Brand Names

How to Use

Carbamazepine suspension and tablets must be taken with meals to lessen the risk of stomach upset - nausea and vomiting. Carbamazepine extended-release capsules don't needed to be taken with meals unless they upset your stomach. The contents of these extended-release capsules may be sprinkled over a teaspoonful of applesauce or other similar food; the capsule or its contents must not be crushed or chewed.

The best for you that you take this drug exactly as directed by your family doctor to obtain the best results and lessen the risk of serious side effects. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often and do not take it for a longer time than your family doctor ordered.

If you are taking this drug for pain relief:

• Carbamazepine is not an ordinary pain reliever. It must be using only when a family doctor prescribes it for certain kinds of pain Do not take carbamazepine for any other aches or pains .

If you are taking this drug for epilepsy:

• Do not suddenly stop taking this drug without first checking with your family doctor . To keep your seizures under control, it is usually best to gradually reduce the amount of carbamazepine you are taking before stopping completely.

Dosage

The number of tablets or teaspoonfuls of suspension that you take depends on the strength of the drug. Always the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses and the length of time you take the drug depend on the medical problem for which you are taking carbamazepine .

• For oral dosage form - suspension:
  • For epilepsy:
    • Adults and teenagers At first, 100 milligrams - mg taken up to four times a day. Your family doctor may increase your dose if needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 1200 mg a day.
    • Children 6 to 12 years of age At first, 50 mg taken four times a day. Your family doctor may increase your dose if needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 1000 mg a day.
    • Children up to 6 years of age Dose is based on body weight and will be determined by your family doctor.
  • For trigeminal neuralgia:
    • Adults and teenagers At first, 50 mg four times a day. Your family doctor may increase your dose if needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 1200 mg a day.
    • Children Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.
• For oral dosage form - tablets and chewable tablets:
  • For epilepsy:
    • Adults and teenagers At first, 200 mg taken two times a day. Your family doctor may increase your dose if needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 1200 mg a day.
    • Children 6 to 12 years of age At first, 100 mg taken two times a day. Your family doctor may increase your dose if needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 1000 mg a day.
    • Children up to 6 years of age Dose is based on body weight and will be determined by your family doctor.
  • For trigeminal neuralgia:
    • Adults and teenagers At first, 100 mg taken two times a day. Your family doctor may increase your dose if needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 1200 mg a day.
    • Children Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.
• For oral extended-release capsule dosage form:
  • For epilepsy:
    • Adults and teenagers At first, 200 mg taken one or two times a day. Your family doctor may increase your dose if needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 1200 mg a day.
    • Children up to 12 years of age Dose is based on body weight and will be determined by your family doctor. However, the dose is usually not more than 1000 mg a day.
  • For trigeminal neuralgia:
    • Adults and teenagers At first, 200 mg a day. Your family doctor may increase your dose if needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 1200 mg a day.
    • Children Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.
• For oral extended-release tablet dosage form:
  • For epilepsy:
    • Adults and teenagers At first, 100 to 200 mg taken one or two times a day with meals. Your family doctor may increase your dose if needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 1200 mg a day.
    • Children 6 to 12 years of age At first, 100 to 200 mg taken in smaller doses during the day. Your family doctor may increase your dose if needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 1000 mg a day.
    • Children up to 6 years of age Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.
  • For trigeminal neuralgia:
    • Adults and teenagers At first, 100 mg taken two times a day. Your family doctor may increase your dose if needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 1200 mg a day.
    • Children Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.

Missed dose If you miss a dose of this drug, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses. However, if you miss more than one dose a day, check with your family doctor.

Storage To store this drug:

• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Do not store the tablet forms of carbamazepine in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the drug to break down and become less effective .
• Keep the liquid form of this drug from freezing.
• Do not keep outdated drug or drug no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded drug is out of the reach of children.