Carbamazepine (Biston^®; Calepsin^®; Carbatrol^®; Epitol^®; Finlepsin^®; Sirtal^®; Stazepine^®; Tegretol^®; Telesmin^®; Timonil^®) is an anticonvulsant and mood stabilizing drug, used primarily in the treatment of epilepsy and bipolar disorder; but also used to treat schizophrenia.

Side Effects

Carbamazepine renders birth control pills ineffective. Common side effects include: drowsiness, loss of blood cells, loss of platelets, motor-coordination impairment, and/or upset stomach. Very rare side effects: loss of blood cells, loss of platelets. These side effects can be life-threatening if unnoticed so frequent simple blood tests are required for the first few months followed by three or four a year to detect them. Use of carbamazepine can result in blurry or doubled vision.

For people with bothersome side effects such as nausea, Tegretol XR® or Carbatrol® taken every 12 hours can greatly increase tolerability. (See psycheducation under external links)

There are reports of a bizarre auditory side effect, whereby patients perceive musical notes about a semitone lower than they truly are. (Middle C would be heard as a B.)

External links

• TA warning
• Mood Stabilizersfrom PsychEducation.org
• Carbamazepine overviewfrom PsychEducation.org