Tegretol/Carbamazepine bp IS USED FOR:

• Tegretol/Carbamazepine 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.
• Controlling certain types of seizures and relieving pain in patients with nerve pain in the face, jaw, tongue, or throat.

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF Tegretol/Carbamazepine bp :

• Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:
  • unusual bruising or bleeding
  • hair loss
  • hallucinations
  • pain, tenderness, or unusual swelling in the neck, groin, or under the arms
  • Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue)
  • ringing in the ears
  • fainting
  • rapid eye movement
  • yellowing of the eyes or skin.
  • seizures
  • swelling of ankles or fingers
  • sore throat
  • ulcers or sores in the mouth
  • bone, joint, or muscle pain
  • fast or irregular heartbeat
  • severe sweating
  • fever
  • reddened, blistered, or swollen skin
  • vision changes
  • involuntary muscle movements
  • stomach pain
  • chills
  • shortness of breath
• 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:
  • Blurred vision
  • dizziness
  • drowsiness
  • unsteadiness
  • nausea
  • dry mouth or throat
  • headache
  • vomiting.
  • confusion
• 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.

DO NOT USE Tegretol/Carbamazepine bp IF:

• Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.
• • 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
  • you have a heart condition known as atrioventricular block
  • you are allergic to any ingredient in Tegretol/Carbamazepine
  • you are allergic to tricyclic antidepressants (eg, Endep/amitriptyline, imipramine, desipramine) or similar medications

BEFORE USING Tegretol/Carbamazepine bp :

• Some medical conditions may interact with Tegretol/Carbamazepine . Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you: shift
  • if you are allergic to other seizure medicines (eg, Dilantin er/phenytoin, phenobarbital)
  • if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
  • if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
  • if you consume alcohol-containing beverages or have a history of alcoholism
  • if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
  • 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)
• Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Tegretol/Carbamazepine . Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following: shift
  • Acetaminophen, anticoagulants, (eg, Coumadin/warfarin), butyrophenones (eg, haloperidol), Clozaril/clozapine, trazadone, tricyclic antidepressants (eg, Endep/amitriptyline), or valproic acid because the side effects of these medicines may be increased by Tegretol/Carbamazepine
  • Eskalith/Lithium because the risk of severe nervous system side effects may be increased
  • Androgens (eg, testosterone ), cimetidine, Biaxin/clarithromycin, Diltia er/Diltiazem xl/diltiazem , Diflucan/fluconazole, Prozac/fluoxetine, Luvox/fluvoxamine, HIV protease inhibitors (eg, Norvir/ritonavir), isoniazid, Sporanox/itraconazole, Nizoral/ketoconazole, Lamictal/lamotrigine, Claritin/loratadine, macrolide antibiotics (eg, P.c.e/erythromycin), nefazodone, niacinamide, progabide, propoxyphene, stiripentol, terfenadine, Theolair tr/theophylline, tricyclic antidepressants (eg, Endep/amitriptyline), troleandomycin, valproic acid, Verelan sr/verapamil, or viloxazine because the side effects of Tegretol/Carbamazepine may be increased
  • Antineoplastics (eg, cisplatin, doxorubicin), felbamate, hydantoins (eg, Dilantin er/phenytoin), phenobarbital, Mysoline/primidone, rifampin, or Theolair tr/theophylline because the effectiveness of Tegretol/Carbamazepine may be decreased
  • Anticoagulants (eg, Coumadin/warfarin), benzodiazepines (eg, alprazolam), birth control pills (eg, Ovral/ethinyl estradiol/norethindrone) or any other hormone-type contraceptive (eg, Plan b/levonorgestrel implant), butyrophenones (eg, haloperidol), Clozaril/clozapine, corticosteroids (eg, hydrocortisone), Neoral/cyclosporine, Vibramycin/doxycycline, erlotinib, ethosuximide and its derivatives, etretinate, felbamate, Plendil/felodipine, HIV protease inhibitors (eg, Norvir/ritonavir), HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (eg, Vytorin/simvastatin), imatinib, Sporanox/itraconazole, Lamictal/lamotrigine, methylphenidate, Adalat/nifedipine, nondepolarizing muscle relaxants (eg, vecuronium), praziquantel, Seroquel/quetiapine, Zoloft/sertraline, tiagabine, topirimate, tricyclic antidepressants (eg, Endep/amitriptyline), or voriconazole because the effectiveness of these medicines may be decreased
• This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Tegretol/Carbamazepine 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.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION:

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

HOW TO USE Tegretol/Carbamazepine bp :

• Use Tegretol/Carbamazepine as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions. shift
  • Tegretol/Carbamazepine may be taken with or without food.
  • Taking Tegretol/Carbamazepine at the same time each day will help you remember to take it.
  • Eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice may affect the amount of Tegretol/Carbamazepine in your blood. Talk with your doctor before including grapefruit or grapefruit juice in your diet.
  • Take Tegretol/Carbamazepine regularly to receive the most benefit from it.
  • If you miss a dose of Tegretol/Carbamazepine , 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.
• Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Tegretol/Carbamazepine .

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.