MEDICATION GUIDE

Carbamazepine Tablets, USP

(kar" ba maz’ e peen)

Read this Medication Guide before you start taking carbamazepine tablets and each time you get a refill. There may be new information. This information does not take the place of talking to your healthcare provider about your medical condition or treatment. 

What is the most important information I should know about carbamazepine tablets?

Do not stop taking carbamazepine tablets without first talking to your healthcare provider.

Stopping carbamazepine suddenly can cause serious problems.

Carbamazepine tablets can cause serious side effects, including: 

1. Carbamazepine tablets may cause rare but serious skin rashes that may lead to death. These serious skin reactions are more likely to happen when you begin taking carbamazepine within the first four months of treatment but may occur at later times.  These reactions can happen in anyone, but are more likely in people of Asian descent. If you are of Asian descent, you may need a genetic blood test before you take carbamazepine to see if you are at a higher risk for serious skin reactions with this medicine. Symptoms may include:

1.

skin rash

2.

hives

3.

sores in your mouth

4.

blistering or peeling of the skin  

2. Carbamazepine tablets may cause rare but serious blood problems. Symptoms may include:

1.

fever, sore throat, or other infections that come and go or do not go away

2.

easy bruising

3.

red or purple spots on your body

4.

bleeding gums or nose bleeds

5.

severe fatigue or weakness

3. Like other antiepileptic drugs, carbamazepine tablets may cause suicidal thoughts or actions in a very small number of people, about 1 in 500.

Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms, especially if they are new, worse, or worry you:

1.

thoughts about suicide or dying

2.

attempts to commit suicide

3.

new or worse depression

4.

new or worse anxiety

5.

feeling agitated or restless

6.

panic attacks

7.

trouble sleeping (insomnia)

8.

new or worse irritability

9.

acting aggressive, being angry, or violent

10.

acting on dangerous impulses

11.

an extreme increase in activity and talking (mania)

12.

other unusual changes in behavior or mood

How can I watch for early symptoms of suicidal thoughts and actions?

1.

Pay attention to any changes, especially sudden changes, in mood, behaviors, thoughts, or feelings.

2.

Keep all follow-up visits with your healthcare provider as scheduled.

Call your healthcare provider between visits as needed, especially if you are worried about symptoms.

Do not stop carbamazepine tablets without first talking to a healthcare provider.

Stopping carbamazepine tablets suddenly can cause serious problems. You should talk to your healthcare provider before stopping.

Suicidal thoughts or actions can be caused by things other than medicines. If you have suicidal thoughts or actions, your healthcare provider may check for other causes.

What are carbamazepine tablets?

Carbamazepine tablets are a prescription medicine used to treat: 

1.

certain types of seizures (partial, tonic-clonic, mixed)

2.

certain types of nerve pain (trigeminal and glossopharyngeal neuralgia)

Carbamazepine is not a regular pain medicine and should not be used for aches or pains.

Who should not take carbamazepine tablets?

Do not take carbamazepine tablets if you:

1.

have a history of bone marrow depression.

2.

are allergic to carbamazepine or any of the ingredients in carbamazepine tablets. See the end of this Medication Guide for a complete list of ingredients in carbamazepine tablets.

3.

take nefazodone.

4.

are allergic to medicines called tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs).  Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for a list of these medicines if you are not sure.

5.

have taken a medicine called a Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor (MAOI) in the last 14 days.  Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for a list of these medicines if you are not sure.

What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking carbamazepine tablets?

Before you take carbamazepine tablets, tell your healthcare provider if you:

1.

have or have had suicidal thoughts or actions, depression, or mood problems

2.

have or ever had heart problems

3.

have or ever had blood problems

4.

have or ever had liver problems

5.

have or ever had kidney problems

6.

have or ever had allergic reactions to medicines

7.

have or ever had increased pressure in your eye

8.

have any other medical conditions

9.

drink grapefruit juice or eat grapefruit

10.

use birth control. Carbamazepine tablets may make your birth control less effective. Tell your healthcare provider if your menstrual bleeding changes while you take birth control and carbamazepine tablets.

11.

are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Carbamazepine tablets may harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant while taking carbamazepine tablets. You and your healthcare provider should decide if you should take carbamazepine while you are pregnant.

1.

If you become pregnant while taking carbamazepine tablets, USP, talk to your healthcare provider about registering with the North American Antiepileptic Drug (NAAED) Pregnancy Registry. The purpose of this registry is to collect information about the safety of antiepileptic medicine during pregnancy. You can enroll in this registry by calling 1-888-233-2334. 

12.

are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Carbamazepine passes into breast milk. You and your healthcare provider should discuss whether you should take carbamazepine or breastfeed; you should not do both.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.  

Taking carbamazepine tablets with certain other medicines may cause side effects or affect how well they work. Do not start or stop other medicines without talking to your healthcare provider.

Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

How should I take carbamazepine tablets?

1.

Do not stop taking carbamazepine tablets without first talking to your healthcare provider. Stopping carbamazepine tablets suddenly can cause serious problems. Stopping seizure medicine suddenly in a patient who has epilepsy may cause seizures that will not stop (status epilepticus).

2.

Take carbamazepine tablets exactly as prescribed. Your healthcare provider will tell you how much carbamazepine tablets to take.

3.

Your healthcare provider may change your dose. Do not change your dose of carbamazepine tablets without talking to your healthcare provider.

4.

Take carbamazepine tablets with food.

5.

If you take too much carbamazepine tablets, call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center right away.

What should I avoid while taking carbamazepine tablets?

1.

Do not drink alcohol or take other drugs that make you sleepy or dizzy while taking carbamazepine until you talk to your healthcare provider. Carbamazepine tablets taken with alcohol or drugs that cause sleepiness or dizziness may make your sleepiness or dizziness worse.

2.

Do not drive, operate heavy machinery, or do other dangerous activities until you know how carbamazepine tablets affects you. Carbamazepine may slow your thinking and motor skills.

What are the possible side effects of carbamazepine tablets?

See “What is the most important information I should know about carbamazepine tablets?”

Carbamazepine tablets may cause other serious side effects.  These include:

1.

Irregular heartbeat - symptoms include:

1.

Fast, slow, or pounding heartbeat

2.

Shortness of breath

3.

Feeling lightheaded

4.

Fainting

2.

Liver problems - symptoms include:

5.

yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes

6.

dark urine

7.

pain on the right side of your stomach area (abdominal pain)

8.

easy bruising

9.

loss of appetite

10.

nausea or vomiting

Get medical help right away if you have any of the symptoms listed above or listed in “What is the most important information I should know about carbamazepine tablets".

The most common side effects of carbamazepine tablets include: 

1.

dizziness

2.

drowsiness

3.

problems with walking and coordination (unsteadiness)

4.

nausea

5.

vomiting

These are not all the possible side effects of carbamazepine tablets.  For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA‑-1088.

How should I store carbamazepine tablets, USP?

1.

Do not store above 30°C (86°F).

 

• Keep carbamazepine tablets dry.  

Keep carbamazepine tablets and all medicines out of the reach of children.

General Information about carbamazepine tablets

Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Medication Guide. Do not use carbamazepine tablets for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give carbamazepine tablets to other people, even if they have the same symptoms that you have. It may harm them.

This Medication Guide summarizes the most important information about carbamazepine tablets, USP. If you would like more information, talk with your healthcare provider. You can ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider for the full prescribing information about carbamazepine tablets, USP that is written for health professionals.

For more information, contact Apotex Corp., Drug safety at 1-800-706-5575

What are the ingredients in carbamazepine tablets?

Active ingredient:  carbamazepine USP 

Inactive ingredients:  croscarmellose sodium, magnesium stearate, and microcrystalline cellulose.

This Medication Guide has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

GSMS INC.

CARBAMAZEPINE TABLETS, USP 200 mg

 

Manufactured by                   Manufactured for Marketed and Packaged by
Apotex Inc.                              Apotex Corp. GSMS, Inc.
Toronto, Ontario                      Weston, Florida Camarillo, CA
Canada  M9L 1T9                   33326 93010

September 2015

Rev. 4