What is Equetro? Uses, warnings & side effects

How to take Equetro

• Take your medicine as directed. Your dose may need to be changed several times to find what works best for you. This medicine may be used alone or together with other seizure medicines.

• Chewable tablet: Oral routeIt is best to take this medicine with food or milk. Chew the tablet well before swallowing it.

• Extended-release capsule: Swallow the capsule whole. Do not break, crush, or chew it.You may open the capsule and pour the medicine into a small amount of soft food such as pudding, yogurt, or applesauce. Stir this mixture well and swallow it without chewing.

• Oral liquid: Oral routeIt is best to take this medicine with food or milk. Measure the oral liquid medicine with a marked measuring spoon, oral syringe, or medicine cup. Shake the bottle well just before each use.Do not take this medicine at the same time as other oral liquid medicines.

• Tablet: Oral routeIt is best to take this medicine with food or milk. Swallow the tablet whole. Do not crush, break, or chew it.Do not use an extended-release tablet that is cracked or chipped.

• This medicine should come with a Medication Guide. Ask your pharmacist for a copy if you do not have one.

• Missed dose: Take a dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then and take a regular dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.

• Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.

• This medicine should come with a Medication Guide. Ask your pharmacist for a copy if you do not have one.

• Extended-release capsule: Swallow the capsule whole. Do not break, crush, or chew it.You may open the capsule and pour the medicine into a small amount of soft food such as pudding, yogurt, or applesauce. Stir this mixture well and swallow it without chewing.

• Missed dose: Take a dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then and take a regular dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.

• Tablet: Oral routeIt is best to take this medicine with food or milk. Swallow the tablet whole. Do not crush, break, or chew it.Do not use an extended-release tablet that is cracked or chipped.

• Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.

• Chewable tablet: Oral routeIt is best to take this medicine with food or milk. Chew the tablet well before swallowing it.

• Oral liquid: Oral routeIt is best to take this medicine with food or milk. Measure the oral liquid medicine with a marked measuring spoon, oral syringe, or medicine cup. Shake the bottle well just before each use.Do not take this medicine at the same time as other oral liquid medicines.

• Take your medicine as directed. Your dose may need to be changed several times to find what works best for you. This medicine may be used alone or together with other seizure medicines.

What to do if you miss a dose of Equetro

Equetro contraindications - Who shouldn't take Equetro?

• This medicine is not right for everyone. Do not use it if you had an allergic reaction to carbamazepine or a tricyclic antidepressant or if you are pregnant.

Equetro warnings

• It is not safe to take this medicine during pregnancy. It could harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant.

• Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding, or if you have kidney disease, liver disease, heart disease, glaucoma, heart rhythm problems, porphyria, an intolerance to fructose, or a history of bone marrow depression, suicidal thoughts, or depression. Tell your doctor if you had an allergic reaction to any other medicine (especially seizure medicines).

• Tell your doctor if you have Asian ancestry. Your doctor may test you for serious skin reactions before giving this medicine.

• This medicine may cause the following problems:Serious skin reactionsAplastic anemia or other blood problemsDrug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), which may damage the liver, kidney, or heartSuicidal thoughts or behaviorChanges in heart rhythmLiver problems

• This medicine may make you bleed, bruise, or get infections more easily. Take precautions to prevent illness and injury. Wash your hands often.

• Do not stop using this medicine suddenly. Your doctor will need to slowly decrease your dose before you stop it completely.

• Tell any doctor or dentist who treats you that you are using this medicine. This medicine may affect certain medical test results.

• This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you.

• Your doctor will do lab tests at regular visits to check on the effects of this medicine. Keep all appointments. Your doctor may want to have your eyes checked by an eye doctor.

• Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.

• Thoughts of hurting yourself or others, unusual thoughts or behavior

• Unusual bleeding, bruising, or weakness

Equetro interactions & what to avoid when taking Equetro

• Do not use this medicine together with nefazodone, delavirdine, or certain other medicines for HIV or AIDS (including efavirenz, etravirine). Do not use this medicine and an MAO inhibitor (MAOI) within 14 days of each other.

• There are many other drugs that can interact with carbamazepine. Make sure your doctor knows the names of all the medicines you use. Tell your doctor if you are using any of the following: Alprazolam, aprepitant, aripiprazole, buspirone, chloroquine, citalopram, clarithromycin, clomipramine, clonazepam, clozapine, cyclophosphamide, cyclosporine, diltiazem, doxorubicin, erythromycin, everolimus, felodipine, fluoxetine, imatinib, isoniazid, lamotrigine, lapatinib, lithium, loxapine, mefloquine, methadone, phenytoin, praziquantel, primidone, propoxyphene, quetiapine, quinine, sirolimus, tacrolimus, temsirolimus, tramadol, trazodone, triazolam, valproate, verapamil, zileutonBlood thinner (including apixaban, dabigatran, edoxaban, rivaroxaban)HIV protease inhibitor (including atazanavir, darunavir, fosamprenavir, indinavir, lopinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir)Medicine to treat fungal infection (including fluconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole, voriconazole)Steroid (including dexamethasone, prednisolone, prednisone)

• Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while you are using this medicine.

• Tell your doctor if you use anything else that makes you sleepy. Some examples are allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, and alcohol.

• Birth control pills, shots, and other hormonal birth control methods may not work as well while you use this medicine. You may want to use a second form of birth control.

• Do not drink alcohol while you are using this medicine.

• Tell any doctor or dentist who treats you that you are using this medicine. This medicine may affect certain medical test results.

• This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you.

• Your doctor will do lab tests at regular visits to check on the effects of this medicine. Keep all appointments. Your doctor may want to have your eyes checked by an eye doctor.

• Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.