Carbamazepine Tegretol Test

Carbamazepine test measures the amount of the carbamazepine medicine in the blood. Carbamazepine is the generic name of a medicine with brand names like Tegretol, Equetro, and Carbatrol which is used to treat pain, bipolar disorder, mania, and epilepsy. The test is ordered when a person develops complications or experiences a troublesome level of side effects. Higher concentration of carbamazepine level in the blood results in symptoms like sleepiness, dizziness, blurred or double vision, uncoordinated movement and involuntary back and forth movement of the eyeball. Continuous intake of the medicine for a period of time may result in higher sensitivity to its effects. The test needs to be performed at the proper time so that it doesn’t reach a toxic level which may cause serious problems.

As such, no special preparation is required before the carbamazepine test. Usually, you do not need to fast. You can have your regular food and drink prior the test. You also need to discuss the important factors which will affect the carbamazepine level in the blood. You also need to inform the doctor regarding the underlying certain medication or allergies before undergoing the test. The doctor may even ask you to stop taking certain medications if required. The doctor will provide you with special instructions depending on the conditions.

The carbamazepine blood test is useful for measuring and monitoring the amount of carbamazepine in the blood and whether the level of the drug is within the therapeutic range. The test is also used to establish the appropriate dose for an individual. The test is also helpful in evaluating someone who is experiencing the adverse reaction or side effects or a recurrence of symptoms. The test measures both the free portions of the carbamazepine drug and protein-bound portions of the carbamazepine drug. Sometimes, the test is performed to evaluate the percentage of free to total carbamazepine.

For carbamazepine blood test, the health professional will first clean the skin with an alcohol pad on the area of the upper arm. He will then wrap an elastic band around arm which will help in the easy flow of the blood into the tube. He will then inject a needle into the vein. The blood will get collected in a tube which is attached to the needle. Once the tube gets filled with the blood, he will remove the needle and will apply a cotton ball to the needle site to stop the bleeding. The collected blood sample is sent to the laboratory for examination.