Geigy
TEGRETOL 100 mg/5 ml Liquid
(carbamazepine)
What you need to know about Tegretol Liquid
Your doctor has decided that you need this medicine to help treat your condition.
Please read this leaflet carefully before you start to take your medicine. It contains important information. Keep the leaflet in a safe place because you may want to read it again.
If you have any other questions, or if there is something you don’t understand, please ask your doctor or pharmacist.
This medicine has been prescribed for you. Never give it to someone else. It may not be the right medicine for them even if their symptoms seem to be the same as yours.
If any of the side effects gets serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.
In this leaflet:
- 1. What Tegretol Liquid is and what it’s used for
- 2. Things to consider before you start to take Tegretol Liquid
- 3. How to take Tegretol Liquid
- 4. Possible side effects
- 5. How to store Tegretol Liquid
- 6. Further information
What Tegretol Liquid is and what it’s used for
Tegretol Liquid is a white suspension tasting of caramel. Carbamazepine, the active ingredient in Tegretol Liquid, can affect the body in several different ways. It is an anti-convulsant medicine (prevents fits), it can also modify some types of pain and can control mood disorders.
Tegretol is used
- To treat some forms of epilepsy
- To treat a painful condition of the face called trigeminal neuralgia
- To help control serious mood disorders when some other medicines don’t work.
Things to consider before you start to take Tegretol Liquid
Some people MUST NOT take Tegretol Liquid. Talk to your doctor if:
- you think you may be hypersensitive (allergic) to carbamazepine or similar drugs such as oxcarbazepine (Trileptal), or to any of a related group of drugs known as tricyclic antidepressants (such as amitriptyline or imipramine). If you are allergic to carbamazepine there is a one in four (25%) chance that you could also have an allergic reaction to oxcarbazepine.
- you think you may be allergic to any of the other ingredients of Tegretol Liquid (these are listed at the end of the leaflet). Signs of a hypersensitivity reaction include swelling of the face or mouth (angioedema), breathing problems, runny nose, skin rash, blistering or peeling.
- you have any heart problems,
- you have ever had problems with your bone marrow,
- you have a blood disorder called porphyria,
- you have taken drugs called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), used to treat depression, within the last 14 days.
A small number of people being treated with anti-epileptics such as carbamazepine have had thoughts of harming or killing themselves. If at any time you have these thoughts, immediately contact your doctor.
Serious skin side effects can rarely occur during treatment with carbamazepine. This risk can be predicted with a blood sample in people of Chinese and Thai origin. Discuss this with your doctor before taking carbamazepine if you are of such origin.
You should also ask yourself these questions before taking Tegretol Liquid. If the answer to any of these questions is YES, discuss your treatment with your doctor or pharmacist because Tegretol Liquid might not be the right medicine for you.
- Are you pregnant or planning to become pregnant?
- Are you breastfeeding?
- Do you suffer from the sort of epilepsy where you get mixed seizures which include absences?
- Do you have any mental illness?
- Are you allergic to an epilepsy medicine called phenytoin?
- Do you have liver problems?
- Are you elderly?
- Do you have any eye problems such as glaucoma (increased pressure in the eye)?
- Do you have an intolerance to some sugars? (Tegretol Liquid contains sorbitol).
Are you taking other medicines?
Because of the way that Tegretol works, it can affect, and be affected by, lots of other things that you might be eating or medicines that you are taking. It is very important to make sure that your doctor knows all about what else you are taking, including anything that you have bought from a chemist or health food shop. It may be necessary to change the dose of some medicines, or stop taking something altogether.
Tell the doctor if you are taking:
- Hormone contraceptives, e.g. pills, patches, injections or implants. Tegretol affects the way the contraceptive works in your body, and you may get breakthrough bleeding or spotting. It may also make the contraceptive less effective and there will be a risk of getting pregnant. Your doctor will be able to advise you about this, and you should think about using other contraceptives.
- Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). Tegretol can make HRT less effective.
- Any medicines for depression or anxiety.
- Corticosteroids (‘steroids’). You might be taking these for inflammatory conditions such as asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, muscle and joint pains.
- Anticoagulants to stop your blood clotting.
- Antibiotics to treat infections including skin infections and TB.
- Antifungals to treat fungal infections.
- Painkillers containing paracetamol, dextropropoxyphene, tramadol, methadone or buprenorphine.
- Other medicines to treat epilepsy.
- Medicines for high blood pressure or heart problems.
- Antihistamines (medicines to treat allergy such as hayfever, itch, etc).
- Diuretics (water tablets).
- Cimetidine or omeprazole (medicines to treat gastric ulcers).
- Isotretinoin (a medicine for the treatment of acne).
- Metoclopramide (an anti-sickness medication).
- Acetazolamide (a medicine to treat glaucoma - increased pressure in the eye).
- Danazol or gestrinone (treatments for endometriosis).
- Theophylline or aminophylline (used in the treatment of asthma).
- Ciclosporin (an immunosuppressant, used after transplant operations, but also sometimes in the treatment of arthritis or psoriasis).
- Drugs to treat schizophrenia.
- Cancer drugs.
- The anti-malarial drug, mefloquine.
- Drugs to treat HIV.
- Levothyroxine (used to treat hypothyroidism).
- Muscle relaxant drugs.
- Bupropion (used to help stop smoking).
- A herbal remedy called St John’s Wort or Hypericum.
- Drugs or supplements containing Vitamin B (nicotinamide).
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
You must discuss your epilepsy treatment with your doctor well before you become pregnant. If you do get pregnant while you’re taking Tegretol Liquid you must tell the doctor straightaway. It is important that your epilepsy remains well controlled, but, as with other anti-epilepsy treatments, there is a risk of harm to the foetus. Make sure you are very clear about the risks and the benefits of taking Tegretol Liquid.
Mothers taking Tegretol Liquid can breastfeed their babies, but you must tell the doctor as soon as possible if you think that the baby is suffering side effects such as excessive sleepiness or skin reactions because you are taking Tegretol Liquid.
Will there be any problems with driving or using machinery?
Tegretol Liquid can make you feel dizzy or drowsy, especially at the start of treatment or when the dose is changed. If you are affected in this way, or if your eyesight is affected, you should not drive or operate machinery.
Other special warnings
- Tegretol Liquid contains parahydroxybenzoates as preservative. These may cause allergic reactions, which may not appear immediately.
- Drinking alcohol may affect you more than usual. Discuss whether you should stop drinking with your doctor.
- Eating grapefruit, or drinking grapefruit juice, may increase your chance of experiencing side effects.
- Your doctor may want you to have a number of blood tests before you start taking Tegretol and from time to time during your treatment. This is quite usual and nothing to worry about.
How to take Tegretol Liquid
The doctor will tell you how much Tegretol Liquid to take and when to take it. Always follow his/her instructions carefully. The dose will be on the pharmacist’s label. Check the label carefully.
It is important to take the liquid at the right times. If you are not sure, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Keep taking your medicine for as long as you have been told, unless you have any problems. In that case, check with your doctor.
Your doctor will usually start Tegretol at a fairly low dose which can then be increased to suit you individually. The dose needed varies between patients. You can take Tegretol Liquid during, after or between meals. Shake the bottle before you measure out your dose. You are usually told to take a dose two or three times a day.
To treat epilepsy the usual doses are:
Adults: 800-1,200 mg a day, although higher doses may be necessary. If you are elderly you might require a lower dose.
Children aged up to and over 1 year: Usually 10-20 mg/kg body weight daily in several divided doses. Your doctor will tell you how much liquid the child should take.
To treat trigeminal neuralgia the usual dose is: 600-800 mg a day. Once the pain is controlled your doctor will probably reduce the dose.
To treat mood swings the usual dose is: 400-600 mg a day
What if you forget to take a dose?
If you forget to take a dose, take one as soon as you remember. If it is nearly time for your next dose, though, just take the next dose and forget about the one you missed.
What if you take too much liquid?
If you accidentally take too much Tegretol Liquid, tell your doctor or your nearest hospital casualty department. Take your medicine pack with you so that people can see what you have taken.
Tegretol Liquid Side Effects
Tegretol Liquid does not usually cause problems, but like all medicines, it can sometimes cause side effects.
Some side effects can be serious
Stop taking Tegretol Liquid and tell your doctor straight away if you notice:
- Serious skin reactions such as rash, red skin, blistering of the lips, eyes or mouth, or skin peeling accompanied by fever. These reactions may be more frequent in patients of Chinese or Thai origin
- Mouth ulcers or unexplained bruising or bleeding
- Sore throat or high temperature, or both
- Yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes
- Swollen ankles, feet or lower legs
- Any signs of nervous illness or confusion
- Pain in your joints and muscles, a rash across the bridge of the nose and cheeks and problems with breathing (these may be the signs of a rare reaction known as lupus erythematosus)
- Fever, skin rash, joint pain, and abnormalities in blood and liver function tests (these may be the signs of a multi-organ sensitivity disorder)
- Bronchospasm with wheezing and coughing, difficulty in breathing, feeling faint, rash, itching or facial swelling (these may be the signs of a severe allergic reaction)
- Pain in the area near the stomach.
The side effects listed below have also been reported.
More than 1 in 10 people have experienced:
Leucopenia (a reduced number of the cells which fight infection making it easier to catch infections); dizziness and tiredness; feeling unsteady or finding it difficult to control movements; feeling or being sick; changes in liver enzyme levels (usually without any symptoms); skin reactions which may be severe.
Up to 1 in 10 people have experienced:
Changes in the blood including an increased tendency to bruise or bleed; fluid retention and swelling; weight increase; low sodium in the blood which might result in confusion; headache; double or blurred vision; dry mouth.
Up to 1 in 100 people have reported:
Abnormal involuntary movements including tremor or tics; abnormal eye movements; diarrhoea; constipation.
Up to 1 in 1,000 people have reported:
Disease of the lymph glands; folic acid deficiency; a generalised allergic reaction including rash, joint pain, fever, problems with the kidneys and other organs; hallucinations; depression; loss of appetite; restlessness; aggression; agitation; confusion; speech disorders; numbness or tingling in the hands and feet; muscle weakness; high blood pressure (which may make you feel dizzy, with a flushed face, headache, fatigue and nervousness); low blood pressure (the symptoms of which are feeling faint, light headed, dizzy, confused, having blurred vision); changes to heart beat; stomach pain; liver problems including jaundice; symptoms of lupus.
Up to 1 in 10,000 people have reported:
Changes to the composition of the blood including anaemia; porphyria; meningitis; swelling of the breasts and discharge of milk which may occur in both male and females; abnormal thyroid function tests; osteomalacia (which may be noticed as pain on walking and bowing of the long bones in the legs); osteoporosis; increased blood fat levels; taste disturbances; conjunctivitis; glaucoma; cataracts; hearing disorders; heart and circulatory problems including deep vein thrombosis (DVT), the symptoms of which could include tenderness, pain, swelling, warmth, skin discoloration and prominent superficial veins; lung or breathing problems; severe skin reactions including Stevens- Johnson syndrome (These reactions may be more frequent in patients of Chinese or Thai origin); sore mouth or tongue; liver failure; increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight; alterations in skin pigmentation; acne; excessive sweating; hair loss; increased hair growth on the body and face; muscle pain or spasm; sexual difficulties which may include reduced male fertility, loss of libido or impotence; kidney failure; blood spots in the urine; increased or decreased desire to pass urine or difficulty in passing urine.
Do not be alarmed by this list. Most people take Tegretol Liquid without any problems.
If any of the symptoms become troublesome, or if you notice anything else not mentioned here, please go and see your doctor. He/she may want to give you a different medicine.
How to store Tegretol Liquid
Do not store above 30°C. Keep the bottle tightly closed between doses. Keep the bottle in the outer carton in order to protect from light.
Keep out of the reach and sight of children.
Do not take Tegretol Liquid after the expiry date which is printed on the outside of the pack.
If your doctor tells you to stop taking the medicine, please take any left over back to your pharmacist to be destroyed. Do not throw it away with your normal household water or waste. This will help to protect the environment.
Further information
Tegretol Liquid contains 100 mg of the active ingredient, carbamazepine, in each 5 ml. The liquid also contains the inactive ingredients Cremophor S9, Avicel RC581, sorbitol solution, saccharin sodium, Natrosol 250g, methyl and propyl hydroxybenzoate, sorbic acid, propylene glycol, caramel flavour (E150) and purified water.
The bottle contains 300 ml of liquid.
The Product licence holder is
Surrey
The liquid is made by
This leaflet was revised in November 2009.
If you would like any more information, or would like the leaflet in a different format, please contact Medical Information at Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK Ltd, telephone number 01276 698370.
TEGRETOL is a registered trade mark
Copyright Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK Limited
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