Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved carbamazepine oral tablet to treat the following types of seizures in adults and children:
The FDA has also approved carbamazepine oral tablet for treatment of trigeminal neuralgia (a type of nerve pain affecting the face).
This article describes possible side effects of carbamazepine oral tablet. You can explore this overview article to learn more about carbamazepine, including the drug’s uses, ways to save on cost, and more.
Carbamazepine oral tablet is a generic version of the brand-name drug Tegretol. Carbamazepine also comes in other forms that you swallow, but these forms aren’t described in this article. To learn more about these forms, talk with your doctor.
Boxed warnings
Carbamazepine oral tablet has boxed warnings about risks of serious skin reactions and serious low blood cell levels. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA.
For details, see the “Side effects of carbamazepine in detail” section below.
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More common side effects of carbamazepine
Carbamazepine oral tablet may cause mild or serious side effects. Below are some of the more common side effects of this medication.
Commonly reported side effects of carbamazepine oral tablet include:
- dizziness
- drowsiness
- unsteadiness
- nausea
- vomiting
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of carbamazepine in detail” section below.
Mild side effects of carbamazepine
Carbamazepine may cause certain mild side effects. Most often, mild side effects are temporary and can be easily managed. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have side effects that don’t go away or become bothersome.
Mild side effects of carbamazepine oral tablet that have been reported include:
- abdominal pain
- appetite loss
- ataxia (difficulty with muscle coordination and control)
- dizziness
- drowsiness
- dry mouth
- fatigue
- fever or chills
- headache
- indigestion
- muscle spasms or twitching
- pain in your joints or muscles
- nausea
- tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
- vomiting
- mild allergic reaction*
Carbamazepine oral tablet may cause more mild side effects than those listed above. For details, see the drug’s prescribing information.
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of carbamazepine in detail” section below.
Serious side effects of carbamazepine
Carbamazepine may cause certain serious side effects. If you have any serious side effects from carbamazepine oral tablet, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency or your side effects feel life threatening, take immediate action. Call 911 or a local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.
After the FDA approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Visit MedWatch’s website if you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with carbamazepine.
Serious side effects of carbamazepine oral tablet that occurred in studies include:
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of carbamazepine in detail” section below.
† Carbamazepine oral tablet has a boxed warning for this side effect. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA.
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Common questions about side effects of carbamazepine
Here are answers to some common questions about side effects of carbamazepine oral tablet. If you have other questions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Does carbamazepine cause long-term side effects?
Yes, in some cases carbamazepine oral tablet may cause long-term side effects. These can occur if you take the drug for a long time or they may last for a while after you’ve stopped taking the drug.
Examples of long-term side effects reported with carbamazepine oral tablet include:
- heart and blood vessel problems, including heart failure and heart block
- kidney-related side effects, including kidney failure
- hyponatremia (low blood sodium)
- liver problems, including liver failure
Talk with your doctor to learn more about these side effects and how to manage them. Ask your doctor for more information about how long these side effects of carbamazepine may last.
Are teeth-related side effects possible with carbamazepine?
It’s not likely. Teeth-related side effects aren’t expected with carbamazepine, based on studies of the drug.
Carbamazepine can cause dry mouth as a side effect. There are also reports of mouth sores and tongue inflammation with carbamazepine. But side effects specific to teeth aren’t expected.
Certain other antiepileptic drugs, including phenytoin and levetiracetam (Keppra) may cause teeth-related side effects. But this isn’t expected with carbamazepine.
There have been some reports of gingival hyperplasia (overgrowth of gum tissue) with carbamazepine. But more research is needed to know whether carbamazepine or another factor was the cause of this effect.
Can carbamazepine cause weight gain?
It’s not clear. Weight gain wasn’t a side effect reported in studies of carbamazepine. But since the drug was approved, some research has linked carbamazepine with mild weight gain. Other antiepileptic drugs have also been linked with weight gain.
Talk with your doctor if you’re concerned about your weight, including whether any medications you take could cause it. They can suggest a plan to maintain a weight that is satisfactory for you.
Is carbamazepine safe for older adults?
It depends on your specific health history and other factors. But different side effects caused by carbamazepine in older adults compared with younger adults have not been reported.
Whether carbamazepine is safe for you depends on factors including other medical conditions you have or other medications you take. Generally, older adults (ages 65 years and older) are more likely to have multiple medical conditions and take multiple medications compared with younger adults. But this isn’t the case for everyone.
Talk with your doctor or pharmacist to learn more about whether carbamazepine is safe for you based on your individual health history and treatment needs.
Side effects of carbamazepine in detail
Below you’ll find details on some of the side effects of carbamazepine oral tablet.
Risk of serious skin reactions
Carbamazepine oral tablet has a boxed warning for the risk of serious skin reactions. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA.
According to studies and reports, serious skin reactions are rare in people taking carbamazepine oral tablet. This side effect may be serious and even life threatening in rare cases.
These serious skin reactions include:
Symptoms will vary between the two conditions. But a key sign to watch for is a blistering skin rash that may or may not peel. Other general symptoms include feeling unwell and body or muscle aches and pains.
Serious skin reactions may happen at any time, but are most likely in the first few months after you start taking carbamazepine.
Certain factors can increase the risk of serious skin reactions with carbamazepine oral tablet. These include having a certain variant of the HLA-B gene, called HLA-B*1502. This variant can affect anyone, but is most commonly found in people of Asian heritage. Your doctor may order a test to check for HLA-B*1502 before prescribing carbamazepine.
Ways to manage
If you have a skin reaction when taking carbamazepine oral tablet, tell your doctor. They may recommend an office visit to evaluate the type and cause and to determine the best treatment.
Risk of serious low blood cell levels
Carbamazepine oral tablet has a boxed warning for the risk of serious low blood cell levels. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA.
According to studies and reports, serious low blood cell levels are rare in people taking carbamazepine oral tablet. This side effect may be serious.
The following serious blood cell problems are possible with carbamazepine:
- aplastic anemia: Aplastic anemia is a condition that causes damage to stem cells in your bone marrow. It affects the production of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Along with an increased risk of infection, you may experience symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue, and pale skin.
- agranulocytosis: Agranulocytosis is a condition that causes bone marrow to not produce enough white blood cells. The condition doesn’t always cause symptoms. But you may experience sudden fever, bleeding from your gums, and rapid breathing.
You may be at higher risk of this side effect if you’ve experienced low blood cell levels as a side effect from taking any medication in the past.
Ways to manage
Before you begin taking carbamazepine, your doctor will likely order blood tests to check your blood cell levels. They’ll likely periodically order these tests throughout treatment. This allows a chance to catch problems related to low blood cell levels before they become serious. Your doctor may stop your carbmazepine treatment if these tests show signs of serious low blood cell levels.
For some people, carbamazepine oral tablet can cause an allergic reaction.
Symptoms can be mild or serious, and they may include:
- itchiness
- skin rash
- swelling under the skin, usually affecting eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
- swelling of the mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe
- flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)
Ways to manage
For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication.
For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to carbamazepine oral tablet, your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.
Warnings for carbamazepine
Below are some factors you may want to discuss with your doctor before taking carbamazepine oral tablet.
Boxed warnings
This drug has boxed warnings about the risk of serious skin reactions and serious low blood cell levels. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA.
For details, see the “Side effects of carbamazepine in detail” section above.
Other warnings
It may not be safe for you to take carbamazepine oral tablet if you have specific health conditions. These are sometimes called drug-condition interactions. Other things may also affect whether carbamazepine oral tablet is a safe treatment option for you.
Before taking carbamazepine oral tablet, tell your doctor about your health and medications you take. Things to consider include:
Carbamazepine and pregnancy
Talk with your doctor about treatment options for epilepsy if you’re pregnant can become pregnant. Carbamazepine can cause harm if taken during pregnancy. But it also isn’t safe to suddenly stop taking an antiepileptic drug should you become pregnant during treatment.
If you and your doctor decide you’ll take carbamazepine while pregnant, consider joining The North American Antiepileptic Drug (AED) Pregnancy Registry. This registry helps collect information about the safety of using antiepileptic drugs such as carbamazepine during pregnancy. You can learn more by calling 888-233-2334 or visiting the organization’s website.
Carbamazepine and breastfeeding
Carbamazepine oral tablet should not be taken while breastfeeding. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before taking this medication. Your doctor may recommend other ways to feed your child during treatment with carbamazepine.
Carbamazepine oral tablet is known to interact with alcohol. Alcohol can increase the risk for certain side effects from carbamazepine, and can worsen certain side effects. Examples include drowsiness and difficulties with balance and coordination.
If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about whether it’s safe to consume it during your treatment with carbamazepine oral tablet.
What to ask your doctor
This article describes common and serious side effects of carbamazepine oral tablet. If your doctor prescribes this medication, they can discuss possible side effects with you. Let your doctor know if you have concerns or questions about treatment with this medication.
Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:
- How do the side effects of carbamazepine compare with those of levetiracetam (Keppra)?
- Based on my health history, am I at higher risk of side effects from carbamazepine?
- Does my carbamazepine dosage affect my risk of side effects?
Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.
