Atretol: Drug Information

Generic Name: Carbamazepine

Brand names: Carbatrol, Tegerol, Atretol, Epitol, Depitol, Carbadac, Carmaz, Cizetol, Mazetol, Mezapin, Salicarb, Swiztol, Tegretol, Zepcar, Antilep, Epinil, Epix, Versizur, Zen

Drug Class: Anticonvulsant

Uses of Atretol:

Atretol is an anticonvulsant medicine that is widely used to treat seizures and epilepsy. In addition to this, the drug is also used to treat alcohol withdrawal, facial nerve pain, restless leg syndrome, diabetic neuropathies, mania, trigeminal neuralgia and chorea.

How to take Atretol?

You must take the drug strictly as prescribed by your doctor based on the diagnosis. Atretol is available in the form of regular tablets, chewable tablets and as a liquid. If taking in tablet form, you must swallow the medicine as whole with water. It is best to take Atretol with food as it reduces the chances of indigestion. You must not stop taking the medicine abruptly without medical control as it might result in intensifying the seizures.

Safety Warning and Precautions:

Atretol should not be given to individuals suffering from hypersensitivity, AV conduction abnormalities and porphyria.

You must notify your doctor if you are allergic to any medicines or food before taking this medicine.

Also, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or lactating. It has been found that Atretol can pass into breast milk and may have unwanted effects on the baby.

Patients with cardiovascular disease, hepatic or kidney disease, brain tumors, thyroid disorder, hypertension etc. should tell their doctor about their medical history before taking this medicine.

Special caution is recommended if the medicine is being taken by the elderly.

Atretol should not be given to patients taking mono amine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) or oral anticoagulants.

It should also not be co-administered with carbamazepine or substituted for other antiepileptic drugs.

Side effects of Atretol:

Some of the most common side effects of Atretol include oliguria, skin rashes, leucopenia, haematuria and renal failure. The rare side effects include water intoxication and hyponataemia when taken in high doses combined with phenytoin. Certain fatal side effects include aplastic anemia, fatal hepatitis, severe exfoliative dermatitis and Steven Johnson syndrome.