Content
Carbamazepine is a drug indicated for the treatment of seizures and certain neurological diseases and psychiatric conditions.
This remedy is also known as Tegretol, which is its trade name, and both can be found in pharmacies and purchased on presentation of a prescription.
What is it for
Carbamazepine is indicated for the treatment of:
- Convulsive seizures (epilepsy);
- Neurological diseases, such as trigeminal neuralgia;
- Psychiatric conditions, such as episodes of mania, bipolar mood disorders and depression.
This remedy acts to control the transmission of messages between the brain and muscles and to regulate the functions of the nervous system.
How to use
Treatment may vary from person to person and depending on the condition that is to be treated, which must be established by the doctor. The doses recommended by the manufacturer are as follows:
1. Epilepsy
In adults, treatment usually starts with 100 to 200 mg, 1 to 2 times a day. The dose can be increased gradually, by the doctor, to 800 to 1,200 mg a day (or more), divided into 2 or 3 doses.
Treatment in children is usually started at 100 to 200 mg per day, which corresponds to a dose of 10 to 20 mg / kg of body weight per day, which can be increased to 400 to 600 mg per day. In the case of adolescents, the dose can be increased to 600 to 1,000 mg per day.
2. Trigeminal neuralgia
The recommended starting dose is 200 to 400 mg a day, which can be increased gradually until the person is no longer in pain, the maximum dose being 1200 mg a day. For the elderly, a lower starting dose of about 100 mg twice a day is recommended.
3. Acute mania
For the treatment of acute mania and maintenance of the treatment of bipolar affective disorders, the dose is usually 400 to 600 mg daily.
Who should not use
Carbamazepine is contraindicated for people with hypersensitivity to the components of the formula, serious heart disease, a history of blood disease or hepatic porphyria or who are being treated with drugs called MAOIs.
In addition, this medication should also not be used by pregnant women without medical advice.
Possible side effects
Some of the most common side effects that may occur during treatment with carbamazepine are loss of motor coordination, inflammation of the skin with rash and redness, rash, swelling in the ankle, feet or leg, changes in behavior, confusion, weakness, increased frequency of seizures, tremors, uncontrollable body movements and muscle spasms.
Created by: Tua Saúde Editorial Team