Information
Tegretol is a popular medicine that is also widely known under the generic name of Carbamazepine. This drug belongs to a wide class of medicines that are called anticonvulsants. Such medicines are able to effectively and rapidly decrease symptoms such as pain or seizures by blocking some nerve impulses.
Tegretol Indications
Tegretol is a well known drug that is generally prescribed to patients that are suffering from diabetic neuropathy, trigeminal neuralgia or Bipolar Disorder. However, this drug could also serve some other purposes (like prevent or treat some other medical conditions) that have not been mentioned in this guide.
Tegretol Warnings
You should not use Tegretol if you have recently taken any MAO inhibitors. Patients who are suffering from bone marrow suppression or from known allergic reactions to any kind of antidepressants should not be allowed to take this medicine.
Do not end your treatment with Tegretol without your personal physician’s approval even if you start to feel better after a few days of intake. If you feel that the medicine is not working properly (if your symptoms are just the same or worse) you should alert your personal health care provider at once.
Tegretol is known to lower the number of blood cells that are meant to help the patient’s organism fight infections. This is why every patient who is following a treatment with this product should undergo regular blood or liver medical exams.
A prolonged treatment with this medicine is known to trigger several side effects that can impair your reactions and / or thinking. While you are using this product you should avoid performing any type of activity that requires either mental or physical alertness or awakeness (this includes operating complicated machinery or driving). During your intake of Tegretol you should avoid consuming any products that contain alcohol (such as alcoholic beverages) as they are known to increase the risk or experiencing seizures and worsens some of this drug’s side effects. Patients who are taking this drug should avoid starting a treatment with drugs that are known to cause sleepiness (pain drugs, cold medicines, any drugs that are supposed to treat anxiety, depression or seizures).
You should not start taking Tegretol if you are suffering from:
- allergies to tricyclic antidepressants;
- bone marrow suppression;
- liver disorder;
- congestive heart failure or any other type of heart disease;
- mental illness;
- lupus;
- glaucoma.
Patients who are suffering from any of the conditions that have been listed here might not be allowed to take Tegretol or should use a lower dose of this product. Tegretol is a category D FDA pregnancy drug. Therefore, intake of this drug during pregnancy is known to harm a growing fetus, leading to severe birth defects or complications. During your treatment with this drug, you should use an effective contraceptive method (a non-hormonal one). It has been determined that this drug’s ingredients are able to pass into the patient’s breast milk flow. If you are currently nursing an infant, you should ask your personal health care provider if you are allowed to start taking Tegretol. Elderly patients are known to be more prone to developing this medicine’s unpleasant side effects.
Tegretol Intake Guidelines
Ask your personal doctor to tell you how and when it is best for you to take each and every one of your doses of Tegretol. Do not disobey any of your doctor’s directions or instructions. If you fail to understand some of them, please refer to a nurse or to a pharmacist and ask them for further explanations.
Each dose of Tegretol should be accompanied by a full glass of liquid. In order to prevent experiencing unwanted stomach upset, you should accompany your doses of this medicine with milk or food. You should try to take this medicine on a regular basis, preferably at the same time each day.
A treatment with Tegretol can sometimes cause eye changes. You ought to regularly visit your eye doctor during your treatment with this medicine. While you are using this drug you should wear a medical bracelet or an ID card that states that you are following a treatment with this product.
Tegretol Dosage
Ask your doctor to tell you the exact dose of this drug that you should use. Do not change the dose of Tegretol that you have been prescribed without your physician’s approval.
Tegretol Overdose
If you suspect that you might be suffering from an overdose with Tegretol you should seek medical care at once. Alert your personal physician and your local poison control centre as soon as possible. An overdose with this product could trigger restlessness, fast heartbeat, tremors, shallow breathing, vomiting, nausea, muscle twitches, less or no urine at all, staggering walk, seizures, slurred speech, light-headedness or fainting.
Tegretol Missed Dose
If you happen to miss taking one of your doses of Tegretol, ask your personal physician for further instructions. Do not use double doses of this medicine without your doctor’s approval.
Tegretol Side Effects
If you develop any symptoms of an allergic reaction while you are using Tegretol you should alert your personal physician at once. Stop taking this medicine and call your doctor if you experience any of these severe side effects:
- blistering, red, peeling skin rash;
- body aches, sore throat, fever, flu symptoms;
- abnormal bleeding or bruising, weakness;
- white sores or patches on your lips or inside your mouth;
- breath shortness;
- swelling of your feet or ankles;
- stomach pain, clay-colored stools, nausea, low fever, dark urine, loss of appetite, jaundice;
- less or no urine at all.
Tegretol Drug Reactions
Ask your personal physician if you may use other medicines during your treatment with Tegretol.
