Medicines
Discover all available medicines and treatments
Discover all available medicines and treatments
Brand: Tegretol, Carbatrol, Epitol, Equetro
Carbamazepine is an anticonvulsant medication primarily used to treat epilepsy and bipolar disorder. It belongs to the dibenzazepine class and works by stabilizing overexcited nerve membranes in the brain, preventing seizures and mood swings. It is also used to treat trigeminal neuralgia.
For epilepsy, bipolar disorder, and trigeminal neuralgia.
Carbamazepine can cause serious and sometimes fatal skin reactions, including toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) and Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), particularly in patients with certain genetic predispositions (HLA-B*1502 allele). It can also cause aplastic anemia and agranulocytosis. Patients should be monitored closely for these reactions.
Outcome:
Increased carbamazepine levels
Mechanism:
Inhibition of CYP3A4 metabolism
Outcome:
Increased risk of hepatotoxicity
Mechanism:
Additive hepatic effects
Outcome:
Decreased carbamazepine absorption
Mechanism:
Chelation/binding in the GI tract
Most likely new formulation: Extended-release formulation with improved tolerability (2025, 80% confidence)
Based on current usage trends and ongoing clinical trials, there is a 70% likelihood of carbamazepine remaining a first-line treatment for epilepsy and trigeminal neuralgia in the next 5 years.
Anticonvulsant, Mood Stabilizer
Dibenzazepine