RE: New Med -

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Is this the drug he's taking?

Tegretol (carbamazepine)

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What are the Uses?: Carbamazepine, or Tegretol, is used to treat:

Epilepsy

Bipolar (not a FDA-approved use but generally accepted)

Schizoaffective disorders (not a FDA-approved use but generally accepted)

Cocaine withdrawal (not a FDA-approved use but generally accepted)

This medication works by reducing impulses at certain nerve terminals and

also reducing the " excitability " of nerve fibers in the brain. Thus, the

reduction of pain, decreased occurrence of seizures, and the improvement in

emotional disorders, such as bipolar disorder, occurs.

When Will My Medication Start to Work?: This medication should begin to work

within a couple of hours but should be taken for at least three months to

see if it decrease the frequency and severity of epileptic seizures.

Any Other Important Information?: If you are pregnant, plan to become

pregnant, or breastfeeding, discuss the potential risks of this or any

medication with your doctor.

Tegretol is also prescribed by some doctors as a mood stabilizer to treat

alcohol withdrawal, cocaine addiction, and emotional problems, such as mania

or aggression. Tegretol can be used alone or with an antipsychotic drug for

the treatment of manic episodes.

Do NOT stop taking this medication abruptly if taken for seizures. Use

caution when performing heavy exercise. This medication can intensify angina

(a sense of suffocation or suffocating pain) and reduce tolerance for

physical activity.

What are the Side Effects?: Remember that only some people will experience

side effects--and that no one experiences side effects in exactly the same

way. If you experience any side effects, contact your doctor or clinician

right away and continue taking your medication. The following list may not

contain all of the side effects associated with this medication:

Most common side effects dry mouth and throat, constipation, impaired

urination, decreased sense of taste, dizziness, drowsiness, unsteadiness,

loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, indigestion, diarrhea

Occasional side effects lowering of white blood cells, fatigue, blurred

vision, confusion, male infertility, photosensitivity

Risks agranulocytosis (a severe and potentially fatal acute deficiency of

certain blood cells), aplastic anemia, liver irritation, vitamin D

deficiency, low thyroid hormones

Are there any Drug Interactions?: Remember, always follow your physician's

recommendations on how to take your medication. Even if you are taking one

of the following substances, continue taking your medication as prescribed

and consult your physician. Also, if you are taking any herbal remedies,

vitamins, and/or over-the-counter medications, be sure to tell your

physician. The following section offers some, but not necessarily all, of

the possible drug interactions.

Do NOT take MAO Inhibitors with Tegretol due to the serious, even fatal

interactions that may occur.

Seldane(terfenadine), Prozac(fluoxetine), Luvox(fluvoxamine), and rifampin

may cause drug toxicity. Tegretol(carbamazepine) may increase the effects of

tranquilizers, hypnotics, and narcotics. Tegretol may decrease the effects

of adrenocortical steroids, antidepressants, birth control pills,

Sandimmune(cyclosporine), Doxy-II and Vibramycin(doxycycline),

Plendil(felodipine), Haldol(haloperidol), DynaCirc(isradipine),

Sporanox(itraconazole), tetracyclines, Depakene(valproic acid), and

Coumadin(warfarin). Clozaril(clozapine) may result in serious bone marrow

suppression when taken with Tegretol(carbamazepine).

Felbatol(felbamate) may decrease Tegretol(carbamazepine) levels. Lithium may

cause neurological problems such as confusion, tremors, and weakness.

Dilanin(phenytoin) may impair seizure control due to fluctuation of blood

levels. Theo-Dur(theophylline) may decrease the effects of both medications.

Tagamet(cimetidine), Danocrine(danazol), Cardizem(diltiazem), flu shots,

INH(isoniazid), erythromycin and other macrolide antibiotics, nicotinamide,

Darvon(propoxyphene), Norvir(ritonavir), and Calan/Isoptin(verapamil) may

increase the effects of Tegretol(carbamazepine). Phenobarbital and Biaxin

(clarithromycin) may increase its toxicity.

Avoid alcohol unless you doctor advises otherwise.

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References:

Arky, R. M.D. (1998). Physicians' Desk Reference. Montvale, NJ: Medical

Economics Data Production Company.

Cahill, M. ed. (1997). Nursing 97 Drug Handbook.Springhouse, PA: Springhouse

Corporation.

Rybacki, J. & Long, J. (1998). The Essential Guide to Prescription Drugs.

New York, NY: HarperPerennial.

Sifton, D. W. (1997). The PDR Pocket Guide to Prescription Drugs. New York,

NY: Simon & Schuster

New Med

Hi all,

Warren's Dr. has put him on Tegerol to try and calm him down. It has done

that and I'm afraid more. Warren didn't even miss me last week when I was

in bed with pneumonia and wasn't up to visiting. Yesterday when I went in

he said " Hi " and then drifted off (not asleep) but not with me either. I

fed him his lunch, and it was like feeding a baby. He immediately went to

sleep after we finished. During the time I was feeding him, he was reaching

out and taking " something " in his hand and bringing it back to lay over the

arm of his wheelchair. I've got a call in to the Dr. to see what he thinks.

Warren had been trying to get out, walking everywhere in his new chair and

very glad to see me when I arrived. Now it is nothing.

The Dr has told me that his dementia was really taking over and he wanted to

try this Tegerol (sp?) to see if it would help him. He told me it would not

make him sleepy allthe time.

If any one has used this Tegerol, please let me know your experiences with

it. Right now Warren isn't living, he's existing.

S

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[Guest guest]

Pam,

Thank you so much for the information. I finally found it in my " Pill " book

but it didn't go into detail like your letter. Thanks again,

S

New Med

>

>

> Hi all,

> Warren's Dr. has put him on Tegerol to try and calm him down. It has

done

> that and I'm afraid more. Warren didn't even miss me last week when I was

> in bed with pneumonia and wasn't up to visiting. Yesterday when I went in

> he said " Hi " and then drifted off (not asleep) but not with me either. I

> fed him his lunch, and it was like feeding a baby. He immediately went to

> sleep after we finished. During the time I was feeding him, he was

reaching

> out and taking " something " in his hand and bringing it back to lay over

the

> arm of his wheelchair. I've got a call in to the Dr. to see what he

thinks.

> Warren had been trying to get out, walking everywhere in his new chair and

> very glad to see me when I arrived. Now it is nothing.

>

> The Dr has told me that his dementia was really taking over and he wanted

to

> try this Tegerol (sp?) to see if it would help him. He told me it would

not

> make him sleepy allthe time.

>

> If any one has used this Tegerol, please let me know your experiences with

> it. Right now Warren isn't living, he's existing.

>

> S

>

>

>

>

> If you do not wish to belong to shydrager, you may

> unsubscribe by sending a blank email to

>

> shydrager-unsubscribe

>

>

>

>

>