Compare Tegretol vs. Aptiom

Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, ratings, and more.

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Tegretol (carbamazepine)

Prescription only

Aptiom (eslicarbazepine)

Prescription only
Treats seizures and epilepsy.

Tegretol (carbamazepine) is useful for preventing seizures and relieving certain types of nerve pain, but reduces how well many other medications work.

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3.3/ 5 average rating with 61 reviewsforTegretol
Prevents seizures

Aptiom (eslicarbazepine) treats epilepsy, but is more expensive than other medicines that work like it.

Upsides
  • Lowers the frequency of seizures, especially for people with tonic-clonic and partial seizures.
  • First-choice option for trigeminal neuralgia (nerve pain involving the face, head, and neck), and can relieve other types of nerve pain.
  • Equetro is helpful in stabilizing mood for people with bipolar disorder.
  • Available as a generic in many forms: pill, extended-release pill, suspension, and chewable tablet.
  • Can be combined with other anti-seizure medicines if it doesn't work well enough by itself.
  • Some people may tolerate Aptiom (eslicarbazepine) better than other medicines that work just like it.
Downsides
  • Takes several weeks to feel the full effects.
  • Interacts with many other medicines and supplements.
  • Higher risk of skin reactions compared to other antiepileptic medicines, ranging from mild to life-threatening rash.
  • Requires routine blood tests to see how the medicine is affecting your body.
  • Can't take the suspension form with other liquid medications.
  • More expensive than other medicines that work like it.
  • Researchers do not know if this medicine works and is safe for children and elderly people.
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Used for
Dosage forms
  • Pill
  • Extended-release pill
  • Suspension
  • Chewable tablet
  • Pill
Price
Lowest price
$33.17
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Lowest price
$50.00
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Reviews
61 reviews so far
56%
saidit'sworth it
43%
saiditworked well
23%
saidit'sa big hassle

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Side effects
The Tegretol (carbamazepine) FDA package insert doesn’t have numbers about how common side effects are.
25possible side effects
  • Dizziness
    20%
  • Headache
    13%
  • Drowsiness
    11%
  • Nausea
    10%
  • Double vision
    9%
  • Blurry vision
    6%
  • Vomiting
    6%
  • Diarrhea
    4%
  • Fatigue
    4%
  • Inability to control your movements
    4%
  • Falls
    3%
  • Loss of balance
    3%
  • Dizziness or spinning sensation
    2%
  • Other vision problems
    2%
  • Constipation
    2%
  • Abdominal pain
    2%
  • Inflammation of stomach
    2%
  • Lack of energy
    2%
  • Problems with walking
    2%
  • Swelling of the hands and feet
    2%
  • Urinary tract infections
    2%
  • Low sodium levels
    2%
  • Tremor
    2%
  • Insomnia
    2%
  • Cough
    2%
See more detailed side effects
Risks and risk factors
  • Life-threatening skin reactions
    • Carrying HLA-B*1502 gene
    • Asian ancestry
  • Blood disorders
  • Suicidal thoughts or behavior
    • History of depression
  • Serious allergic reactions
    • History of allergic reaction to Trileptal (oxcarbamazepine)
  • Pregnancy
  • Mental changes due to low sodium
    • Age 65 or older
    • Dehydration
    • Taking diuretics (water pills)
See more detailed risks and warnings
  • Changes in mood and suicidal thoughts and behaviors
  • Serious skin problems
  • Serious allergic reactions
  • Low sodium levels
  • Changes in alertness
    • Higher doses of Aptiom (eslicarbazepine)
  • Risk of increased seizures
See more detailed risks and warnings
Learn more about Tegretol (carbamazepine)
Learn more about Aptiom (eslicarbazepine)