Tegretol

Tegretol is used for:

Controlling certain types of epileptic 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.

Tegretol 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 Tegretol if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Tegretol
• 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 have a severe heart problem called heart block (atrioventricular block)
• 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.

Before using Tegretol :

Some medical conditions may interact with Tegretol . 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), 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 previously taken Tegretol

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Tegretol . 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 Tegretol
• Many prescriptions and nonprescription medicines (eg, used for infections, mental or mood problems, allergies, pain, high blood pressure, cancer, asthma, inflammation, aches and pains, headaches, HIV, blood thinning, thyroid problems, seizures, birth control), multivitamin products, and herbal or dietary supplements (eg, St. John's wort) may interact with Tegretol , increasing the risk of side eff ects

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Tegretol 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.