Tegretol CR 400mg is an extended-release prescription medication containing the active ingredient carbamazepine, primarily used to control seizures and manage nerve pain. The "CR" stands for Controlled Release, meaning the tablet slowly releases the medicine into your body over several hours to keep blood levels steady and reduce side effects.
Primary Medical Uses
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Epilepsy: Treats various types of seizures (including partial and generalized tonic-clonic seizures) by calming down overactive nerve impulses in the brain.
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Nerve Pain: Specifically relieves the severe facial nerve pain caused by trigeminal neuralgia.
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Mood Stabilization: Used off-label or as a secondary treatment to stabilize severe mood swings in conditions like bipolar disorder.
How to Take It Safely
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Swallow Whole: Do not crush, chew, or break the tablet. Damaging the protective coating releases all the medicine at once, which can cause an accidental overdose.
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Take with Food: Consuming the tablet during or right after a meal helps prevent stomach upset.
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Never Stop Suddenly: Abruptly stopping this medication can cause your seizures or nerve pain to return violently. Any dose changes must be managed by your doctor.
Important Warnings & Interactions
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Avoid Grapefruit: Do not drink grapefruit juice or eat grapefruit, as it dangerously increases the level of Tegretol in your bloodstream.
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Birth Control Interference: Carbamazepine speeds up the liver's processing of medications, which makes hormonal birth control pills much less effective.
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Serious Skin Reactions: In rare cases, this drug can cause life-threatening skin rashes (such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome), especially in individuals of Asian descent carrying a specific gene allele (HLA-B*1502). Seek immediate medical attention if you develop a fever or a peeling skin rash.
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Routine Testing: Your doctor will require regular blood tests to monitor your liver function, kidney function, and blood cell counts.
