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from eMedTV.comHow Does Carbatrol Work?
It is not known exactly how Carbatrol works to prevent partial seizures in people with epilepsy. It may work by blocking sodium channels in the brain. By doing this, Carbatrol may decrease the activity of nerve cells, preventing them from firing abnormally. The drug may also prevent the abnormal signals from spreading to other parts of the brain.It is thought that Carbatrol works to treat trigeminal neuralgia by blocking the nerve signals that cause pain and other unpleasant sensations.
Carbatrol is a long-acting medication that contains carbamazepine in three different types of beads: immediate-release beads (which work quickly), extended-release beads (which work slowly), and delayed-release beads (which work after a delay). These three types of beads help provide a consistent level of carbamazepine in your blood.
Carbatrol Uses in Children
Carbatrol is approved for the treatment of epilepsy in children. Talk to your healthcare provider about the benefits and risks of using the drug in children.Off-Label Carbatrol Uses
On occasion, your healthcare provider may recommend Carbatrol for something other than epilepsy or trigeminal neuralgia. At this time, off-label Carbatrol uses include the treatment of:- Agitation
- Alcohol withdrawal (to prevent seizures)
- Bipolar disorder (see Carbatrol for Bipolar Disorder)
- Dementia
- Hiccups
- Migraine headaches (used on a daily basis to prevent migraines)
- Other types of nerve pain, such as diabetic neuropathy.
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD