Carbamazepine for Epilepsy

Common side effects of carbamazepine include:

• Dizziness.
• Drowsiness.
• Headache.
• Double vision and blurry vision.
• Nausea.
• Decreased coordination.

Your doctor may prescribe smaller but more frequent doses of carbamazepine to help reduce its side effects. High doses of carbamazepine can affect a person's thinking and state of mind, but this can often be avoided.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning on antiepileptic medicines and the risk of suicide and suicidal thoughts. The FDA does not recommend that people stop using these medicines. Instead, people who take antiepileptic medicine should be watched closely for Reference warning signs of suicide. People who take antiepileptic medicine and who are worried about this side effect should talk to a doctor.

See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)

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