sore tongue
mouth ulcers or cold sores
change in sense of taste
blurred or double vision, swollen runny eyes, difficulty seeing
ringing or buzzing in the ears or other changes in hearing
frequent need to urinate (pass water)
sweating
hair loss
acne
change in skin colour
excessive hairiness, especially in women
sexual disturbances such as impotence
breast enlargement in men
unusual secretion of breast milk
loss of muscle coordination
Tell your doctor immediately or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital if you notice any of the following:
signs of allergy such as swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body; wheezing or troubled breathing, difficulty swallowing, itching, hives, chest discomfort or tightness, loss of consciousness
skin rash, redness, blisters or peeling skin, accompanied by fever, chills, headache, cough, body aches
sudden increase in body temperature, accompanied by sweating, fast heart beat and muscle stiffness, altered consciousness, high blood pressure, excessive salivation
constant "flu-like" symptoms (chills, fever, sore throat, swollen glands, aching joints, lack of energy)
unusual bleeding or bruising under the skin, nosebleeds
shortness of breath and dizziness when exercising
frequent infections or fever
severe chills, sore throat, swollen glands or mouth ulcers
persistent nausea or vomiting, loss of appetite and feeling generally unwell, which may be accompanied by pain in the abdomen, fever, itching, a yellow colour to skin or eyes, dark coloured urine or light coloured bowel motions
diarrhoea, abdominal pain and fever
severe upper stomach pain, often with loss of appetite and vomiting
more frequent or more severe seizures (fits)
sudden onset of uncontrollable muscle spasms affecting the eyes, head, neck and body
trembling, uncontrolled body movements
lethargy, confusion
depression, aggressive behaviour, recurrence of a previous mental illness, hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren't there)
swelling of the feet and legs or weight increase due to fluid build-up
changes in behaviour, weakness
change in heartbeat (fast, slow, irregular), sometimes with fainting or chest pain
passing less urine than normal which may be accompanied by lack of energy, vomiting, headache and confusion
blood in the urine
symptoms of sunburn such as redness, itching, swelling or blistering that may happen more quickly than normal
red blotchy rash mainly on the face which may be accompanied by fatigue, fever, nausea, loss of appetite
swelling and redness along a vein or nerve, which is extremely tender when touched
signs that blood clots may have formed, such as sudden severe headache, sudden loss of coordination or vision, pain in the calves, thighs or chest
severe headache accompanied by stiff neck, muscle spasms and extreme sensitivity to bright light
a fall due to dizziness, drowsiness, decrease in blood pressure or confusion.
Tell your doctor if you notice anything else that is making you feel unwell.
Other side effects not listed above may happen in some people. Some of these side effects (for example, changes in sodium levels, thyroid function, structure of bones, cholesterol level or blood pressure) can only be found when your doctor does tests from time to time to check your progress.
After taking Tegretol
Storage
Keep your medicine in the original container until it is time to take it.
Store the medicine in a cool dry place.
Do not store Tegretol or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink.
Do not leave it in the car or on window sills.
Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines. Tegretol will keep well if it is cool and dry.
Keep Tegretol where children cannot reach it.
A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop taking Tegretol or you find that it has passed the expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any medicine you have left over.
Product description
What it looks like
Tegretol tablets:
Tegretol 100 mg: white tablets marked with a break line and BW on one side, GEIGY on the other side; packs of 100 tablets.
Tegretol 200 mg: white tablets marked with a break line and GK on one side, CG on the other side; packs of 100 tablets.
Tegretol CR tablets:
Tegretol CR 200 mg: beige-orange capsule shaped tablets with a break line on both sides, marked H/C on one side and C/G on the other; in PVC/PE/PVDC/Al blister packs of 200 tablets.
Tegretol CR 400 mg: brown - orange capsule shaped tablets with a break line on both sides, marked ENE/ENE on one side and CG/CG on the other; in PVC/PE/PVDC/Al blister packs of 200 tablets.
Tegretol liquid:
a thick, white, caramel flavoured liquid, packed in 300 mL brown glass bottles with a child-resistant cap.
Ingredients
Tegretol tablets contain 100 mg or 200 mg of carbamazepine as the active ingredient. They also contain:
cellulose-microcrystalline
carmellose sodium
silica-colloidal anhydrous
magnesium stearate
Tegretol CR tablets contain 200 mg or 400 mg of carbamazepine as the active ingredient. They also contain:
cellulose-microcrystalline
silica-colloidal anhydrous
magnesium stearate
talc
Aquacoat ECD-30
acrylates copolymer
carmellose sodium
hypromellose
polyoxyl 40 hydrogenated castor oil
iron oxide red CI 77491
iron oxide yellow CI 77492
titanium dioxide
Tegretol liquid contains 100 mg of carbamazepine per 5 mL of liquid. It also contains:
methyl hydroxybenzoate
propyl hydroxybenzoate
caramel flavour
propylene glycol
PEG-8 stearate
saccharin sodium
sorbic acid
sorbitol solution (70%)
cellulose-dispersible
hyetellose
purified water
Diabetic patients can take Tegretol liquid. It contains sorbitol solution (875 mg/ 5 mL) which is slowly converted into glucose, providing 14 kJ per 5 mL of liquid.
