Carbamazepine
Brand: Tegretol (US/EU) / Zeptol (IN) / Carbolith (BD)
Anticonvulsant
Sodium channel blocker
Pharmacokinetics
| Half-life | 15 hours |
| Tmax | 6 h |
| Bioavailability | 80 % (approx) |
| Protein Binding | 75 % |
| Volume of Distribution | 0.8 L/kg (approx) |
| Clearance Route | hepatic |
| Active Metabolites | yes |
| Notes | Autoinduction: half-life shortens after chronic use. Strong CYP3A4 inducer. |
⚠️ Safety & Warnings
Severity: Severe
Adverse Effects:
Sedation, ataxia, dizziness, hyponatremia (SIADH), bone marrow suppression, rash
Contraindications:
Bone marrow depression, MAJOR hepatic impairment, pregnancy caution
Precautions:
Check Na+, CBC, LFTs; HLA-B*1502 in Asians to avoid Stevens-Johnson syndrome