Tegretol CR 400mg Carbamazepine

Generic Name: Carbamazepine

Tegretol CR 400mg contains carbamazepine, an anticonvulsant medication primarily used to treat various neurological and psychiatric conditions. The 'CR' stands for controlled release, meaning the medication is released slowly over time, providing a more stable concentration in the body and potentially reducing the frequency of dosing. It works by stabilizing electrical activity in the brain, which helps to prevent seizures and manage nerve pain.

Indications & Uses

• Epilepsy: For the treatment of various types of seizures, including partial seizures with complex symptomatology, generalized tonic-clonic seizures, and mixed seizure patterns.
• Trigeminal Neuralgia: To relieve severe, sudden, shock-like facial pain associated with trigeminal neuralgia.
• Bipolar Disorder: As a mood stabilizer in the treatment of bipolar disorder, particularly for preventing manic episodes.

Dosage & Administration

• Usual Dosage: Dosage varies significantly based on the condition being treated, patient age, and individual response. It typically starts with a low dose and is gradually increased until an effective dose is reached. For epilepsy, adults might start with 100-200 mg once or twice daily, increasing gradually to a maintenance dose of 800-1200 mg daily in divided doses. For trigeminal neuralgia, initial doses are usually 100 mg twice daily, increasing as needed. For bipolar disorder, doses are individualized.
• Method of Administration: Tegretol CR tablets should be swallowed whole with a small amount of liquid, preferably during or after meals. Do not chew, crush, or break the controlled-release tablets, as this can affect the release mechanism and lead to an overdose.
• Monitoring: Regular blood tests are often required to monitor carbamazepine levels and check for potential side effects, especially during the initial treatment phase.