What it means
An anticonvulsantan-tee-kun-VUL-suntA drug used to prevent or stop seizures; also called an antiseizure or antiepileptic drug.Full entry used for focal and tonic-clonic seizures, trigeminal neuralgia (sharp facial nerve pain) and, as Equetro, bipolar disorder. Its boxed warnings are for serious skin reactions (Stevens-Johnson syndromeSTEE-vunz JON-sun SIN-drohmA rare, severe reaction, most often to a drug, in which the skin and the moist linings of the body blister and peel away.Full entry ), more likely in people who carry the gene variant HLA-B*1502, found mostly in people of Asian ancestry, and for very low blood cell counts (aplastic anemiaay-PLAS-tik uh-NEE-mee-uhA rare condition in which the bone marrow stops making enough red cells, white cells and platelets.a- without-plastic formingan- without-emia blood conditionFull entry , agranulocytosisay-gran-yuh-loh-sy-TOH-sisA severe drop in granulocytes, the white blood cells that fight bacterial infection, mainly neutrophils.a- withoutgranul/o granulecyt/o cell-osis conditionFull entry ). It speeds up the liver's breakdown of many drugs, including birth control pills and warfarin, and can lower the sodium level.
For the nurse
Expect genetic testing before starting in clients of Asian ancestry, and blood counts, sodium, liver tests and drug levels during treatment (a usual target is 4–12 mcg/mL [17–51 µmol/L]). Teach the client to report a rash, sore throat, fever, mouth sores or easy bruising at once, to swallow extended-release tablets whole, to avoid grapefruit, and to use a backup birth control method.
At a glance
| Drug class | anticonvulsant |
|---|---|
| Brand names | Tegretol, Tegretol-XR, Carbatrol, Equetro |
| Spanish | carbamazepina |
| Also written | Tegretol, Carbatrol, Equetro |
Related terms
seizure
A sudden burst of abnormal electrical activity in the brain that changes movement, feeling, behavior or awareness.
Stevens-Johnson syndrome
A rare, severe reaction, most often to a drug, in which the skin and the moist linings of the body blister and peel away.
anticonvulsant
A drug used to prevent or stop seizures; also called an antiseizure or antiepileptic drug.
agranulocytosis
A severe drop in granulocytes, the white blood cells that fight bacterial infection, mainly neutrophils.
valproic acid
A drug used to prevent seizures, to treat the manic phase of bipolar disorder and to prevent migraines.
therapeutic range
The span of blood levels of a drug that is high enough to work but low enough to avoid toxic effects.