Patients & Caregivers

How to Take Carbatrol

The ability of a medication to be absorbed into the bloodstream is often affected by food. Therefore, some carbamazepine therapies require you to take their medication with food to help with the absorption of the medication.

With Carbatrol, you are not limited to taking your medicine at mealtimes. You may choose to take it with your meals or on an empty stomach. You can also open the capsule and sprinkle the beads on yogurt, applesauce or other soft food rather than swallow the whole capsule (do not chew the beads or the soft food).

Your Carbatrol capsules should look like this. Be sure to check your medication each time you get your prescription filled. If your capsules do not look like this, ask your pharmacist why they are different.

For many types of medications, slight differences in the amount of drug made available to the body will not make a significant difference in therapy. For other drugs, like epilepsy medications, the exact amount that gets into the body is more critical. It is very important to be sure you are receiving the exact medication prescribed by your doctor. Do not switch from Carbatrol without your doctor's supervision and knowledge.

Carbatrol is available by brand name only. There is no generic equivalent.

Carbatrol Was Generally Well Tolerated in Clinical Studies

The most common side effects, particularly when first starting on Carbatrol, were dizziness, drowsiness, unsteadiness, nausea, and vomiting.

Anticonvulsants should be taken in the manner and at the times prescribed by the physician.

Important Safety Information for Patients and Caregivers

Carbatrol^® contains carbamazepine. If you are currently taking another medication that contains carbamazepine, do not begin taking Carbatrol without discussing this with your healthcare provider.
If you are taking any other medications, including oral contraceptives, over-the-counter medications, or herbal products, be sure to inform your healthcare provider, as Carbatrol can interact with other medications.
Carbatrol was generally well tolerated in clinical studies. The most common side effects, particularly when first starting on Carbatrol, were dizziness, drowsiness, unsteadiness, nausea, and vomiting.
Serious skin disorders have been reported with use of carbamazepine. These skin disorders may be more common in patients of Asian ancestry. Patients of Asian ancestry who have a specific gene (HLA-B*1502) may be at increased risk. Patients of Asian ancestry should be tested for this gene prior to starting Carbatrol.
Contact your healthcare provider if you have any unexplained bruising, fever, or infection. Products that contain carbamazepine have been associated with rare but serious types of blood disorders.
Carbamazepine can cause fetal harm. Contact your healthcare provider if you are considering becoming pregnant, or are pregnant, in order to discuss the continued benefits and risks.
People with a history of bone marrow problems, or who are allergic to carbamazepine, or who are sensitive to tricyclic antidepressants should not take Carbatrol.
Certain types of seizures (absence seizures or petit mal) do not appear to be controlled by carbamazepine.

See Important Safety Information for Patients & Caregivers

Carbatrol^® is registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

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