Carbamazepine
(Tegretol®, Carbemazepine)
Available as tablets or capsules.
Tablets
Available as soluble tablets?
No
Available as a liquid?
Yes
Available as something for placing under your tongue?
No
Available as something for placing on your gum?
No
Available as granules?
No
Available as a patch for putting on your skin?
No
Available as an injection?
No
Available as nasal/oral spray?
No
Safe or appropriate to crush
Licensed alternative formulations available and therefore crushing is not recommended.
Additional information for Healthcare Professionals+
Generic name
Carbemazepine
Usual formulation brand names
Tegretol®
Is tablet/capsule specially coated?
Yes, M/R tablets
Modified release
Yes, some
Film coated
No
Enteric coated
No
Sugar coated
No
Soluble tablet strength
-
Sublingual/buccal formulation strength
-
Granule strength
-
Transdermal patch strength
-
Injection strength
-
Nasal/oral spray Strength
-
Available as a licensed liquid or special?
Licensed
Are specials or imports available?
N/A licensed formulation available
Liquid strengths
100mg/5mL
Is the liquid medicine sugar free?
Yes
Licensed for administration via enteral tube
No
Advice on administration via enteral tube
Use the suppositories as the first line choice if appropriate. Current resources suggest that it is likely to be safe to administer via enteral feeding tubes, however this is an unlicensed use of the medication. Clinicians should refer to specialist resources for advice on how to administer this medication via enteral feeding tubes.
Notes
Suppositories strength 125mg & 250mg. Where carbamazepine is being used for treatment of epilepsy monitor patients closely when changing formulations or brands as doses may not be equivalent. MHRA advises that patients are maintained on a specific manufacturer and changing manufacturer/formulation may result in a loss of seizure control. Carbamazepine is adsorbed onto PVC tubes but dilution of the suspension with an equal volume of water should produce negligible loss.