Carbamazepine

Seizure disorders affect the brain’s ability to transmit electrical impulses and to regulate nerve activity. During a seizure, a patient may experience changes in consciousness, alterations in sight, smell, and taste, and may experience convulsions. Seizures are associated with acute conditions, such as high fevers and head trauma, and with chronic conditions such as metabolic disorders and brain tumors. In many cases, the cause is not known. The frequency of seizures varies from a single episode, to occasional seizures, to recurrent seizures. Seizures are categorized by the parts of the brain and body that are affected. Carbamazepine is prescribed to help prevent specific types of recurrent seizures.

Bipolar disorder is a mental condition that is characterized by cycles of depression and mania that may last for days, weeks, months, or years. During a depressive episode, those affected may feel sad, hopeless, worthless, and have thoughts of suicide. During a manic episode, those affected may be euphoric, irritable, use poor judgment, and participate in risky behaviors. Carbamazepine is prescribed to help even out the moods of the person with bipolar disorder, especially mania.

Trigeminal neuralgia, a condition associated with facial nerve pain and muscle spasms, and paroxysmal choreoathetosis are also sometimes treated with carbamazepine.

Carbamazepine levels are monitored because the drug must be maintained within a narrow therapeutic range. If levels are too low, the patient may experience a recurrence of symptoms (i.e., seizures, mania, or pain); too high of a level and the patient may experience increased toxic side effects. This balance can be a challenge to achieve for several different reasons:

Dosages of carbamazepine must be adjusted carefully until a steady concentration in the blood is reached. The actual amount of drug that it takes to reach this steady state will vary from person to person and may change over time.