Equetro (Carbamazepine)
Sorry, we currently do not carry this product.
Consult with your Family Practitioner for alternative therapy.
Carbamazepine Information
(kar ba maz' e peen)
Carbamazepine may cause life-threatening allergic reactions called Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) or toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). These allergic reactions may cause severe damage to the skin and internal organs. The risk of SJS or TEN is highest in people of Asian ancestry who have a genetic (inherited) risk factor. If you are Asian, your doctor will usually order a test to see if you have the genetic risk factor before prescribing carbamazepine. If you do not have this genetic risk factor, your doctor may prescribe carbamazepine, but there is still a slight risk that you will develop SJS or TEN. Call your doctor immediately if you develop a painful rash, hives, blistering or peeling of skin, easy bruising, mouth sores, or a fever during your treatment with carbamazepine. Stevens-Johnson syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis usually occurs during the first few months of treatment with carbamazepine. Carbamazepine may decrease the number of blood cells produced by your body. In rare cases, the number of blood cells may decrease enough to cause serious or life-threatening health problems. Tell your doctor if you have ever had bone marrow depression ( decreased number of blood cells) or any other blood disorders, especially if it was caused by another medication. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately: sore throat, fever, chills, or other signs of infection that come and go or do not go away; shortness of breath; fatigue; unusual bleeding or bruising such as heavy menstrual bleeding. nose bleeds, or bleeding gums; tiny red or purple dots or spots on the skin; or mouth sores.. Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain lab tests before and during your treatment to check your body's response to carbamazepine.-
Before taking carbamazepine,
- tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic (rash, wheezing, hives, difficulty swallowing or breathing, swelling of your face, eyes, eyelids, lips, or tongue) to carbamazepine, amitriptyline (Elavil), amoxapine, clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin (Silenor, Zonalon), imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), oxcarbazepine (Trileptal), protriptyline (Vivactil), other medications for seizures such as phenobarbital, phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek), or primidone (Mysoline), any other medications, or any of the ingredients in carbamazepine preparations. Ask your pharmacist or check the Medication Guide for a list of the ingredients.
- tell your doctor if you are taking nefazadone or certain non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) such as delavirdine (Rescriptor). Your doctor will probably tell you not take carbamazepine with these medications. Also, tell your doctor if you are taking a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), linezolid (Zyvox), methylene blue, phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), and tranylcypromine (Parnate), or if you have stopped taking an MAO inhibitor within the past 14 days. Your doctor will probably tell you not to take carbamazepine. If you stop taking carbamazepine, you should wait at least 14 days before you start to take an MAO inhibitor.
- tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, and nutritional supplements you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: acetaminophen (Tylenol); acetazolamide (Diamox); albendazole (Albenza); alprazolam (Panax); aminophylline; anticoagulants ('blood thinners') such as apixaban (Eliquis), dabigatran (Pradaxa), edoxaban (Savaysa), rivaroxaban (Xarelto), and warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven); antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil), bupropion (Wellbutrin, Zyban), buspirone (BuSpar), citalopram (Celexa), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), fluvoxamine (Luvox), mirtazapine (Remeron), nortriptyline (Pamelor); antifungals such as fluconazole (Diflucan), itraconazole (Onmel, Sporanox), ketoconazole, and voriconazole (Vfend); aprepitant (Emend); aripiprazole (Abilify); buprenorphine (Butrans, Sublocade); bupropion (Aplenzin, Wellbutrin, Zyban); cimetidine (Tagamet); ciprofloxacin; cisplatin (Platinol); corticosteroids such as dexamethasone and prednisolone (Prelone); clarithromycin (Biaxin, in Prevpac); clonazepam (Klonopin); clozapine (Clozaril); cyclophosphamide; cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune); dalfopristin and quinupristin (Synercid); danazol (Danocrine); dantrolene (Dantrium); diltiazem (Cardizem, Diltzac, Tiazac, others); diuretics (water pills); doxorubicin (Adriamycin, Rubex); doxycycline (Vibramycin); erythromycin (E.E.S., E-Mycin, Erythrocin); eslicarbazepine (Aptiom); everolimus (Afinitor, Zortress); felodipine (Plendil); haloperidol (Haldol); HIV protease inhibitors including atazanavir (Reyataz), indinavir (Crixivan), lopinavir (in Kaletra), nelfinavir (Viracept), ritonavir (Norvir, in Kaletra), and saquinavir (Fortovase, Invirase); ibuprofen (Advil); imatinib (Gleevec); isoniazid (INH, Laniazid, in Rifater); levothyroxine (Levoxyl, Synthroid); lithium (Lithobid); loratadine (Claritin); lorazepam (Ativan); loxapine (Adasuve); certain medications to treat malaria such as chloroquine (Aralen) and mefloquine ; medications for anxiety or mental illness; other medications for seizures such as ethosuximide (Zarontin), felbamate (Felbatol), fosphenytoin (Cerebyx); lamotrigine (Lamictal), methsuximide (Celontin), oxcarbazepine (Trileptal), phenobarbital, phensuximide (Milontin) (not available in the US), phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek), primidone (Mysoline), tiagabine (Gabitril), topiramate (Topamax), and valproic acid (Depakene, Depakote); lapatinib; methadone (Dolophine, Methadose); midazolam; niacinamide (nicotinamide, Vitamin B3); olanzapine; omeprazole; oxybutynin; propoxyphene (Darvon); praziquantel (Biltricide); quetiapine; quinine; rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane); risperidone; sedatives; sertraline (Zoloft); sirolimus; sleeping pills; tacrolimus (Prograf); tadalafil (Adcirca, Cialis); temsirolimus (Torisel); terfenadine (Seldane) (not available in the US); theophylline (Theo-24, Theochron, others); ticlopidine; tramadol (Ultram); tranquilizers; trazodone; troleandomycin (TAO); verapamil (Calan, Verelan); zileuton (Zyflo); ziprasidone (Geodon), and zonisamide (Zonegran). Many other medications may also interact with carbamazepine, so be sure to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking, even those that do not appear on this list. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
- if you are taking any other liquid medications, do not take them at the same time as carbamazepine suspension.
- tell your doctor if you have or have ever had glaucoma (a condition in which increased pressure in the eye can lead to gradual loss of vision); or heart, kidney, thyroid, or liver disease.
- you should know that carbamazepine may decrease the effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives (birth control pills, patches, rings, injections, implants, or intrauterine devices). Use another form of birth control while taking carbamazepine. Tell your doctor if you have unexpected vaginal bleeding or think you may be pregnant while you are taking carbamazepine.
- tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Carbamazepine may harm the fetus. If you become pregnant while taking carbamazepine, call your doctor immediately.
- do not breastfeed while you are taking carbamazepine.
- if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking carbamazepine.
- you should know that carbamazepine may make you drowsy. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you.
- remember that alcohol can add to the drowsiness caused by this medication.
- you should know that your mental health may change in unexpected ways and you may become suicidal (thinking about harming or killing yourself or planning or trying to do so) while you are taking carbamazepine for the treatment of epilepsy, mental illness, or other conditions. A small number of adults and children 5 years of age and older (about 1 in 500 people) who took anticonvulsants such as carbamazepine to treat various conditions during clinical studies became suicidal during their treatment. Some of these people developed suicidal thoughts and behavior as early as one week after they started taking the medication. There is a risk that you may experience changes in your mental health if you take an anticonvulsant medication such as carbamazepine, but there may also be a risk that you will experience changes in your mental health if your condition is not treated. You and your doctor will decide whether the risks of taking an anticonvulsant medication are greater than the risks of not taking the medication. You, your family, or your caregiver should call your doctor right away if you experience any of the following symptoms: panic attacks; agitation or restlessness; new or worsening irritability, anxiety, or depression; acting on dangerous impulses; difficulty falling or staying asleep; aggressive, angry, or violent behavior; mania (frenzied, abnormally excited mood); talking or thinking about wanting to hurt yourself or end your life; withdrawing from friends and family; preoccupation with death and dying; giving away prized possessions; or any other unusual changes in behavior or mood. Be sure that your family or caregiver knows which symptoms may be serious so they can call the doctor if you are unable to seek treatment on your own.
- if you have fructose intolerance (an inherited condition in which the body lacks the protein needed to break down fructose [a fruit sugar found in certain sweeteners such as sorbitol]), you should know that the oral suspension is sweetened with sorbitol. Tell your doctor if you have fructose intolerance.
- dizziness
- thinking abnormal
- difficulty speaking
- uncontrollable shaking of a part of the body
- constipation
- dry mouth
- confusion
- rash
- fast, slow, or pounding heartbeat
- yellowing of the skin or eyes
- dark urine
- pain on the right side of your stomach area
- loss of appetite
- nausea
- vomiting
- vision changes
- fatigue
- swelling of your face, eyes, eyelids, lips, or tongue
- difficulty swallowing or breathing
- headache, new or increased number of seizures, difficulty concentrating, confusion, weakness, or unsteadiness
- severe rash with one or more of the following: fever, muscle or joint aches, red or swollen eyes, blisters or peeling skin, mouth sores, or swelling of your face or neck