Tegretol

Possible food and drug interactions when taking Tegretol

The use of the antiseizure medications phenobarbital, phenytoin (Dilantin), or primidone (Mysoline) may reduce the effectiveness of Tegretol. Take other anticonvulsants along with Tegretol only if your doctor advises it. The use of Tegretol with other anticonvulsants may change thyroid gland function.

All of the following drugs may raise the amount of Tegretol in the blood to harmful levels:

Azithromycin (Zithromax)
Calcium channel blockers such as Calan, Plendil, Sular, and Procardia
Cimetidine (Tagamet)
Clarithromycin (Biaxin)
Danazol (Danocrine)
Diltiazem (Cardizem)
Erythromycin (E-Mycin)
Fluoxetine (Prozac)
Isoniazid (Nydrazid)
Itraconazole (Sporanox)
Ketoconazole (Nizoral)
Loratadine (Claritin)
Niacinamide
Nicotinamide
Propoxyphene (Darvon)
Troleandomycin (Tao)
Valproate (Depakene, Depakote)

The following drugs may also reduce the effectiveness of Tegretol:

Cisplatin (Platinol)
Doxorubicin HCl (Adriamycin)
Felbamate (Felbatol)
Rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane)
Theophylline (Theo-24, Uniphyl)

When taken with Tegretol, the effectiveness of the following drugs may be reduced: acetaminophen, alprazolam, calcium channel blockers (such as Plendil and Sular), clonazepam, clozapine, corticosteroids such as Pediapred and Decadron, cyclosporine, dicumarol, doxycycline, ethosuximide, haloperidol, itraconazole, lamotrigine, levothyroxine, methadone, methsuximide, midazolam, olanzapine, oral contraceptives, oxcarbazepine, phensuximide, phenytoin, praziquantel, protease inhibitors (such as Crixivan, Norvir, and Viracept), risperidone, theophylline, tiagabine, topiramate, tramadol, tricyclic antidepressants (such as Elavil, Pamelor, and Tofranil), valproic acid, warfarin, ziprasidone, and zonisamide.

Tegretol may increase the effectiveness of clomipramine HCl (Anafranil), phenytoin, or primidone if the drugs are taken together.

Lithium (Eskalith) used with Tegretol may cause harmful nervous system side effects.

If you are taking an oral contraceptive and Tegretol, you may experience blood spotting and your contraceptive may not be completely reliable.