2. By Michelle Park

3.  AKA tegretol  Used on-label to treat seizures.  Off-label for manic and mixed episodes of bipolar disorder. http://relationary.wordpress.com/2008/11/15/synesthete s/

4. A tri-cyclic anticonvulsant http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/drug-i nformation-46134-73.html http://www.druglib.com/druginfo/tegretol/description_ph armacology/

5. Carbamazepine is thought to decrease electrical stimulation in the brain by blocking certain sodium channels.

6.  Decreases frequency/severity of manic AND mixed episodes  No notable weight gain  Good long-term tolerability  Minimal sedation

7.  Many drug-drug interractions  No alcohol or grapefruit  Serious potential side effects http://beerblog.genx40.com/archive/ 2008/june/germany1

8.  Steven’s Johnson’s Syndrome  Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis  Lower WBC count  Potential liver damage

9.  People who have a low WBC count  People with bone marrow diseases  People with liver diseases  Women who are pregnant or may become pregnant

10.  Here’s some people of note who might have gotten good use out of Tegretol:  Abraham Lincoln  Ben Stiller  Jim Carrey  Robin Williams  Ludwig Von Beethoven  Tim Burton  George Frederik Handel  Vincent Van Gogh  Jimi Hendrix  Buzz Aldrin  Theodore Roosevelt  Mark Twain  Winston Churchill

11.  http://www.drugs.com/carbamazepine.html http://www.drugs.com/carbamazepine.html  http://www.biopsychiatry.com/carbpain.htm http://www.biopsychiatry.com/carbpain.htm  http://www.drugwatch.com/tegretol/side- effects.php http://www.drugwatch.com/tegretol/side- effects.php  http://www.mentalhealthchannel.net/bipolar /treatments.shtml#car http://www.mentalhealthchannel.net/bipolar /treatments.shtml#car  http://www.drugs.com/pro/carbamazepine.h tml