Tegral Tablets 200mg (Carbamazepine) 5 Strips-1 Strip = 10 Tablets- Novartis P

Epilepsy

How it works
Carbamazepine is a sodium channel blocker. It binds preferentially to voltage-gated sodium channels in their inactive conformation, which prevents repetitive and sustained firing of an action potential.

Usage And Safety
Dosage
Adults : Epilepsy : Initially 100-200mg once or twice daily increasing slowly to optimum dosage, usually 800mg-1.2gm daily in divided doses. Max 1.5gm daily. Manic depressive psychosis : Initially 400mg daily in divided doses increasing gradually until symptoms controlled ; max 1.6gm individed doses. Usual range , 400-600mg daily. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for dose adjustments.

Side Effects
Up to 1 in 10 people have experienced: Changes in the blood including an increased tendency to bruise or bleed; fluid retention and swelling; weight increase; low sodium in the blood which might result in confusion; headache; double or blurred vision; dry mouth. Up to 1 in 100 people have reported: Abnormal involuntary movements including tremor or tics; abnormal eye movements; diarrhoea; constipation. Up to 1 in 1,000 people have reported: Disease of the lymph glands; folic acid deficiency; a generalised allergic reaction including rash, joint pain, fever, problems with the kidneys and other organs; hallucinations; depression; loss of appetite; restlessness; aggression; agitation; confusion; speech disorders; numbness or tingling in the hands and feet; muscle weakness; high blood pressure (which may make you feel dizzy, with a flushed face, headache, fatigue and nervousness); low blood pressure (the symptoms of which are feeling faint, light headed, dizzy, confused, having blurred vision); changes to heart beat; stomach pain; liver problems including jaundice; symptoms of lupus.

Drug Interactions
Hormone contraceptives , Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) , Any medicines for depression or anxiety. , Corticosteroids (‘steroids’) , Anticoagulants , ciprofloxacillin , Antifungals to treat fungal infections , Painkillers containing paracetamol, dextropropoxyphene, tramadol, methadone or buprenorphine ,Other medicines to treat epilepsy , Medicines for high blood pressure or heart problems , Antihistamines (medicines to treat allergy such as hayfever, itch, etc) , Diuretics (water tablets) , Cimetidine or omeprazole (medicines to treat gastric ulcers) , Isotretinoin (a medicine for the treatment of acne) , Metoclopramide or aprepitant (anti-sickness medications) , Acetazolamide (a medicine to treat glaucoma – increased pressure in the eye) , Danazol or gestrinone (treatments for endometriosis) , Theophylline or aminophylline (used in the treatment of asthma) , Ciclosporin, tacrolimus or sirolimus (immunosuppressants used after transplant operations, but also sometimes in the treatment of arthritis or psoriasis) , Drugs to treat schizophrenia (e.g. paliperidone, aripiprazole) , Cancer drugs (e.g. temsirolimus, cyclophasphamide, lapatinib) , The anti-malarial drug, mefloquine , Drugs to treat HIV , Levothyroxine (used to treat hypothyroidism) , Tadalafil (used to treat impotence) , Albendazole (used to treat worms) , Bupropion (used to help stop smoking) , A herbal remedy called St John’s Wort or Hypericum , Drugs or supplements containing Vitamin B (nicotinamide).

Indication
It is used to treat :• To treat some forms of epilepsy• To treat a painful condition of the face called trigeminal neuralgia• To help control serious mood disorders when some other medicines don’t work .

Precautions
A small number of people being treated with anti-epileptics such as carbamazepine have had thoughts of harming or killing themselves. If at any time you have these thoughts, immediately contact your doctor.

Warnings
Eating grapefruit, or drinking grapefruit juice, may increase your chance of experiencing side effects.

Your doctor may want you to have a number of blood tests before you start taking carbamazepine and from time to time during your treatment. This is quite usual and nothing to worry about.

It can make you feel dizzy or drowsy, or may cause blurred vision, double vision, or you may have a lack of muscular coordination, especially at the start of treatment or when the dose is changed. If you are affected in this way, or if your eyesight is affected, you should not drive or operate machinery.

Additional Information
Pregnancy category
Always consult your physician before using any medicine.

Store this medicine at room temperature, away from direct light and heat.