Frequently Asked Questions About Taking Equetro®
Do I have to eat when I take Equetro® (carbamazepine) Extended-Release Capsules?
No, Equetro® can be taken with or without meals.
How many times a day do I need to take Equetro®?
Equetro® is typically taken twice a day, or as determined by your healthcare provider.
What should I do if I miss a dose of Equetro®?
If you miss a dose of Equetro®, it is usually best to take it as soon as you remember, however check with your doctor.
Can Equetro® be taken with other medications?
Equetro® can react with other medications. When Equetro® is taken in combination with certain medications, including oral contraceptives, over-the-counter drugs, or herbal products, levels of Equetro® or the other medications can be affected. Be sure to tell your healthcare provider about any other medications you are taking, since he or she may want to adjust the dose of one or more of the medications.
What are the common side effects of Equetro®?
The most common side effects, especially when starting Equetro®, are dizziness, drowsiness, unsteadiness, nausea, and vomiting. In clinical trials, these side effects were usually mild to moderate. If you experience side effects while taking Equetro®, talk to your doctor. He or she may want to adjust your dose. Caution should be used when operating machinery or an automobile.
Are there serious side effects associated with carbamazepine?
Carbamazepine, the active ingredient in Equetro®, has been associated with rare but serious types of blood disorders. Your healthcare provider may order blood tests to check for those disorders. carbamazepine has also been associated with rare, but serious types of rash.
Contact your healthcare provider if you have any unexplained bruising, fever, or infection, or if a rash develops.
Carbamazepine products have been associated with a rare, but serious dermatologic disorder. Although it occurs only rarely, people of Asian descent have a 10 times greater risk of experiencing this disorder than Caucasians and should consult their healthcare provider for more information.
Will I gain a lot of weight while taking Equetro®?
No. Most people who took Equetro® in clinical trials did not gain weight. In clinical trials lasting 3 weeks, people taking Equetro® gained an average of 2.3 lb, while people in the same clinical trials who took sugar pills instead of Equetro® gained an average of 0.1 lb. And, in a 6-month long-term study, patients taking Equetro® averaged a loss of nearly 1 lb.
Who should not take Equetro®?
People who are currently taking another medication that contains carbamazepine should not begin taking Equetro® without discussing it with their healthcare provider. People with a history of bone marrow problems, or who are allergic to carbamazepine, or who are sensitive to tricyclic antidepressants should not take Equetro®. If you are currently taking or have recently taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, you should inform your physician, and it is important to inform your doctor about any other medications you are taking before initiating your Equetro® treatment.
Are there special considerations for women?
You should not take Equetro® if you are pregnant, nursing, or may become pregnant. Equetro® may reduce the effectiveness of birth control pills. Before taking Equetro®, be sure to discuss any questions about pregnancy, nursing, or birth control with your healthcare provider.
What do Equetro® extended release capsules like like?
Equetro® is available in 100mg, 200mg and 300mg extended release capsules.
Please click here to review the Equetro® references.
WARNING
Important Safety Information about Equetro® (carbamazepine) Extended-Release Capsules
Warning Serious Dermatologic Reactions and HLA-B*1502 Allele
Serious and sometimes fatal dermatologic reactions, including toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) and Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), have been reported during treatment with carbamazepine. These reactions are estimated to occur in 1 to 6 per 10,000 new users in countries with mainly caucasian populations, but the risk in some Asian countries is estimated to be about 10 times higher. Studies in patients of Chinese ancestry have found a strong association between the risk of developing SJS/TEN and the presence of HLA-B*1502, an inherited allelic variant of the HLA-B gene. HLA-B*1502 is found almost exclusively in patients with ancestry across broad areas of Asia. Patients with ancestry in genetically at-risk populations should be screened for the presence of HLA-B*1502 prior to initiating treatment with Equetro® (carbamazepine) Extended-Release Capsules. Patients testing positive for the allele should not be treated with Equetro® (carbamazepine) Extended-Release Capsules unless the benefit clearly outweighs the risk (see warnings and precautions, laboratory tests).
Aplastic Anemia and Agranulocytosis
Aplastic Anemia and Agranulocytosis have been reported in association with the use of carbamazepine. Data from a population based case-control study demonstrate that the risk of developing these reactions is 5–8 times greater than in the general population. However, the overall risk of these reactions in the untreated general population is low, approximately six patients per one million population per year for Agranulocytosis and two patients per one million population per year for Aplastic Anemia.
Although reports of transient or persistent decreased platelet or white blood cell counts are not uncommon in association with the use of carbamazepine, data are not available to estimate accurately their incidence or outcome. However, the vast majority of the cases of leukopenia have not progressed to the more serious conditions of Aplastic Anemia or Agranulocytosis.
Because of the very low incidence of Agranulocytosis and Aplastic Anemia, the vast majority of minor hematologic changes observed in monitoring of patients on carbamazepine are unlikely to signal the occurrence of either abnormality. Nonetheless, complete pretreatment hematological testing should be obtained as a baseline. If a patient in the course of treatment exhibits low or decreased white blood cell or platelet counts, the patient should be monitored closely. Discontinuation of the drug should be considered if any evidence of significant bone marrow depression develops.
Anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs), including Equetro®, may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior in patients taking these drugs for any indication. Patients treated with any AED for any indication should be monitored for the emergence of worsening of depression, suicidal thoughts or behavior, and/or any unusual changes in mood or behavior.
Please see FULL PRESCRIBING INFORMATION including contraindications, warnings and precautions, and boxed warning for additional safety information on Equetro® (carbamazepine) Extended-Release Capsules.
Please see Medication Guide for additional information.
