carbamazepine's unique effects

Carbamazepine is an anti-seizure medication. It is used to help control seizures for many people that suffer from seizures (also known as "fits" by some cultures.) Though it is an anti-epileptic, (treatment of epilepsy disorder) it is also used to treat Bipolar Disorder. As a Psychiatrist we often use this medication to help keep Bipolar symptoms under the radar. You may also recognized it by the brand names: Tegretol and Equetro in the U.S. 

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Dr. Kunam and her son.

It's important to see your doctor or Psychiatrist (whom is an MD or DO) after he/she prescribes you Carbamazepine. It's important because it has a very unique quality, called "autoinduction." This happens about 2-4 weeks after you start the medication. What does it mean? Well it's a fancy word to describe the medicine making itself change or get used up faster. This means though it may be effective in your blood for 24 hours the first 2 weeks you are taking the medication, it might quicken to being used up in just 8 hours. This means the medication isn't working they way it should after the 8th hour, like it had originally. This is a known phenomenon of Carbamazepine, and your doctor will likely try test the level or amount of Carbamazepine in your blood throughout the first month you are using it, to help adjust the dosing in response to "autoinduction." Once the dose is adjusted it can be expected to work as it was the first two weeks and there-after. Interestingly, this effect can influence other medications and your doctor will take this into consideration when deciding if Carbamazepine is the right choice for you. 

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*This is for informational and educational purposes only. Do not change, stop or start medication without talking to your personal doctor first. Discussion on social media or blog posts do not replace having a personal doctor. I do not give medical advice on social media or on blog posts.