Compare Tegretol vs. Dilantin
Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, ratings, and more.
Prevents seizures, stabilizes mood, and relieves nerve pain.
Tegretol (Carbamazepine) is useful for preventing seizures and relieving certain types of nerve pain, but interacts with many drugs.
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3.3/ 5 average rating with 61 reviewsforTegretol
Treats and prevents seizures.
Dilantin (phenytoin) is very good at treating and preventing seizures, but it has many drug interactions and some serious side effects.
Upsides
- Lowers the frequency of seizures, especially for people with tonic-clonic and partial seizures.
- First-line option for trigeminal neuralgia (nerve pain involving the face, head, and neck), and can relieve other types of nerve pain.
- May be helpful in stabilizing mood for people with bipolar disorder.
- If you have trouble swallowing pills, Dilantin (phenytoin) is available as a chewable tablet or a liquid.
- Dilantin (phenytoin) is available in a cheaper, generic form.
Downsides
- Interacts with many other medicines and supplements.
- Higher risk of skin reactions compared to other antiepileptic medicines, ranging from mild to life-threatening rash.
- Can cause blurry vision, dizziness, and upset stomach.
- Not safe to use if you're pregnant.
- Requires routine blood tests to see how the medicine is affecting your body.
- Need to get regular blood tests while taking Dilantin (phenytoin) to make sure the medicine level is safe and effective in your body.
- Can cause changes in your appearance, such as unwanted hair growth and enlargement of your gums.
- If you have kidney problems, you’ll need regular blood tests to check your kidney function and to make sure Dilantin (phenytoin) levels in your blood don’t get too high.
- Dilantin (phenytoin) can make other medications not work as well, including birth control.
Used for
- Generalized seizure
- Tonic-clonic seizure
- Complex partial seizure
- Seizure (during and following neurosurgery)
- Seizure in pregnant woman
- Pressure ulcer
- Wound healing
Dosage forms
- Pill
- Extended release
- Chewable tablet
- Oral suspension
- Extended release
- Chewable tablet
- Liquid
Price
Lowest price
$40.03
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$67.87
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Reviews
61 reviews so far
56%
saidit'sworth it
43%
saiditworked well
23%
saidit'sa big hassle
Have you used Tegretol (Carbamazepine)?
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Side effects
18possible side effects
- Dizziness44%
- Somnolence32%
- Nausea28%
- Vomiting18%
- Ataxia15%
- Constipation10%
- Pruritus8%
- Dry Mouth8%
- Asthenia8%
- Rash7%
- Blurred vision6%
- Speech Disorder6%
- Hypertension3%
- Tremor3%
- Paresthesia2%
- Thinking abnormal2%
- Twitching2%
- Vertigo2%
The Dilantin (phenytoin) FDA package insert doesn’t have numbers about how common side effects are.
Risks and risk factors
- Serious skin rash
- People also taking Depakote
- Asian ancestry
- Blood disorders
- Suicidal thoughts or behavior
- History of depression
- Serious allergic reactions
- European, Chinese, or Japanese ancestry
- Pregnancy
- Mental changes due to low sodium
- Age 65 years or older
- Withdrawal seizures
- Stopping Tegretol (Carbamazepine) suddenly
- Severe skin reactions
- Asian ancestry
- Serious liver damage
- First 2 months of taking Dilantin (phenytoin)
- Changes in blood cell counts
- Suicidal thoughts or behavior
- History of depression
- Withdrawal seizures
- Stopping Dilantin (phenytoin) suddenly