Carbamazepine

Carbamazepine: uses, side effects and interactions

Carbamazepine is an anticonvulsant drug that is widely used to treat a variety of conditions, including epilepsy, manic episodes, manic depressive disorder prophylaxis, alcohol withdrawal, trigeminal and glossopharyngeal neuralgia, and diabetic neuropathy. It belongs to a group of drugs called iminostilbenes.

Carbamazepine is produced by several pharmaceutical companies in different countries. In Russia it is produced by the following companies: ALSI Pharma, Biopharma, Bryntsalov-A, Vifitech, Kanonpharma Production, Marbiopharm, Microgen NPO (Biomed Perm NPO), as well as Niopik State Research Center. In India, the manufacturer of carbamazepine is Max India Limited, and in the United States of America it is World Pharmaceutical.

Carbamazepine is also known under various synonyms, including Actinerval, Apo-Carbamazepine, Gen-Karpaz, Zagretol, Zeptol, Carbadak, Carbalepsin retard, Carbamazepine Nycomed, Carbamazepine Rivo, Carbamazepine-Akri, Carbamazepine-Teva, Carbamazepine-Pharmacia-AD, Carbapin, Karbasan , Karbasan retard, Karbatol, Karzepin-200 and others.

Dosage forms of carbamazepine include tablets with a dosage of 200 mg and substance. Film-coated tablets containing 200 mg of the active substance carbamazepine are also available.

Some side effects may occur when using carbamazepine. This may include dizziness, headache, hallucinations, agitation, depression, aggressive behavior, activation of psychosis, diplopia, disturbances of accommodation, lens opacities, nystagmus, conjunctivitis, tinnitus, changes in taste, speech disorders, abnormal involuntary movements, peripheral neuritis, paresthesia, muscle weakness and symptoms of paresis, atrioventricular block, congestive heart failure, hyper- or hypotension, thromboembolism, increased levels of liver enzymes, jaundice, hepatitis, kidney dysfunction, interstitial nephritis, nausea, vomiting, osteomalacia, sexual dysfunction, allergic reactions and others .

Interactions between carbamazepine and other medications may also be significant. Carbamazepine may affect how other drugs are metabolized in the body, which may change their effectiveness or blood levels. It may enhance the effects of certain medications, such as anticoagulants (eg, warfarin), tricyclic antidepressants, benzodiazepines (eg, diazepam), antihistamines, and others. Carbamazepine may also reduce the effectiveness of hormonal-containing contraceptives and may interact with antiretrovirals, antiepileptic drugs, and other medications.

When using carbamazepine, you must strictly follow your doctor's recommendations and monitor for possible side effects and interactions with other medications. It is important to consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting to use carbamazepine or changing the dosage of other medications.