Patient/caregiver was educated on the side-effects of using carbamazepine as follows:
Gastrointestinal side-effects
- Carbamazepine use can result in common general constitutional symptoms such as, nausea and vomiting. Taking carbamazepine after having a meal or a snack can help avoid having unpleasant gastrointestinal symptoms with the medication.
- Carbamazepine use can result in swelling and bleeding of the gums. Observing compliance with your dental visits and massaging of gums along with regular brushing and flossing, can help prevent and manage this side-effect of carbamazepine intake.
- Carbamazepine use can result in damage to the liver and hepatotoxicity. Individuals can present with severe nausea and vomiting, right upper quadrant abdominal pain, compromised body metabolism, and diminished appetite, and elevated bilirubin in the blood. Elevated bilirubin can result in yellowing of the eyes, intense itching, and dark yellow urine.
Musculoskeletal side-effects
- Carbamazepine use can result in motor incoordination, increased fall risk and accidents. Confusion and dizziness with carbamazepine use, can add to the motor incoordination, thus enhancing the fall risk significantly.
- Carbamazepine intake also carries the risk of causing or aggravating some varieties of seizures, especially in individuals with history of the same.
