Tegretol (TEG-reh-tall) is a brand name used in the United States, Canada, the UK, and some other countries for the anticonvulsant carbamazepine (CAR-buh-MAZ-uh-peen). Names used in other countries include Tegrital, Carbagen SR, Mazepine, Teril, and Timonil.

Forms of Tegretol
Tegretol is manufactured in many countries by Novartis. The name or appearance may in other places. These descriptions apply to the U.S. versions:

Tablets

200-mg (capsule-shaped, pink) One side says "Tegretol" and the other side says "27" on each half. These are not chewable and should be swallowed whole.

Chewable tablets

100-mg (round, white with red speckles) One side says "Tegretol" and the other side says "52" on each half. These tablets are flavored and can be either swallowed whole or chewed.

Suspension

100 mg per 5 mL (yellow-orange, citrus-vanilla flavored liquid).

How to take and store Tegretol
Most doctors recommend taking Tegretol with food to avoid an upset stomach.

Remind patients using the suspension to shake the bottle just before measuring. Advise them not to mix Tegretol suspension with any other liquid or take it at the same time as another liquid medication. (A precipitate may be produced when Tegretol suspension is mixed with some other liquids.)

Store all types of Tegretol at controlled room temperature (below 86°F, 30°C). Protect the suspension from light.

Missed Doses
Missed doses of Tegretol are common because most people need to take it three or four times per day. Advise patients to take a forgotten dose immediately unless it is almost time for the next dose. In that case, they should either skip the forgotten dose (rather than taking a double dose) or make it up with the next 2 or 3 doses.

Patients who often forget doses may benefit from using a special pillbox or watch with an alarm. Switching to a twice-a-day extended-release form (in the U.S., Tegretol-XR or Carbatrol) may also be helpful.