Epilepsy Drug Clinic – Carbamazepine

  Indications: partial seizures with or without secondary generalized seizures, trigeminal neuralgia.  Dose: Oral route Adults: 600-2000mg/d. Children: 20-30mg/d. Complete blood count, platelet count, and serum iron should be checked before administration. The dose should be gradually increased from a small dose. Outpatients should be adjusted every week or so, and the drug concentration should be measured after each adjustment. However, carbamazepine should not be given in the following situations: white blood cell count <4K, red blood cell count <30K, Hct <32%, platelets <100K, reticulocytes <0.3%. If so the drug should be discontinued. Regarding the oral dosage form, the oral dosage form is unstable and multiple doses in small doses are advocated and should not be taken at the same time as other liquid drugs because it can cause precipitation and produce rubbery orange lumps.