carbamazepine /kär′bəmaz″əpin/ , an anticonvulsant and specific analgesic for trigeminal neuralgia. ▪ INDICATIONS: Often a drug of choice for treating partial seizures, generalized tonic-clonic seizures, and other mixed seizures. It is prescribed in the treatment of trigeminal and glossopharyngeal neuralgia and has unlabeled uses for certain affective disorders (e.g., bipolar disorder). It is also used in the treatment of intermittent explosive disorders and rage. ▪ CONTRAINDICATIONS: Concomitant use of monoamine oxidase inhibitors, a history of bone marrow depression, pregnancy, or known hypersensitivity to this drug or to any of the tricyclic antidepressants prohibits its use. ▪ ADVERSE EFFECTS: Among the more serious adverse reactions are life-threatening blood dyscrasias, drowsiness, dizziness, ataxia, nausea, syndrome of inappropriate diuretic hormone, and dermatological and hypersensitivity reactions. Routine blood tests are recommended.
