Carbatrol (CAR-bah-trohl) is a brand name used in the United States for one form of the seizure medicine called carbamazepine (CAR-buh-MAZ-uh-peen). Carbamazepine is also available in the United States and many other countries using the well-known brand name Tegretol and as a generic (non–brand name) product. In some other countries, different brand names may be used.

Carbatrol is an "extended-release" form of carbamazepine, which means that the medicine is released into the body slowly instead of all at once. Pills are taken twice a day. Most people need to take pills of regular carbamazepine three or four times a day.

Tegretol-XR is another extended-release form of carbamazepine sold in the United States. It works in a different way from Carbatrol. Different extended-release forms of carbamazepine may be available in other countries. In the UK, for instance, Tegretol Retard is often used. It uses a different method than either Carbatrol or Tegretol-XR to deliver the medicine to the body.

Forms
Carbatrol is manufactured in the United States by Shire US Inc. These descriptions apply to the product available in the U.S.:

Carbatrol comes in capsule form, in three sizes:

100 milligrams (photo not available)
Bluish-green two-piece capsule, printed with company logo in white ink.

	200 milligrams A two-piece capsule with a light gray body and bluish green cap.
	300 milligrams A two-piece capsule with a black body and bluish green cap.

Each Carbatrol capsule contains tiny beads of medication. These have three different types of coatings so that they dissolve at different times:

• 25% of the beads dissolve and release their medication almost immediately
• 40% dissolve gradually over 8 to 12 hours
• 35% dissolve only after the medication reaches the small intestine, where it is released slowly

How to take and store Carbatrol
Follow your doctor's directions. Call if you have any questions.

Carbatrol does not need to be taken with meals unless it upsets your stomach. The capsule must not be crushed or chewed. You can open it, however, without affecting its extended-release qualities. Then you can sprinkle the contents over a teaspoonful of applesauce, pudding, ice cream, oatmeal, yogurt, or other similar food. This food should be swallowed right away without chewing. Drinking a glass of water or another liquid may help with swallowing. This procedure is an easy way for small children or seniors who have trouble swallowing pills to take Carbatrol.

If the doctor changes the amount of Carbatrol that you take, you may be given a different kind of capsule than the ones you've been taking. For example, you may start out using 200-mg capsules and then switch to 300-mg capsules. If this happens, be careful to use the correct number. Don't automatically continue to use the same number of capsules as before.

Don't drink grapefruit juice, because it can interfere with the body's use of the medication.

Store Carbatrol capsules at room temperature (below 77°F) and protect them from light and moisture.

What if I forget?
A forgotten dose should be taken right away, unless it is almost time for the next one. In that case, just use one dose, not a double dose, and call the doctor's office for more advice.

Do your best to follow the doctor's directions. If you forget doses often, it may be a good idea to get a special pillbox or watch with an alarm to remind you.

Taking the right amount of seizure medicine on time every single day is the most important step in preventing seizures!