Carbamazepine Treatments for Bipolar Disorder

Carbamazepine, also marketed under the brand name Tegretol, is a mood stabilizer used to treat bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder is a mental illness characterized by mood swings from depression to dangerous overelation known as mania. Carbamazepine and other mood stabilizers regulate the chemicals of the brain to provide patients a more consistent and even state of mind.

How It Works

• Carbamazepine reduces the amount of electrical activity in the brain, which is why the drug can also be used to treat medical conditions such as epileptic seizures, according to MedlinePlus. Patients usually take the medication at least twice a day, often up to four times daily. Carbamazepine comes in regular pills, extended-release tablets or capsules, chewable tablets and liquid. The medication may take a few weeks to achieve its full effect.

Precautions

• Some people should not take carbamazepine for bipolar disorder, according to MedlinePlus. The pills can reduce the effectiveness of other medications such as birth control pills or patches. Other medications prescribed to bipolar patients such as Xanax or Prozac may interact with carbamazepine and require monitoring. Pregnant and breast-feeding women should not take the medication, as well as those who are taking or recently took a MAOI inhibitor.

Serious Side Effects

• Serious side effects that require prompt medical attention are possible for bipolar patients using carbamazepine, according to MedLine Plus. Suicidal thoughts or plans can occur among bipolar sufferers even when taking the medication properly. Other possible serious side effects include the following: confusion, loss of contact with reality, chest pain, yellow skin or eyes, and vision problems. Allergic reaction is also possible, especially among Asian patients.

Common Side Effects

• There are some side effects common among carbamazepine users, but these are not usually life-threatening, according to MedlinePlus. Common side effects include the following: nausea, vomiting, headache, drowsiness, dizziness and unsteadiness. Other possible side effects are as follows: anxiety, memory difficulties, diarrhea, constipation, heartburn, dry mouth and leg pain.

Cost

• As of August 2009, many dosages of carbamazepine in its generic form were sold at drugstores and grocery stores at about $4 per prescription. Most insurance companies cover all or part of the cost of the medication, though individual financial responsibility depends on the health-care plan. Patient assistance programs are available for low-income and uninsured patients. Those taking 100-mg extended-release carbamazepine chewable tablets for bipolar disorder could expect to pay about $23 for 180 pills, while brand-name Tegretol XR cost about $110 for 180 100-mg pills.