Carbamazepine

Carbamazepine

Carbamazepine is chemically similar to the tricyclic antidepressant drugs. It is most commonly used in the treatment of epilepsy, particularly focal seizures. Carbamazepine was previously used first-line but has now been replaced by drugs with better side-effect profiles.

• trigeminal neuralgia
• bipolar disorder

Mechanism of action

• binds to sodium channels increases their refractory period
  Carbamazepine - binds to sodium channels increases their refractory period
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  Importance: 22

Adverse effects

• P450 enzyme inducer
  Carbamazepine is a P450 enzyme inductor
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  Importance: 44
• dizziness
  Carbamazepine may cause dizziness
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  Importance: 7
  and ataxia
  Carbamazepine may cause ataxia
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  Importance: 6
• drowsiness
  Carbamazepine may cause lethargy/drowsiness
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  Importance: 12
• headache
  Carbamazepine may cause headache
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  Importance: 10
• visual disturbances (especially diplopia
  Carbamazepine may cause diplopia
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  Importance: 9
  )
• Steven-Johnson syndrome
  Carbamazepine may cause Steven-Johnson syndrome
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  Importance: 6
• leucopenia and agranulocytosis
  Carbamazepine may cause myelosuppression/agranulocytosis
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  Importance: 5
• hyponatraemia
  Carbamazepine may cause hyponatraemia
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  Importance: 22
  secondary to syndrome of inappropriate ADH secretion

Carbamazepine is known to exhibit autoinduction

autoinduction

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, hence when patients start carbamazepine they may see a return of seizures after 3-4 weeks of treatment.

+PassMedicine Notes

Carbamazepine is chemically similar to the tricyclic antidepressant drugs. It is most commonly used in the treatment of epilepsy, particularly focal seizures. Carbamazepine was previously used first-line but has now been replaced by drugs with better side-effect profiles.

• trigeminal neuralgia
• bipolar disorder

Mechanism of action

• binds to sodium channels increases their refractory period

Adverse effects

• P450 enzyme inducer
• dizziness and ataxia
• drowsiness
• headache
• visual disturbances (especially diplopia)
• Steven-Johnson syndrome
• leucopenia and agranulocytosis
• hyponatraemia secondary to syndrome of inappropriate ADH secretion

Carbamazepine is known to exhibit autoinduction, hence when patients start carbamazepine they may see a return of seizures after 3-4 weeks of treatment.