What is Epitol?

Epitol is an anticonvulsant. It works by decreasing nerve impulses that cause seizures and pain.

Epitol is used to treat seizures and nerve pain such as trigeminal neuralgia and diabetic neuropathy. This medicine is also used to treat bipolar disorder.

Epitol may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Important Information

You should not take Epitol if you have a history of bone marrow suppression, or if you are allergic to this medicine or to certain antidepressant medications.

Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using. Many drugs can interact, and some drugs should not be used together.

Epitol may cause serious blood problems or a life-threatening skin rash or allergic reaction. Call your doctor if you have a fever, unusual weakness, bleeding, bruising, or a skin rash that causes blistering and peeling.

Some people have thoughts about suicide while taking seizure medicine. Stay alert to changes in your mood or symptoms. Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor.

Do not stop taking Epitol without asking your doctor first, even if you feel fine.

Before taking this medicine

You should not take Epitol if you have a history of bone marrow suppression, or if you are allergic to this medicine or to an antidepressant such as amitriptyline, desipramine, doxepin, imipramine, or nortriptyline.

Do not use Epitol if you have taken an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include furazolidone, isocarboxazid, linezolid, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, and tranylcypromine.

Epitol may cause severe or life-threatening skin rash, and especially in people of Asian ancestry. Your doctor may recommend a blood test before you start the medication to determine your risk.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• heart problems;

• liver or kidney disease;

• glaucoma;

• porphyria;

• depression, mood disorder; or

• suicidal thoughts or actions.

You may have thoughts about suicide while taking Epitol. Your doctor should check your progress at regular visits. Your family or other caregivers should also be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms.

Follow your doctor's instructions about taking seizure medication if you are pregnant. Do not start or stop taking Epitol without your doctor's advice, and tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant. Epitol may harm an unborn baby, but having a seizure during pregnancy could harm both mother and baby. The benefit of preventing seizures may outweigh any risks to the baby.

If you are pregnant, your name may be listed on a pregnancy registry to track the effects of carbamazepine on the baby.

Epitol can make birth control pills or implants less effective. Use a barrier form of birth control (such as a condom or diaphragm with spermicide) to prevent pregnancy.

You should not breast-feed while you are using Epitol.

How should I take Epitol?

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Take with food.

Swallow the extended-release tablet or capsule whole and do not crush, chew, or break it. Tell your doctor if you cannot swallow a pill whole.

The chewable tablet must be chewed before you swallow it.

Shake the oral suspension (liquid) before you measure a dose. Use the dosing syringe provided, or use a medicine dose-measuring device (not a kitchen spoon).

It may take up to 4 weeks before your symptoms improve. Keep using the medication as directed and call your doctor promptly if this medicine seems to stop working as well in preventing your seizures.

You will need frequent medical tests.

Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.

Do not stop using Epitol suddenly, even if you feel fine. Stopping suddenly may cause increased seizures. Follow your doctor's instructions about tapering your dose.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Overdose symptoms may include severe drowsiness, weak or shallow breathing, and loss of consciousness.

What should I avoid while taking Epitol?

Drinking alcohol with Epitol can cause side effects.

Grapefruit may interact with Epitol and lead to unwanted side effects. Avoid the use of grapefruit products.

Avoid driving or hazardous activity until you know how this medicine will affect you. Your reactions could be impaired.

Drinking alcohol can increase some of the side effects of carbamazepine, and can also increase your risk of seizures.

Epitol could make you sunburn more easily. Avoid sunlight or tanning beds. Wear protective clothing and use sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) when you are outdoors.

Epitol side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction (hives, difficult breathing, swelling in your face or throat) or a severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning in your eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash that spreads and causes blistering and peeling).

Seek medical treatment if you have a serious drug reaction that can affect many parts of your body. Symptoms may include: skin rash, fever, swollen glands, flu-like symptoms, muscle aches, severe weakness, unusual bruising, or yellowing of your skin or eyes. Symptoms may occur several weeks after you start using Epitol.

Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor, such as: sudden mood or behavior changes, depression, anxiety, insomnia, or if you feel agitated, hostile, restless, irritable, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

• a skin rash, no matter how mild;

• loss of appetite, right-sided upper stomach pain, dark urine;

• slow, fast, or pounding heartbeats;

• anemia or other blood problems--fever, chills, sore throat, mouth sores, bleeding gums, nosebleeds, pale skin, easy bruising, unusual tiredness, feeling light-headed or short of breath; or

• low levels of sodium in the body--headache, confusion, severe weakness, feeling unsteady, increased seizures.

Common side effects may include:

• dizziness, loss of coordination, problems with walking;

• nausea, vomiting; or

• drowsiness.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect Epitol?

Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medications at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you take, which may increase side effects or make the medications less effective.

Using Epitol with other drugs that make you drowsy can worsen this effect. Ask your doctor before using opioid medication, a sleeping pill, a muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety, depression, or seizures.

Many drugs can interact with Epitol, and some drugs should not be used together. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

Further information

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.