Epitol

Pronunciation: KAR-ba-MAZ-e-peen
Generic Name: Carbamazepine
Brand Name: Examples include Epitol and Tegretol

Epitol may rarely cause severe blood problems (eg, aplastic anemia, agranulocytosis). Contact your doctor right away if you develop fever, chills, or sore throat; rash; ulcers or sores in the mouth; unusual bruising or bleeding; unusual tiredness; or swollen lymph nodes. Lab tests, including complete blood cell counts, will be performed before and during treatment with Epitol. These tests will be used to check for side effects.

Epitol may rarely cause serious and sometimes fatal skin reactions. Contact your doctor at once if you develop red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever. The risk of this reaction may be greater in Asian patients. Asian patients may need to have a blood test before they start Epitol to determine whether they have a greater risk of developing a severe skin reaction.

Epitol is used for:

Treating certain types of seizures. It is also used to treat severe pain of the jaw or cheek caused by a facial nerve problem (trigeminal neuralgia). It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Epitol is an anticonvulsant. It works to control seizures by blocking certain nerve impulses in the brain. It works to treat trigeminal neuralgia by altering nerve impulses in certain facial nerves, which relieves pain.

Do NOT use Epitol if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Epitol


• you are allergic to tricyclic antidepressants (eg, amitriptyline), cyclobenzaprine, or similar medicines


• you have a history of bone marrow problems, the blood disorder porphyria, or other serious blood disorders


• you are taking nefazodone


• you are taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) (eg, phenelzine) or have taken an MAOI within the last 14 days

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

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Before using Epitol:

Some medical conditions may interact with Epitol. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding


• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement


• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances


• if you are allergic to other seizure medicines (eg, phenytoin, phenobarbital)


• if you have a history of other types of seizures (eg, absence, atonic), increased pressure in the eye (eg, glaucoma), liver or kidney problems, mood or mental problems, suicidal thoughts or actions, or multiple sclerosis


• if you have a history of heart problems (eg, heart failure, heart block, irregular heartbeat), an abnormal electrocardiogram (ECG), high blood pressure, or high blood cholesterol


• if you have a history of blood problems, including blood problems caused by other medicine


• if you have been tested and know whether or not you have a gene type called HLA-B*1502


• if you have previously taken Epitol

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Epitol. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• MAOIs (eg, phenelzine) because a severe reaction, including severe high blood pressure and high fever, may occur


• Nefazodone because its effectiveness may be decreased by Epitol


• Many other prescription and nonprescription medicines (eg, used for allergies, asthma, blood thinning, cancer, diabetes, infections, inflammation, aches and pains, heartburn or reflux disease, high blood pressure, heart problems, high cholesterol, birth control, hormone replacement, immune system suppression, mental or mood problems, sleep, seizures), multivitamin products, and herbal or dietary supplements (eg, herbal teas, coenzyme Q10, garlic, ginseng, ginkgo, St. John's wort) may also interact with Epitol. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure if any of your medicines might interfere with Epitol

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Epitol may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Epitol:

Use Epitol as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Epitol comes with an extra patient information sheet called a Medication Guide. Read it carefully. Read it again each time you get Epitol refilled.


• Take Epitol by mouth with food.


• Eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice may increase the risk of Epitol's side effects. Talk with your doctor before including grapefruit or grapefruit juice in your diet.


• Do not suddenly stop taking Epitol. You may have an increased risk of seizures. If you need to stop Epitol or add a new medicine, your doctor will gradually lower your dose.


• Take Epitol on a regular schedule to get the most benefit from it.


• Taking Epitol at the same time each day will help you remember to take it.


• Continue to take Epitol even if you feel well. Do not miss any doses.


• If you miss a dose of Epitol, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Epitol.

Important safety information:

• Epitol may cause drowsiness, dizziness, or blurred vision. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Epitol with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.


• Check with your doctor before you drink alcohol or use medicines that may cause drowsiness (eg, sleep aids, muscle relaxers) while you are taking Epitol; it may add to their effects. Ask your pharmacist if you have questions about which medicines may cause drowsiness.


• Do not take more than the recommended dose without checking with your doctor.


• Patients who take Epitol may be at increased risk of suicidal thoughts or actions. The risk may be greater in patients who have had suicidal thoughts or actions in the past. Watch patients who take Epitol closely. Contact the doctor at once if new, worsened, or sudden symptoms such as depressed mood; anxious, restless, or irritable behavior; panic attacks; or any unusual change in mood or behavior occur. Contact the doctor right away if any signs of suicidal thoughts or actions occur.


• Epitol may lower the ability of your body to fight infection. Avoid contact with people who have colds or infections. Tell your doctor if you notice signs of infection like fever, sore throat, rash, or chills.


• Epitol may reduce the number of clot-forming cells (platelets) in your blood. Avoid activities that may cause bruising or injury. Tell your doctor if you have unusual bruising or bleeding. Tell your doctor if you have dark, tarry, or bloody stools.


• Epitol may cause you to become sunburned more easily. Avoid the sun, sunlamps, or tanning booths until you know how you react to Epitol. Use a sunscreen or wear protective clothing if you must be outside for more than a short time.


• Tell your doctor or dentist that you take Epitol before you receive any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery.


• Patients who have a certain gene type called HLA-B*1502 may have an increased risk of serious skin reactions from Epitol. This gene type is found most commonly in Asian patients. Tell your doctor if you have been tested and know whether or not you have the HLA-B*1502 gene type. Discuss any questions or concerns with your doctor.


• Do not switch from the tablet form of Epitol to the suspension form without checking with your doctor. The same dose may not have the same effects.


• Epitol may interfere with certain lab tests, including thyroid function tests. Be sure your doctor and lab personnel know you are using Epitol.


• Hormonal birth control (eg, birth control pills) may not work as well while you are using Epitol. To prevent pregnancy, use an extra form of birth control (eg, condoms).


• Epitol may interfere with some pregnancy test results. Check with your doctor if you have questions or concerns about your pregnancy test results.


• Lab tests, including complete blood cell counts, liver and kidney function, eye exams, and carbamazepine blood levels, may be performed while you take Epitol. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.


• Use Epitol with caution in the ELDERLY; they may be more sensitive to its effects, especially agitation or confusion.


• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: Epitol has been shown to cause harm to the fetus. If you think you may be pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Epitol while you are pregnant. Epitol is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Epitol.

Possible side effects of Epitol:

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Dizziness; drowsiness; dry mouth; nausea; unsteadiness; vomiting.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); black, tarry, or bloody stools; calf pain, swelling, or tenderness; change in the amount of urine produced; chest pain; confusion; dark urine; decreased coordination; fainting; fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat; fever, chills, or sore throat; hallucinations; joint pain; light-headedness; loss of appetite; menstrual changes; new or worsening mental or mood changes (eg, aggression, agitation, anger, anxiety, depression, irritability, restlessness); pain, tenderness, or unusual swelling in the neck, groin, or under the arms; red or purple spots on your body; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin; severe or persistent dizziness or headache; severe or persistent nausea or vomiting; shortness of breath; speech problems; stomach pain; sudden, unusual weight gain; suicidal thoughts or actions; swelling of the hands, ankles, or feet; swollen lymph nodes; trouble sleeping; ulcers or sores in the mouth; uncontrolled muscle movements; unusual bruising or bleeding (eg, bleeding gums, nosebleeds); unusual tiredness or weakness; vision or eye problems; yellowing of the skin or eyes.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.

See also: Epitol side effects (in more detail)

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center, or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include decreased urination; fainting; fast or irregular heartbeat; loss of consciousness; muscle twitching or tremor; seizures; severe dizziness, headache, or drowsiness; severe nausea or vomiting; slow, shallow, or irregular breathing.

Proper storage of Epitol:

Store Epitol at room temperature, between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C), in a tightly closed container. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Epitol out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about Epitol, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.


• Epitol is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.


• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.


• Check with your pharmacist about how to dispose of unused medicine.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Epitol. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.

Issue Date: February 1, 2012

Database Edition 12.1.1.002

Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.

More Epitol resources

• Epitol Side Effects (in more detail)
• Epitol Dosage
• Epitol Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
• Drug Images
• Epitol Drug Interactions
• Epitol Support Group
• 7 Reviews for Epitol - Add your own review/rating

• Epitol Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information


• Epitol Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Carbamazepine Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Carbamazepine Professional Patient Advice (Wolters Kluwer)


• Carbamazepine Monograph (AHFS DI)


• Carbatrol Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Equetro Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Equetro Consumer Overview


• Tegretol Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Tegretol Consumer Overview

Compare Epitol with other medications

• Bipolar Disorder
• Diabetic Nerve Damage
• Dystonia
• Epilepsy
• Peripheral Neuropathy
• Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome
• Schizoaffective Disorder
• Trigeminal Neuralgia
• Vulvodynia