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Tegretol®
Tegretol (carbamazepine) stabilizes neuronal membranes and reduces repetitive neuronal firing by blocking voltage-gated sodium channels.
Tegretol (carbamazepine) stabilizes neuronal membranes and reduces repetitive neuronal firing by blocking voltage-gated sodium channels. Used for Epilepsy (generalized tonic-clonic seizures, partial seizures), Trigeminal neuralgia, Bipolar disorder (acute mania and maintenance).
At a glance
| Generic name | Tegretol® |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Lamotrigine (generic name for Lamictal®), Carbamazepine (generic name for Tegretol®) |
| Sponsor | University of Malaya |
| Drug class | Anticonvulsant; mood stabilizer |
| Target | Voltage-gated sodium channels |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Neurology; Psychiatry |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
Mechanism of action
Carbamazepine acts primarily as a sodium channel blocker, which decreases the influx of sodium ions into neurons and reduces the frequency of action potentials. This membrane-stabilizing effect suppresses abnormal electrical activity in the brain, making it effective for seizure control and neuropathic pain. The drug also has mild anticholinergic and monoamine oxidase inhibitory properties that may contribute to its mood-stabilizing effects.
Approved indications
- Epilepsy (generalized tonic-clonic seizures, partial seizures)
- Trigeminal neuralgia
- Bipolar disorder (acute mania and maintenance)
- Neuropathic pain
Common side effects
- Dizziness
- Ataxia
- Diplopia (double vision)
- Nausea
- Rash (including Stevens-Johnson syndrome)
- Hyponatremia
- Agranulocytosis
- Hepatotoxicity
Key clinical trials
- A Drug-Drug Interaction Study of Carbamazepine and Opevesostat (MK-5684) in Healthy Adult Male Participants (MK-5684-012) (PHASE1)
- Trial Comparing the Efficacy and Safety of Lacosamide (LCM) to Carbamazepine Controlled-Release (CBZ-CR); Initial Monotherapy in Epilepsy; Subjects Aged 16 and Older (PHASE3)
- Evaluating Long Term Safety of Lacosamide (LCM) to Carbamazepine Controlled-release (CBZ-CR); Initial Monotherapy in Epilepsy Subjects 16 Years and Older (PHASE3)
- Efficacy and Tolerability of Carbamazepine CR in Diabetic Neuropathy Pain (PHASE4)
- The Effects on Cognitive Function of Levetiracetam (Keppra®) Compared to Carbamazepine (Tegretol®, Carmazepine®) as Monotherapy for Children With Partial Seizure; A Multicentric Randomized Controlled Study (PHASE4)
- Clinical and Economic Burden of Uncontrolled Epilepsy: Analyses From a Medicaid Database and a Private Health Plan Database
- Efficacy and Safety Study of Lamotrigine to Treat Trigeminal Neuralgia (PHASE2, PHASE3)
- Open Label Study of Lithium Plus Extended-Release Carbamazepine (ERC-CBZ) for Rapid Cycling Bipolar Disorder (PHASE4)
Primary sources
Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| ClinicalTrials.gov | Trial enrolment, design, endpoints, results |
Competitive intelligence
For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:
- Tegretol® CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Tegretol® updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- University of Malaya portfolio CI