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Medication Guide — Tegretol

Patient-friendly FDA guidance and safety information.

Last updated · May 20, 2026Source: DailyMed ↗
Boxed 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 TEGRETOL. 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 TEGRETOL. PATIENTS TESTING POSITIVE FOR THE ALLELE SHOULD NOT BE TREATED WITH TEGRETOL 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 TEGRETOL. DATA FROM A POPULATION-BASED CASE CONTROL STUDY DEMONSTRATE THAT THE RISK OF DEVELOPING THESE REACTIONS IS 5 TO 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 TEGRETOL, 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 TEGRETOL 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.

Poison Help

If you suspect an overdose or accidental ingestion, call Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222 (free, 24/7, U.S.). For life-threatening symptoms, call 911.

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MEDICATION GUIDE

This Medication Guide has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

TEGRETOL® and TEGRETOL®-XR (Teg-ret-ol)
(carbamazepine)
Tablets, Suspension, Extended-Release Tablets

Read this Medication Guide before you start taking TEGRETOL or TEGRETOL–XR (TEGRETOL) and each time you get a refill. There may be new information. This information does not take the place of talking to your healthcare provider about your medical condition or treatment.

What is the most important information I should know about TEGRETOL?

Do not stop taking TEGRETOL without first talking to your healthcare provider.

Stopping TEGRETOL suddenly can cause serious problems.

TEGRETOL can cause serious side effects, including:

  1. TEGRETOL may cause rare but serious skin rashes that may lead to death. These serious skin reactions are more likely to happen when you begin taking TEGRETOL within the first four months of treatment but may occur at later times. These reactions can happen in anyone, but are more likely in people of Asian descent. If you are of Asian descent, you may need a genetic blood test before you take TEGRETOL to see if you are at a higher risk for serious skin reactions with this medicine. Symptoms may include:
    • skin rash
    • hives
    • sores in your mouth
    • blistering or peeling of the skin
  2. TEGRETOL may cause rare but serious blood problems. Symptoms may include:
    • fever, sore throat, or other infections that come and go or do not go away
    • easy bruising
    • red or purple spots on your body
    • bleeding gums or nose bleeds
    • severe fatigue or weakness
  3. TEGRETOL may cause allergic reactions or serious problems, which may affect organs and other parts of your body like the liver or blood cells. You may or may not have a rash with these types of reactions.
    Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following:
    • swelling of your face, eyes, lips, or tongue
    • a skin rash
    • painful sores in the mouth or around your eyes
    • unusual bruising or bleeding
    • frequent infections or infections that do not go away
    • fever, swollen glands, or sore throat that do not go away or come and go
    • trouble swallowing or breathing
    • hives
    • yellowing of your skin or eyes
    • severe fatigue or weakness
    • severe muscle pain
  4. Tegretol suspension contains 25 mg propylene glycol in each mL. Your healthcare provider will monitor you for side effects of propylene glycol, especially if you are younger than 5 years of age (particularly babies less than 4 weeks old), you have liver or kidney problems, or you are taking other drugs that have propylene glycol or that are broken down by the same enzyme.
  5. Like other antiepileptic drugs, TEGRETOL may cause suicidal thoughts or actions in a very small number of people, about 1 in 500.
    Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms, especially if they are new, worse, or worry you:
    • thoughts about suicide or dying
    • attempts to commit suicide
    • new or worse depression
    • new or worse anxiety
    • feeling agitated or restless
    • panic attacks
    • trouble sleeping (insomnia)
    • new or worse irritability
    • acting aggressive, being angry, or violent
    • acting on dangerous impulses
    • an extreme increase in activity and talking (mania)
    • other unusual changes in behavior or mood

How can I watch for early symptoms of suicidal thoughts and actions?

  • Pay attention to any changes, especially sudden changes, in mood, behaviors, thoughts, or feelings.
  • Keep all follow-up visits with your healthcare provider as scheduled.

      Call your healthcare provider between visits as needed, especially if you are worried about symptoms.

      Do not stop TEGRETOL without first talking to a healthcare provider.

      Stopping TEGRETOL suddenly can cause serious problems. You should talk to your healthcare provider before stopping.   

      Suicidal thoughts or actions can be caused by things other than medicines. If you have suicidal thoughts or actions, your healthcare provider may check for other causes.

What is TEGRETOL ?

TEGRETOL is a prescription medicine used to treat:

  • certain types of seizures (partial, tonic-clonic, mixed)
  • certain types of nerve pain (trigeminal and glossopharyngeal neuralgia)

TEGRETOL is not a regular pain medicine and should not be used for aches or pains.

Who should not take TEGRETOL?

Do not take TEGRETOL if you:

  • have a history of bone marrow depression.
  • are allergic to carbamazepine or any of the ingredients in TEGRETOL. See the end of this Medication Guide for a complete list of ingredients in TEGRETOL.
  • take nefazodone.
  • are allergic to medicines called tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs). Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for a list of these medicines if you are not sure.
  • have taken a medicine called a Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor (MAOI) in the last 14 days. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for a list of these medicines if you are not sure.

What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking TEGRETOL?

Before you take TEGRETOL, tell your healthcare provider if you:

  • have or have had suicidal thoughts or actions, depression, or mood problems
  • have or ever had heart problems
  • have or ever had blood problems
  • have or ever had liver problems
  • have or ever had kidney problems
  • have or ever had allergic reactions to medicines
  • have or ever had increased pressure in your eye
  • have any other medical conditions
  • drink grapefruit juice or eat grapefruit
  • use birth control. TEGRETOL may make your birth control less effective. Tell your healthcare provider if your menstrual bleeding changes while you take birth control and TEGRETOL.
  • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. TEGRETOL may harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant while taking TEGRETOL. You and your healthcare provider should decide if you should take TEGRETOL while you are pregnant.

    ▪ If you become pregnant while taking TEGRETOL, talk to your healthcare provider about registering with the North American Antiepileptic Drug (NAAED) Pregnancy Registry. The purpose of this registry is to collect information about the safety of antiepileptic medicine during pregnancy. You can enroll in this registry by calling 1-888-233-2334.
  • are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. TEGRETOL passes into breast milk. You and your healthcare provider should discuss whether you should take TEGRETOL or breastfeed; you should not do both.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Taking TEGRETOL with certain other medicines may cause side effects or affect how well they work. Do not start or stop other medicines without talking to your healthcare provider.

Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

How should I take TEGRETOL?

  • Do not stop taking TEGRETOL without first talking to your healthcare provider. Stopping TEGRETOL suddenly can cause serious problems. Stopping seizure medicine suddenly in a patient who has epilepsy may cause seizures that will not stop (status epilepticus).
  • Take TEGRETOL exactly as prescribed. Your healthcare provider will tell you how much TEGRETOL to take.
  • Your healthcare provider may change your dose. Do not change your dose of TEGRETOL without talking to your healthcare provider.
  • Take TEGRETOL with food.
  • TEGRETOL-XR Tablets:
    • Do not crush, chew, or break TEGRETOL-XR tablets.
    • Tell your healthcare provider if you cannot swallow TEGRETOL-XR whole.
  • TEGRETOL Suspension:
    • Shake the bottle well each time before use.
    • Do not take TEGRETOL suspension at the same time you take other liquid medicines.
  • If you take too much TEGRETOL, call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center right away.

What should I avoid while taking TEGRETOL?

  • Do not drink alcohol or take other drugs that make you sleepy or dizzy while taking TEGRETOL until you talk to your healthcare provider. TEGRETOL taken with alcohol or drugs that cause sleepiness or dizziness may make your sleepiness or dizziness worse.
  • Do not drive, operate heavy machinery, or do other dangerous activities until you know how TEGRETOL affects you. TEGRETOL may slow your thinking and motor skills.

What are the possible side effects of TEGRETOL?

See “What is the most important information I should know about TEGRETOL?”

TEGRETOL may cause other serious side effects. These include:

  • Irregular heartbeat - symptoms include:
    • Fast, slow, or pounding heartbeat
    • Shortness of breath
    • Feeling lightheaded
    • Fainting
  • Liver problems - symptoms include:
    • yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes
    • dark urine
    • pain on the right side of your stomach area (abdominal pain)
    • easy bruising
    • loss of appetite
    • nausea or vomiting

Get medical help right away if you have any of the symptoms listed above or listed in “What is the most important information I should know about TEGRETOL?”

The most common side effects of TEGRETOL include:

  • dizziness
  • drowsiness
  • problems with walking and coordination (unsteadiness)
  • nausea
  • vomiting

These are not all the possible side effects of TEGRETOL. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

How should I store TEGRETOL?

  • Store TEGRETOL Tablets at 20°C to 25°C (68°F to 77°F), excursions permitted between 15°C and 30°C (59°F and 86°F).
  • Store TEGRETOL-XR Tablets at 20°C to 25°C (68°F to 77°F); excursions permitted between 15°C and 30°C (59°F and 86°F).
  • Do not store TEGRETOL Suspension above 30°C (86°F).
    • Shake well before using.
    • Keep TEGRETOL Suspension in a tight, light-resistant container.

Keep TEGRETOL and all medicines out of the reach of children.

General Information about TEGRETOL.

Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Medication Guide. Do not use TEGRETOL for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give TEGRETOL to other people, even if they have the same symptoms that you have. It may harm them.

This Medication Guide summarizes the most important information about TEGRETOL. If you would like more information, talk with your healthcare provider. You can ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider for the full prescribing information about TEGRETOL that is written for health professionals.

For more information, go to www.novartis.us or call 1-888-669-6682.

What are the ingredients in TEGRETOL?

Active ingredient: carbamazepine 

Inactive ingredients:

  • TEGRETOL Tablets: colloidal silicon dioxide, FD&C Red No. 40, gelatin, glycerin, magnesium stearate, starch, and stearic acid.
  • TEGRETOL Suspension: citric acid, FD&C Yellow No. 6, flavoring, polymer, potassium sorbate, propylene glycol (25 mg/ mL), purified water, sorbitol, sucrose, and xanthan gum.
  • TEGRETOL-XR Tablets: cellulose compounds, dextrates, iron oxides, magnesium stearate, mannitol, polyethylene glycol, sodium lauryl sulfate, titanium dioxide (200 mg tablets only).

Distributed by:
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
East Hanover, New Jersey 07936

© Novartis

September 2025
T2025-65

Sources

RxCUI: 199378

NDC: 0078-0508

Last fetched: May 20, 2026

Source: DailyMed ↗

⚠️ Disclaimer

This information is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult your doctor, pharmacist, or other licensed healthcare professional before starting, stopping, or changing any medicine. Read full medical disclaimer.

Tegretol Medication Guide, Warnings & FDA Label | PillSeek