carbamazepine
Brand names: Tegretol
Carbamazepine is a medicine used to control seizures and treat nerve pain. It works by reducing abnormal electrical activity in the brain and calming nerve signals.
Drug Shortage Alert
carbamazepine is currently listed as to be discontinued by the FDA. Affected manufacturer: Takeda Pharmaceuticals USA Inc..
View all drug shortages →Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Brand Price
$0.41/unit
Generic Price
$0.23/unit
Generic Savings
46%
Generic Available
Yes (26 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Carbamazepine is used to treat certain types of seizures, including partial seizures and generalized tonic-clonic seizures.
Common side effects
Dizziness, Drowsiness, Unsteadiness
Key warnings
Carbamazepine can cause severe skin reactions, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), which can be fatal.
How It Works
Carbamazepine is an anticonvulsant. It works by reducing the spread of seizure activity in the brain. It also stabilizes nerve impulses to reduce pain.
How to Take It
Take this medicine with meals. If you are taking the suspension form, do not mix it with other liquid medicines. Adults and children over 12 usually start with 200 mg twice a day, or 1 teaspoon of suspension four times a day. Your doctor may increase the dose slowly. Swallow Tegretol-XR tablets whole; do not crush or chew them.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Carbamazepine may harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if carbamazepine passes into breast milk, so talk to your doctor about breastfeeding.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule.
Storage
Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 30,791 FDA adverse event reports.
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 65,260 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2001–2025.
Total Reports
65,260
Death-Related Reports
5,503
Hospitalization Reports
25,279
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 4,898 |
| 2 | SEIZURE | 3,609 |
| 3 | DRUG INTERACTION | 3,369 |
| 4 | FALL | 3,044 |
| 5 | DIZZINESS | 2,862 |
| 6 | PYREXIA | 2,689 |
| 7 | NAUSEA | 2,629 |
| 8 | TOXICITY TO VARIOUS AGENTS | 2,600 |
| 9 | OFF LABEL USE | 2,587 |
| 10 | VOMITING | 2,505 |
| 11 | CONVULSION | 2,504 |
| 12 | FATIGUE | 2,473 |
| 13 | SOMNOLENCE | 2,333 |
| 14 | PAIN | 2,293 |
| 15 | RASH | 2,280 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
Carbamazepine can cause severe skin reactions, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), which can be fatal. If you are of Asian descent, you may need a blood test before starting this medicine. Carbamazepine can also cause serious blood problems like aplastic anemia and agranulocytosis. Contact your doctor right away if you develop a fever, sore throat, rash, or unusual bleeding or bruising.
Known Drug Interactions
Anticonvulsants carbamazepine , phenobarbital, primidone, phenytoin ↓ nirmatrelvir/ritonavir Co-administration contraindicated due to potential loss of virologic response and possible resistance [see Contraindications (4) ] .
Mechanism: Carbamazepine makes your body get rid of the antiviral medicine too quickly, which prevents it from working against the virus.
What to do: Do not take these medicines together because the antiviral treatment will not be able to fight the infection properly.
CYP3A Inducers Do not use ranolazine with CYP3A inducers such as rifampin, rifabutin, rifapentine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, carbamazepine, and St.
Mechanism: Carbamazepine makes your body get rid of ranolazine too quickly, which prevents the medicine from working as it should.
What to do: Avoid using these drugs together to make sure your treatment stays effective.
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS Carbamazepine and other enzyme inducers decrease plasma concentrations of risperidone. ( 7.1 ) 7.1 Pharmacokinetic-related Interactions The dose of risperidone tablets should be adjusted when used in combination with CYP2D6 enzyme inhibitors (e.g., fluoxetine, and paroxetine) and enzyme inducers (e.g., carbamazepine) [see Table 18 and Dosage and Administration (2.5) ]. Do not exceed 8 mg/day 20 mg/day 4 mg/day 1.6 - 40 mg/day 4 mg/day 1.8 - Enzyme (CYP3A/ PgP inducers) Inducers Carbamazepine 573 ± 168 mg/day 3 mg twice daily 0.51 0.55 Titrate dose upwards.
Mechanism: Carbamazepine speeds up how fast your body breaks down risperidone, which lowers the amount of medicine in your blood.
What to do: Your doctor may need to increase your dose of risperidone to make sure the medicine still works effectively.
Concomitant administration of carbamazepine and lithium may increase the risk of neurotoxic side effects.
Mechanism: Combining these two medications can increase the risk of toxic effects on your brain and nervous system.
What to do: Your healthcare provider should monitor you closely for any signs of confusion, dizziness, or coordination problems.
7.2 Combined P-gp Strong CYP3A4 Inducers Avoid concomitant use of apixaban tablets with combined P-gp and strong CYP3A4 Inducers (e.g., rifampin, carbamazepine, phenytoin, St.
Mechanism: Carbamazepine makes your body break down apixaban too fast, which lowers the drug levels in your blood. This makes the medicine less effective at preventing dangerous blood clots.
What to do: Avoid taking these two medicines together. Talk to your doctor about using a different treatment.
Common Questions
Can I stop taking carbamazepine suddenly?
What should I do if I get a rash?
Can I drink alcohol while taking carbamazepine?
Does carbamazepine interact with other medications?
How often will I see the doctor while taking carbamazepine?
Can carbamazepine cure my condition?
What if I have trouble swallowing the tablets?
How long does it take for carbamazepine to start working?
Can I drive while taking carbamazepine?
What should I do if I experience side effects?
What are the common side effects of carbamazepine?
Does carbamazepine interact with other medications?
What drug class is carbamazepine?
Is there a generic version of carbamazepine?
Is carbamazepine safe during pregnancy?
Is carbamazepine currently in shortage?
Related Medications in Anticonvulsant
Other drugs grouped near carbamazepine — same-class peers and common alternatives.
brivaracetam
Briviact
Brivaracetam is a medicine used to treat partial-onset seizures.
Compare with carbamazepine →
cannabidiol
Epidiolex
Epidiolex is a medicine that contains cannabidiol.
Compare with carbamazepine →
cenobamate
Xcopri
Xcopri is a medicine used to treat partial-onset seizures in adults.
Compare with carbamazepine →
clobazam
Onfi, Sympazan
Clobazam oral suspension is a medicine used with other medicines to treat seizures caused by Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.
Compare with carbamazepine →
clonazepam
Klonopin
Clonazepam is a medicine that belongs to the benzodiazepine class.
Compare with carbamazepine →
Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
Why some drugs demand precise dosing and monitoring
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
Related Health & Safety Data
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What the FDA Data Shows for carbamazepine
The FDA label for carbamazepine (sold under brand names such as Tegretol) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Anticonvulsant class. Carbamazepine is used to treat certain types of seizures, including partial seizures and generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Official labeling lists 5 commonly reported side effects, including Dizziness, Drowsiness, Unsteadiness.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 30,791 voluntary reports. The database also lists 129 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated major severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.23 versus $0.41 for the brand — a 46% generic savings.
Report counts do not establish causation — a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC). Shortage status: FDA Drug Shortages Database.
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: February 18, 2025
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book — approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed — NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) — post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm — standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files — federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database — current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages