Drug Name: TEGRETOL
Pronounced: TEG-re-tawl
Chemical names: Carbamazepine

TEGRETOL Drug Use: Tegretol is prescribed for the treatment of seizure disorders, including certain types of epilepsy. It is also used in the treatment for trigeminal neuralgia (sever pain in the jaws) and pain in the tongue and throat. Doctors may also use Tegretol for the treatment of alcohol withdrawal, cocaine addiction, and emotional disorders such as depression and abnormally aggressive behavior. It is also used to treat migraine headache and “restless legs”.

TEGRETOL Drug Usage Instructions: Use exactly as prescribed by your Doctor. Never take Tegretol on an empty stomach. Take with food. Shake the suspension well before using. Tegretol-XR (extended release formula) tablets must be swallowed whole-do not crush, chew or split them and do not take tablets that have been damaged.

TEGRETOL Storage Instructions: Store Tegretol at room temperature away from light in a tightly closed container. Protect the tablets from light and moisture. Keep the liquid suspension away from light.

TEGRETOL Missed Dose: Never take two doses at the same time. If you miss a dose of Tegretol, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the one you missed and go back to your regular dosage schedule.

TEGRETOL Side Effects: More common side effects (more common at the start of treatment) may include: dizziness, drowsiness, nausea, unsteadiness, vomiting. Other side effects may include: abdominal pain, abnormal heartbeat and rhythm, abnormal involuntary movements, abnormal sensitivity to sound, aching joints and muscles, agitation, anemia, blood clots, blurred vision, chills, confusion, congestive heart failure, constipation, depression, diarrhea, double vision, dry mouth and throat, fainting and collapse, fatigue, fever, fluid retention, frequent urination, hair loss, hallucinations, headache, hepatitis, hives, impotence, inability to urinate, inflammation of the mouth and tongue, inflamed eyes, involuntary movements of the eyeball, itching, kidney failure, labored breathing, leg cramps, liver disorders, loss of appetite, loss of coordination, low blood pressure, pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), pneumonia, reddened skin, reddish or purplish spots on the skin, reduced urine volume, ringing in the ears, sensitivity to light, skin inflammation and scaling, skin peeling, skin rashes, skin pigmentation changes, speech difficulties, stomach problems, sweating, talkativeness, tingling sensation, worsening of high blood pressure, yellow eyes and skin.

Special Precautions with TEGRETOL: Do not take Tegretol if you have a history of bone marrow depression (reduced function), a sensitivity to Tegretol, a sensitivity to tricyclic antidepressant drugs such as amitriptyline (Elavil). You should also not take Tegretol if you are on a MAO inhibitor antidepressant such as Nardil or Parnate, or if you have taken one within the past 14 days. There are potentially dangerous side effects associated with the use of Tegretol. If you experience symptoms such as fever, rash, sore throat, ulcers in the mouth, easy bruising, or reddish/purplish spots on the skin, notify your doctor immediately. These symptoms could be signs of a blood disorder brought on by the drug.