Carbamazepine Essential Pharma
Carbamazepine Essential Pharma is an epilepsy medicine used to prevent recurrent brain seizures.
Form
peräpuikko
Strength
250 mg
Active Ingredient
Carbamazepine
Manufacturer
Essential Pharma Ltd
How to Use
Dosage
The usual starting dose for adults is 100-200 mg once or twice daily, gradually increasing. The maintenance dose for adults is generally 400-1600 mg per day, but may be higher if needed.
Method
This medicine is a suppository, taken rectally. It is usually used when tablets or liquid medicine cannot be taken, for example, due to surgery.
Important
Suppositories can be used for a maximum of 7 days. The maximum daily dose is 1000 mg (250 mg four times a day).
Possible Side Effects
COMMON
- •Low white blood cell count
- •Dizziness
- •Clumsiness or unsteadiness
- •Drowsiness or feeling sleepy
- •Nausea or feeling sick
- •Vomiting
- •Changes in liver enzyme levels
- •Skin rash
- •Itching
- •Hives (urticaria)
- •Low platelet count
- •Increased eosinophils (a type of white blood cell)
- •Swelling in legs or ankles, fluid retention, weight gain
- •Low sodium levels in the blood
- •Headache
- •Double vision
- •Blurred vision or difficulty focusing
- •Dry mouth
RARE
- •Abnormal, involuntary movements or tremors
- •Involuntary eye movements (nystagmus)
- •Diarrhea
- •Constipation
- •Flaky skin inflammation or severe redness of the skin
- •Increased white blood cell count
- •Swollen lymph nodes
- •Folic acid deficiency
- •Delayed allergic reactions (e.g., fever, rash, joint pain, abnormal liver values)
- •Seeing or hearing things that are not real (hallucinations)
- •Depressed mood
- •Loss of appetite
- •Restlessness, aggression, agitation, confusion
- •Abnormal movements of the mouth and face
- •Speech difficulties
- •Partial paralysis
- •Heart rhythm problems
- •High or low blood pressure
- •Pain in the upper stomach
- •Yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice)
- •Liver inflammation
- •Muscle weakness
- •Severe blood disorders (e.g., very low red or white blood cells, anemia)
- •Meningitis (inflammation of the membranes around the brain)
- •Severe, life-threatening allergic reactions (anaphylaxis, angioedema)
- •Hormone imbalances (e.g., increased prolactin, thyroid problems)
- •Bone problems (e.g., osteoporosis, fractures)
- •Changes in taste
- •Clouding of the eye lens (cataracts)
- •Increased eye pressure (glaucoma)
- •Hearing problems (e.g., ringing in ears, hearing loss)
- •Circulatory collapse or heart failure
- •Lung hypersensitivity reactions (e.g., fever, shortness of breath, lung inflammation)
- •Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
- •Severe, life-threatening skin reactions (Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, erythema multiforme)
- •Sensitivity to light (photosensitivity)
- •Hair loss
- •Joint or muscle pain
- •Kidney inflammation or kidney failure
- •Problems with urination (e.g., increased frequency, difficulty)
- •Sexual dysfunction or impotence
- •Memory problems
- •High ammonia levels in the blood (hyperammonemia) with symptoms like irritability, confusion, vomiting, loss of appetite, and drowsiness
Important Warnings
- Do not use if you are allergic to carbamazepine or any other ingredients in this medicine.
- Do not use if you have a severe heart condition, severe blood disorder, or severe liver issues (porphyria). Tell your doctor if you have or have had heart, liver, or kidney disease.
- Stop taking this medicine and contact your doctor immediately if you develop a severe skin rash (e.g., Stevens-Johnson syndrome) or other severe skin reactions, especially if you have Asian (Chinese or Thai) ancestry.
- Seek immediate medical help if you experience signs of an allergic reaction such as fever, swollen lymph nodes, rash, blisters, swelling of face, eyes, tongue, difficulty swallowing, or breathing problems.
- This medicine can harm an unborn baby. Use effective contraception during treatment and for two weeks after. If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, talk to your doctor immediately.
Show 5 more warnings
- Talk to your doctor immediately if you have thoughts of harming yourself or suicide, or if your seizures worsen, or if you have a history of psychosis, confusion, or agitation.
- Do not stop taking this medicine suddenly without talking to your doctor, as this may increase the number of seizures.
- Do not drink grapefruit juice or eat grapefruit, as they can increase the medicine's effects. Avoid alcohol, as it can worsen seizures and affect your tolerance to alcohol.
- This medicine can cause drowsiness, dizziness, blurred or double vision, and coordination problems. Be careful when driving or operating machinery.
- Do not use this medicine with certain antidepressants called MAO inhibitors.
Use in Elderly Patients
Category D
Avoid use in older adults. Hyponatraemia is a common adverse effect. Numerous potential adverse effects, such as hematological changes and risk of hepatic injury. May increase the need for a vitamin D supplement. Consider the numerous potential and significant interactions before starting and discontinuing the use. Avoid grapefruit. (updated 10.11.2025)