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Carbamazepin för epilepsi

Curatil, Tegretol

Granskad av Sid DajaniSenast uppdaterad av Michael Stewart, MRPharmSSenast uppdaterad 2 Jan 2024

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Carbamazepine prevents fits. It can also ease some types of pain, and control some mood disorders.

Take carbamazepine regularly every day. Do not stop taking it unless your doctor tells you to.

Side-effects can occur when you first start taking carbamazepine, but usually settle down as your body adjusts to the new medicine.

Överblick

  • Carbamazepine is a medicine used to treat epilepsy, trigeminal neuralgia, and bipolar disorder.

  • It works by stabilising electrical activity in the brain to prevent seizures or modify pain.

  • Take carbamazepine exactly as your doctor tells you, usually starting with a low dose that increases gradually.

  • Sluta inte ta det plötsligt, eftersom det kan orsaka problem.

  • If you forget a dose, take it when you remember unless it is nearly time for the next one.

  • Tell your doctor if you experience mood changes, distressing thoughts, or feelings about suicide.

  • Seek immediate medical advice if you develop a high temperature, severe skin rash, mouth ulcers, or unexplained bruising.

Denna sammanfattning har automatiskt genererats från artikelns innehåll för att hjälpa läsarna att snabbt förstå huvudpunkterna.

About carbamazepine

Typ av medicin

An antiepileptic medicine

Används för

Epilepsy; trigeminal neuralgia; bipolar disorder

Även kallad

Tegretol®; Curatil®

Tillgänglig som

Tablets, oral liquid medicine, suppositories and prolonged-release tablets

If you have epilepsy, it means that you have had more than one unexplained fit, or seizure. A seizure is a short episode of symptoms caused by a burst of abnormal electrical activity in your brain. Different parts of the brain control different functions of your body, so the symptoms that occur during a seizure will depend on where the abnormal burst of electrical activity occurs. Symptoms that may occur during a seizure can affect your muscles, sensations, behaviour, emotions, and consciousness, or a combination of these. The seizures can be prevented in most people by suitable antiepileptic medication. Carbamazepine is a commonly used medicine. It works by stabilising the electrical activity of your brain, which prevents the seizures from occurring.

Carbamazepine is also prescribed as a treatment for severe burning or stabbing pains in the face (called trigeminal neuralgia), and occasionally as part of the treatment for bipolar disorder (sometimes called manic depression). This is because it can modify some types of pain, and control some mood disorders. If you have been given carbamazepine for these (or any other reasons), ask your doctor if you have questions about your treatment.

Before taking carbamazepine

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine may only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking carbamazepine it is important that your doctor knows:

  • Om du är gravid, försöker bli gravid eller ammar.

  • If you have any problems with the way your kidneys work, or with the way your liver works.

  • If you have any heart condition.

  • If you have increased pressure in your eyes, a condition known as glaucoma.

  • If you have ever had any problems affecting your bone marrow.

  • Om du har en sällsynt ärftlig blodsjukdom som kallas porfyri.

  • Om du tar några andra läkemedel. Detta inkluderar alla läkemedel du tar som finns att köpa utan recept, samt växtbaserade och komplementära läkemedel.

  • Om du någonsin har haft en allergisk reaktion mot en medicin.

How to take carbamazepine

  • Before you start the treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside the pack. It will give you more information about carbamazepine and will provide you with a full list of the side-effects which you may experience from taking it.

  • Take carbamazepine exactly as your doctor tells you to. It is usual to start treatment on a low dose, and then for the dose to be increased gradually to a regular maintenance dose. If you are taking it for epilepsy, it is likely you will be asked to take one or two doses every day. Doses for children are tailored to their age and weight. If you have been prescribed it for another reason, you could be asked to take a dose three, or even four, times a day. Your dose will be printed on the label of the pack to remind you about what the doctor said to you.

  • Try to take your doses of carbamazepine at the same times each day. Having a routine will help you to remember to take your doses regularly. Swallow the tablet with a drink of water. You can take most preparations of carbamazepine either before or after meals. If, however, you have been supplied with chewable tablets, you should take these during a mealtime.

  • If you have been given carbamazepine prolonged-release tablets you must swallow the tablet whole - do not chew or crush the tablet.

  • If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is nearly time for your next dose, in which case leave out the missed dose. Do not take two doses together to make up for a forgotten dose.

Få ut det mesta av din behandling

  • When you first start a new treatment for epilepsy there may be a change in the number or type of seizures you experience. Your doctor will advise you about this.

  • Try to keep your regular appointments with your doctor. This is so your doctor can check on your progress. You may need to have blood tests from time to time.

  • Different formulations and brands of carbamazepine can act in a slightly different way in your body. Because of this, it is important that you continue to take tablets from the same manufacturer as you have had before. So, each time you collect a prescription, check to make sure your supply looks the same and that the brand name is the same. If you are unsure, or if you have any questions about your prescription, please ask your pharmacist to check it for you.

  • If you buy any medicines, check with a pharmacist that they are suitable for you to take. This is because some medicines interfere with carbamazepine, and carbamazepine can also alter the way other medicines work.

  • Ask your doctor for advice before drinking alcohol while you are on carbamazepine. Your doctor may recommend you do not drink alcohol because it increases the risk of side-effects.

  • People with epilepsy must stop driving at first. Your doctor will advise you about when it may be possible for you to start driving again. This will usually be after a year free of seizures.

  • Carbamazepine may harm an unborn child so you must avoid getting pregnant. Make sure you have discussed with your doctor which types of contraception are suitable for you and your partner. If you want to have a family, discuss this with your doctor so that you can be given advice from a specialist before you become pregnant.

  • While you are being treated for epilepsy there is a small risk that you may develop mood changes, distressing thoughts and feelings about suicide. If this happens, you must tell your doctor about it straightaway.

  • You need to take carbamazepine regularly every day. Do not stop taking it unless your doctor tells you to stop. Stopping treatment suddenly can cause problems and your doctor will want you to reduce your dose gradually if this becomes necessary.

Can carbamazepine cause problems?

Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. The table below contains some of the most common ones associated with carbamazepine. You will find a full list in the manufacturer's information leaflet supplied with your medicine. Many of the side-effects can occur when first starting carbamazepine, but should settle down as your body adjusts to the new medicine. Speak with your doctor if they continue or become troublesome.

Common carbamazepine side-effects

Vad kan jag göra om jag upplever detta?

Feeling dizzy, sleepy, or tired; blurred or double vision

Do not drive and do not use tools or machines

Feeling sick (nausea) or being sick (vomiting)

Stick to simple meals - avoid rich and spicy food

Huvudvärk

Drick mycket vatten och be din apotekare rekommendera en lämplig smärtstillande. Om huvudvärken fortsätter, informera din läkare

Torr mun

Försök tugga sockerfritt tuggummi eller suga på sockerfria karameller

Feeling unsteady, swollen feet or ankles, itchy skin rash, increased risk of infection

If any of these become troublesome, speak with your doctor for advice

Viktigt: your doctor will discuss with you the possibility that carbamazepine can cause liver, blood and skin disorders. Although these occur less commonly than the side-effects listed above, it is important that you contact your doctor straightaway if you experience any of the following symptoms:

  • A high temperature (fever), sore throat or swollen glands.

  • A severe skin rash.

  • Mouth ulcers.

  • Unexplained bruising or bleeding.

Om du upplever några andra symtom som du tror kan bero på medicinen, tala med din läkare eller apotekare för vidare råd.

How to store carbamazepine

  • Förvara alla läkemedel utom räckhåll och synhåll för barn.

  • Förvara på en sval, torr plats, borta från direkt värme och ljus.

Viktig information om alla läkemedel

Viktig information om alla läkemedel

Ta aldrig mer än den föreskrivna dosen. Om du misstänker att du eller någon annan kan ha tagit en överdos av denna medicin, gå till akutmottagningen på ditt lokala sjukhus. Ta med behållaren, även om den är tom.

Denna medicin är för dig. Ge den aldrig till andra människor även om deras tillstånd verkar vara detsamma som ditt.

Om du ska genomgå en operation eller tandbehandling, informera den som utför behandlingen om vilka mediciner du tar.

Behåll inte föråldrade eller oönskade mediciner. Ta dem till ditt lokala apotek som kommer att ta hand om dem åt dig.

Om du har några frågor om denna medicin, fråga din apotekare.

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Vanliga frågor

What are the serious side effects of carbamazepine?

While commonly reported side-effects like dizziness or nausea are usually mild and improve as your body adjusts, there are some rarer, more serious issues to be aware of. You should contact your doctor immediately if you experience a high temperature, sore throat, swollen glands, a severe skin rash, mouth ulcers, or unexplained bruising or bleeding. These could indicate liver, blood, or skin disorders, which, although less common, require prompt medical attention.

Can I take other medications, including over-the-counter ones, while on carbamazepine?

It's important to be cautious with other medications when taking carbamazepine. Some medicines can interact with carbamazepine, affecting how it works, and carbamazepine can also change the way other medications act in your body. Always inform your doctor or pharmacist about all medicines you are taking, including those bought without a prescription, herbal remedies, and complementary medicines, to ensure they are suitable.

What should I do if I accidentally take more carbamazepine than prescribed?

You should never take more than your prescribed dose of carbamazepine. If you suspect you or someone else has taken an overdose, it is crucial to go to the accident and emergency department of your local hospital immediately. Remember to take the medicine container with you, even if it's empty, as this will provide important information to the medical staff.

Is it safe to drive if I'm taking carbamazepine for epilepsy?

Initially, people with epilepsy must stop driving. Your doctor will provide guidance on when it might be safe for you to resume driving. This is typically after you have been free of seizures for a year. Always follow your doctor's advice regarding driving.

How do I dispose of old or unused carbamazepine?

Do not keep out-of-date or unwanted medicines at home. The safest way to dispose of them is to take them to your local pharmacy. They have the appropriate procedures for safely discarding medications.

Dessa frågor och svar har genererats från informationen i denna artikel.

Vidare läsning och referenser

Om författarenVisa fullständig biografi

Författarbild

Michael Stewart, MRPharmS

Ansvarig för granskning av medicinbroschyrer – Konsult, Apotekare

BPharm (Hons), MRPharmS

Michael är en apotekare som arbetar i Midlands och South Yorkshire med mer än 20 års erfarenhet av att ge råd om läkemedel och medicinska tillstånd. Han har en stark bakgrund inom vårdutbildning och har producerat och levererat utbildningskurser för apoteksteam och personal inom vårdboenden, inklusive sjuksköterskor. Han har också bidragit till apoteksrådgivande styrelser för hantering av mindre allvarliga tillstånd i samhället.

Om recensenten

Författarbild

Sid Dajani

Sultan Dajani tog examen vid London School of Pharmacy 1994 och blev den yngsta valda medlemmen i Royal Pharmaceutical Society-rådet sedan dess grundande 1842.

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