Distributed under the name of Tenegrol, carbamazepine is a mood stabilizing and anticonvulsant drug. It is an antimanic medication used to control certain types of seizures in the treatment of epilepsy, to treat bipolar disorder, and is sometimes used in the treatment of schizophrenia.
Also used to combat trigeminal neuralgia.
Tegretol Information
Carbamazepine was discovered in 1953 in Switzerland by Walter Schindler.
It was synthesized in 1960. In 1962 Tenegrol was approved for treatment of trigeminal neuralgia Often within 24 to 48 hours this miraculous drug relieves pain associated with trigeminal neuralgia disease.
Tegretol has been found with some patients to have a mild psychotropic effect which could help prevent psychomotor or temporal lobe epilepsy. When used together with lithium or another neuroleptic or an immunotherapy has been found very useful in the treatment of acute mania and the preventative treatment of manic-depressive maladies. Tenegrol is also used for central partial diabetes insipidus (water diabetes), alcohol withdrawal and severe mental illness (psychotic disorders).
Tegretol is an enzyme inducer of the cytochrome P450 system that metabolizes oral contraceptive, Tegretol renders certain methods of hormonal contraception.
Tegretol has a moderate anticholinergic action, like any other tricylic compound, which may cause certain conflicting effects of the drug. Some of these effects may include:
blurry or double vision
juvenile myoclonic epilepsy
temporary or mild loss of blood cells or platelets
drowsiness; upset stomach
small reductions in white cell count
syndrome of inappropriate anti-diuretic hormone (SIADH)
We well understand the mechanism of action of Tegretol – voltage-gated sodium channels are molecular pores that allow neurons to bring about action potentials (the events that let neurons communicate over far distances); in order to begin the action potential they shut the channel and carbamazepine makes the brain cells less agitated. Hence stabilizing the inactivated state of sodium channels.
Tegretol should not be used by patients having:
hepatic disease
serious blood disorder
acute intermittent porphyries
with or after an MAO (monoamine oxidase) inhibitor
behavioral problems
kidney or liver disease
diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes)
to patients presenting AV heart block
hypersensitivity to any of the tricyclic compounds
pregnancy (it causes neural tube defects for the fetuses)
This drug should be taken on a regular basis, at the same time everyday. Citrus fruit or its juice may alter the amount of the drug that is accepted into your bloodstream so it is recommended to abstain from the fruit while taking Tegretol.
Following these guidelines will make taking this medication a simple and safe endeavor.