Carzine 200mg Tablets

Carzine Tablet is an anti-convulsant medicine that is used to treat certain types of seizures/fits (partial and generalised tonic-clonic seizures). Epilepsy is a condition where there are brief occurrences of loss or disturbance of consciousness with or without convulsions. These episodes (seizures/fits) are unpredictable and their occurrence does not have a fixed pattern.

This medicine has an active component called carbamazepine that prevents the occurrence of seizures/fits in some forms of epilepsy. Your doctor will recommend this medicine to you and will tell you how and when to take them. Always follow his/her instructions carefully and take the medicine at the right time.

Tell your doctor about any medical problems, other medicines and supplements that you are taking. This medicine is not to be used in children under 5 years.

Dosage

Overdose

Symptoms of overdose of Carzine Tablet include confusion, sleepiness, blurred vision, slurred speech, lack of muscle coordination, fainting, vomiting. If you think you have taken too much of this medicine, contact your doctor immediately or visit the nearest hospital.

Missed a Dose

You should never miss your dose of medicines as it may lead to complications associated with the disease. However, if you missed any dose of the medicine, take it as soon as you remember. If it's time for your next dose, then skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to compensate for the missed one.

Mode of Action

How Does It Work?

In epilepsy, there is the repetitive firing of the nerves which causes the signals between the nerves to be disrupted. This causes disturbance of consciousness (seizures/fits) with or without convulsions. Carzine Tablet stabilizes these nerves and prevents their repetitive firing. It also decreases the production of certain chemicals that are responsible for the excitement of the nerves. Thus, this medicine prevents the occurrence of seizures/fits in patients with epilepsy.

Directions for Use

• Take Carzine Tablet as a whole with sufficient water.
• Always take this medicine exactly as prescribed by your doctor.
• Do not consume more than the prescribed dose.
• Do not discontinue the medicine on your own without consulting your doctor.

Precautions and Warnings

Pregnancy

Can I take Carzine Tablet during pregnancy?

The use of Carzine Tablet during pregnancy is seen to increase the risk of developmental disorders and malformations (incomplete development of spine and spinal cord, cleft lip/palate, cardiovascular malformations) in the infant. Thus, it is recommended that the use of Carzine Tablets be avoided in women who are pregnant or are planning on becoming pregnant soon.

Breast Feeding

Can I take Carzine Tablet while breastfeeding?

Carzine Tablet is known to pass into the mother's breastmilk. Thus, to prevent the possibility of this medicine being ingested by the suckling infant via breastmilk, it is suggested that women who are breastfeeding should not take Carzine Tablet tablets.

Driving

Can I drive if I have consumed Carzine Tablet?

Carzine Tablet may cause dizziness, drowsiness, lack of muscle coordination, blurred vision and seeing two images of a single object. Hence, after taking this medicine, if you feel that you may not be able to drive safely, then it is recommended that you do not drive.

Alcohol

Can I consume alcohol with Carzine Tablet?

Carzine Tablet is seen to interact with alcohol. Hence, the consumption of alcohol while on treatment with this medicine is not recommended and should be avoided.

Other General Warnings

Talk to your doctor if

• You have a history of bone marrow depression.
• You have or have a history of any kind of liver or kidney disease.
• You have any kind of heart disease.
• You have thyroid disorders and take medicines for them.
• You have taken medicines called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) within the last 14 days.
• If you develop symptoms like skin rashes, itchy bumps, mouth sores, blistering or peeling of the skin, yellowing of the skin and eyes, severe weakness, severe muscle pain, unusual bruising or bleeding, frequent infections that do not go away, fever, trouble swallowing or breathing, tiny pinpoint red to purple spots on your skin. These may indicate serious problems in your liver or blood cells.
• You develop signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction to the medicine (fever, rashes, weakness, red itchy skin bumps, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, sleepiness, impaired coordination, swelling, decrease in white blood cells count).
• You are pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant soon.
• You are a woman and do not use an effective method of contraception or use oral hormonal contraceptives.
• You experience an increase in the frequency of seizures after taking Carzine Tablet.

Contraindications

• If you are allergic to carbamazepine or any other ingredient of Carzine Tablet.
• If you are allergic to tricyclic antidepressants such as clomipramine, imipramine, amitriptyline, nortriptyline, doxepin. Ask your doctor what these medicines are if you are not sure.
• If you have a type of heart block known as an atrioventricular block (AV block).
• If you have had a history of bone marrow depression (decreased number of those cells in the bone marrow that can develop into all types of blood cells).
• If you have a history of hepatic porphyrias (acute intermittent porphyria, variegate porphyria, porphyria, cutanea tarda).
• Carzine Tablet is contraindicated to be used along with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAO's like selegiline, rasagiline, phenelzine, tranylcypromine).

Side effects

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Red itchy skin bumps
• Dizziness
• Swelling

Interactions

Interactions with other medicines

• Some medicines can affect the way Carzine Tablet works or this Tablet itself can reduce the effectiveness of other medicines taken at the same time.
• Tell your doctor about all medicines, supplements or herbals you are currently taking or might take to avoid any possible interaction.
• Care should be taken when Carzine Tablet is given along with CYP3A4 inhibitors (erythromycin, clarithromycin, ketoconazole, itraconazole, verapamil, diltiazem, ritonavir, grapefruit juice), CYP3A4 inducers (rifampicin, barbiturates, anti-epileptic medicines) or inhibitors of epoxide hydrolase. The dose of Carzine should be adjusted accordingly.
• This Tablet may reduce the effect of oral hormonal contraceptives and lead to failure of contraception. Women of childbearing potential (women who have not yet reached menopause and are capable of becoming pregnant) should be advised to use other effective methods of contraception.
• This medicine interacts with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAO inhibitors like selegiline, rasagiline, isocarboxazid, phenelzine, tranylcypromine) and are not to be taken together.
• Special attention must be paid to combinations of Carzine Tablet with levetiracetam, isoniazid, lithium, diuretics (hydrochlorothiazide, furosemide) and direct-acting anti-coagulants (rivaroxaban, dabigatran, apixaban, edoxaban).

Storage and disposal

• Store Carzine Tablets in a cool and dry place below 30°C away from direct sunlight.
• Keep it out of reach of children and pets.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What time during the day should I take Carzine Tablet?

The doctor will suggest you the best time of the day to take Carzine Tablet depending on your condition, other medications that you take, food and lifestyle habits.

Can I stop taking Carzine Tablet if I do not have seizures anymore?

You should never stop taking this medicine on your own without consulting your doctor first. If you feel better and do not have seizures anymore, your doctor may lower your dose or even change your medicines. However, it is always recommended that you talk to your doctor about any questions that you have.

Can I take Carzine Tablet along with my other regular medicines?

Your doctor will recommend whether you can take Carzine Tablet if you are taking or have recently taken other medicines. Please inform your doctor about any other medicines that you are taking, including nonprescription medicines.

How much time does Carzine Tablet take initially to show its effect on the body?

Carzine Tablet takes about 1 to 2 weeks after the first dose to show improvement in signs and symptoms.