From the Guidelines
Carbamazepine is primarily used to treat epilepsy, trigeminal neuralgia, and bipolar disorder, with the most recent and highest quality evidence supporting its use in trigeminal neuralgia at a dose of 400-1200 mg daily in divided doses 1.
Uses of Carbamazepine
- Epilepsy: controlling seizures
- Trigeminal neuralgia: managing a painful facial nerve condition
- Bipolar disorder: stabilizing mood
Dosage and Administration
- For trigeminal neuralgia, treatment usually begins at 200 mg at night and gradually increases by 200 mg every 7 days to a final dose of 400-1200 mg, divided into 2-3 doses per day 1
- For epilepsy and bipolar disorder, dosing is similar, but the exact dosage may vary depending on the individual patient's needs
Mechanism of Action
Carbamazepine works by stabilizing nerve cell membranes and reducing their excitability by blocking sodium channels, which prevents the rapid firing of neurons that causes seizures and nerve pain 1
Side Effects
Common side effects include dizziness, drowsiness, nausea, and blurred vision, with more severe side effects such as Steven-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis possible, particularly in the Han Chinese population 1
Monitoring and Precautions
Blood tests are necessary during treatment to monitor liver function, blood cell counts, and medication levels, and patients should take carbamazepine with food to reduce stomach upset and avoid abruptly stopping the medication as this can trigger seizures 1
From the FDA Drug Label
Carbamazepine tablets are indicated for use as an anticonvulsant drug. Carbamazepine tablets are indicated in the treatment of the pain associated with true trigeminal neuralgia. Carbamazepine tablets are a prescription medicine used to treat: certain types of seizures (partial, tonic-clonic, mixed) certain types of nerve pain (trigeminal and glossopharyngeal neuralgia)
Carbamazepine is used for:
- Epilepsy: to treat certain types of seizures, including partial, tonic-clonic, and mixed seizures
- Trigeminal neuralgia: to treat the pain associated with this condition
- Glossopharyngeal neuralgia: to treat the pain associated with this condition 2 2
From the Research
Uses of Carbamazepine
- Carbamazepine is primarily used to treat epileptic patients suffering from partial seizures with or without secondary generalization, as well as primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures 3, 4.
- It is also indicated in the treatment of trigeminal and occipital neuralgia 3, 5.
- Additionally, carbamazepine is used in the treatment of manic depressive disorders 3.
- It is commonly prescribed for the treatment of seizure disorders, neuropathic pain syndromes, and bipolar disorder 6.
- Carbamazepine is also used to treat pain associated with trigeminal neuralgia, acute manic and mixed manic states 7.