These comments are made for the purpose of discussion and should NOT be used as recommendations for or against therapies or other treatments. An individual patient is always advised to consult their own physician.
Tegretol – Allergic Reaction
Question: My doctor prescribed medication for me to keep my moods in control. I have broken out in a red rash all over my entire face that resembles a sunburn. Could this be attributed to the medication, Tegretol? Could a lesser dosage help?
Answer: Tegretol (carbamazine) is a drug used in treating seizure disorders and trigeminal neuralgia. Because of it’s unusual ability to treat trigeminal neuralgia, it is often used in pain clinics for different chronic pain syndromes although the strict FDA guidelines are for treating only trigeminal neuralgia. This is common practice of most physicians to use known drugs in less than “strict” applications if they work. The unfortunate part of Tegretol is its side effects. It needs to be watched extremely closely with regular blood tests and close monitoring. The most serious effects are its effect on white blood cells, platelets, and liver function. Use with other drugs, particularly dilantin, coumadin, certain antibiotics, theophylline, cimetidine(Tagamet), and calcium channel blockers have been reported to drastically affect the serum levels. Severe dermatologic reactions such as Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and Lyell’s Syndrome can occur with this drug and have caused fatalities. Consequently, skin rashes are not taken lightly while on Tegretol. Also, the drug levels appear to have little to do with these dermatologic reactions. Unfortunately, there is no similar drug to try – it is in a class by itself.
Tegretol
Question: Tegretol & trauma induced Trigeminal Neuralgia
I’m interested in the treatment protocol and/or effects from above
treatment.
Answer: Trigeminal Neuralgia is pain along the distribution of the trigeminal nerve. This is usually to the front of the face. This disorder is initially treated medically with carbamezepine, but there are surgical options. A recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine showed great improvement with a surgical approach. This should be discussed with a neurosurgeon.
