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These brands contain the same active ingredient (Carbamazepine). Strength and form may differ — confirm substitution with your doctor or pharmacist before switching.
Indications & Uses
Tegretol CR is indicated for:
Dosage Reference
Reference Information Only
Dosages shown are general references from official sources. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized dosing.
Adults:
Epilepsy: Adults and children over 12 years of age. Initial dosage: either 200 mg b.i.d. for tablets and controlled release tablets, or 1 teaspoon q.i.d. for suspension (400 mg/day). Increase at weekly intervals by adding up to 200 mg/day, using a b.i.d., t.i.d. or q.i.d. regimen of either formulation, until the optimal response is obtained. In children 12-15 years of age, the dosage generally should not exceed 1000 mg daily, and 1200 mg daily in patients above 15 years of age. Doses up to 1600 mg daily have been used in adults in rare instances. Maintenance: usually 800-1200 mg daily. Children 6-12 years of age. Initial dosage: either 100 mg b.i.d. for tablets or controlled release tablets, or 1/2 teaspoon q.i.d. for suspension (200 mg/day). Increase at weekly intervals by adding up to 100 mg/day, using a b.i.d., t.i.d. or q.i.d. regimen of either formulation, until the optimal response is obtained. Dosage generally should not exceed 1000 mg daily. Maintenance: usually 400-800 mg daily. Children under 6 years of age. Initial dosage: 10-20 mg/kg/day given b.i.d. or t.i.d. as tablets, or q.i.d. as suspension. Increase weekly to achieve the optimal clinical response, administered t.i.d. or q.i.d. Maintenance: ordinarily, the optimal clinical response is achieved at daily doses below 35 mg/kg. If a satisfactory clinical response has not been achieved, plasma levels should be measured to determine whether or not they are in the therapeutic range. No recommendation can be made regarding the safety of Carbamazepine at doses above 35 mg/kg/24 hours. Combination therapy: Carbamazepine may be used alone or with other anticonvulsants. When added to existing anticonvulsant therapy, the drug should be added gradually while the other anticonvulsants are maintained or gradually decreased, except phenytoin, which may have to be increased. Trigeminal Neuralgia. Initial dosage: on the first day, either 100 mg b.i.d. for tablets or controlled release tablets, or 1/2 teaspoon q.i.d. for suspension, for a total daily dose of 200 mg. This daily dose may be increased by up to 200 mg/day, using increments of 100 mg every 12 hours for tablets or controlled release tablets, or 50 mg (1/2 teaspoon) q.i.d. for suspension, only as needed to achieve freedom from pain. A total dose of 1200 mg daily should not be exceeded. Maintenance: control of pain can be maintained in most patients with 400-800 mg daily. However, some patients may be maintained on as little as 200 mg daily, while others may require as much as 1200 mg daily. At least once every 3 months throughout the treatment period, attempts should be made to reduce the dose to the minimum effective level, or even to discontinue the drug. The tablets or syrup can be taken without regard to meals.
Side Effects
Common side effects include dizziness, drowsiness, ataxia (loss of coordination), dry mouth, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, leucopenia (low white blood cell count), proteinuria (protein in the urine), bradycardia (slow heart rate), heart failure and hypotension (low blood pressure). An erythematous (red) skin rash and aplastic anemia may also occur. The most serious adverse reactions have been seen in the blood-forming (hemopoietic) system, the skin and the cardiovascular system. The most frequently reported adverse reactions, particularly during the early stages of treatment, are dizziness, drowsiness, unsteadiness, nausea and vomiting. This medicine may make the skin more sensitive to sunlight. If such increased sensitivity occurs, exposure to the sun, sunlamps or tanning booths should be avoided. A sunscreen or protective clothing may be helpful when spending a prolonged period outdoors.
Cautions & Contraindications
Warnings & Precautions
This medicine may cause dizziness and drowsiness, so special care should be taken while performing potentially hazardous activities such as driving or operating machinery. This medicine may cause skin reactions; if any rash, skin peeling, itching, or other unexplained skin reaction is seen while taking this medicine, the concerned doctor should be informed immediately. This medicine may rarely cause liver problems, so a doctor should be consulted if there is unexplained itching, yellowing of the skin or eyes, unusually dark urine, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, or flu-like symptoms. Cabretol decreases the blood levels of hormonal contraceptives containing estrogen and/or progesterone, which may make the contraceptive ineffective or result in breakthrough bleeding. Women taking this medicine who require contraception should be prescribed a contraceptive containing at least 50 micrograms of oestrogen, or use non-hormonal methods of contraception such as condoms. This medicine should not be stopped suddenly unless the doctor advises it, as suddenly stopping treatment is likely to make the symptoms return. If this medicine is stopped, it should normally be done gradually, under the supervision of a specialist. Caution should be taken in mixed seizures including absence seizures, elderly people, a history of heart disease, a history of kidney disease, a history of liver disease, a history of psychotic illness, raised pressure in the eye (intraocular pressure) such as glaucoma, a history of blood disorders caused by any other medication, and a history of previous Cabretol therapy that was interrupted due to side effects or allergy.
Contraindications
This medicine should not be used by anybody who is allergic to one or any of its ingredients. It also cannot be used in the following conditions: problems with the electrical message pathways in the heart (atrioventricular block); a history of decreased blood cell production by the bone marrow (bone marrow depression); hereditary blood disorders called porphyrias; allergy to tricyclic antidepressants; and people who have taken a monoamine-oxidase inhibitor antidepressant (MAOI) in the last 14 days.