"Carbamazepine" (Finlepsin) refers to antiepileptic drugs. It is used for the treatment and prevention of epileptic seizures. The medicine "Carbamazepine" has a strong anticonvulsant effect and contributes to the normalization of the mental state of patients (especially with epilepsy). The drug is made in tablets for oral administration and pharmacies are released exclusively by prescription.
The medicine can be used for:
- Large, local, mixed epileptic seizures;
- trigeminal neuralgia ;
- Psychoses;
- diabetes insipidus;
- Alcohol withdrawal ;
- Pain in case of nerve damage in diabetes.
Before you start taking the drug "Carbamazepine", it is imperative to notify the attending physician about this.
The drug "Carbamazepine" can be taken starting in childhood. But, as a rule, the dosage of the drug is selected individually, taking into account the age of the patient and the severity of the disease. Carbamazepine tablets are taken during meals or after meals, they should be washed down immediately with a small amount of water.
When starting treatment with this drug, it is first taken in small doses, gradually increasing them. By the end of treatment, the dose is again gradually reduced. During what period it is necessary to carry out the treatment, the doctor must determine depending on the severity of the disease.
When prescribing the drug "Carbamazepine", instructions for its use should be carefully observed, since side effects may appear. They most often appear in the first week of treatment. The most common form of a side effect can be the appearance of nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite, dizziness, headache, impaired coordination of movements, confusion, drowsiness, pain in joints and muscles, seizures, and an increase in blood sugar.
Less commonly manifested in the form of urticaria, skin itching, Quincke's edema, leukopenia, agranulocytosis, thrombocytopenia.
In the event of these negative manifestations, you should consult a doctor.
"Carbamazepine" instruction for use does not recommend taking during pregnancy and during the period of breastfeeding.
During the use of the drug, the instructions for use require strict adherence to special instructions:
So, it is recommended to regularly do blood tests.
If epilepsy is treated and a transition to another drug is planned, then this transition should be carried out gradually.
The drug "Carbamazepine" adversely affects the ability to drive a car and control various mechanisms. Therefore, treatment with the drug should occur while abstaining from various activities, which require an increased concentration of attention.
Prior to treatment with the carbamazepine preparation, the instructions for use require that MAO inhibitors be excluded in advance in the treatment of the patient.
There are cases of drug overdose in practice. If the patient begins to notice drowsiness, confusion , impaired coordination of movement, convulsions, impaired speech, impaired heart rate, the appearance of fainting, nausea, vomiting, constipation, an overdose is possible.
In such cases, an overdose of the drug "Carbamazepine" instructions for use recommends that the patient immediately rinse the stomach and take activated charcoal. In the case when these measures do not improve the patient's condition, it is necessary to call a doctor. Treatment with "Carbamazepine" is not compatible with the use of drinks that contain alcohol, and it is also not recommended to take any drugs.