Does Carbamazepine Interact with Rufinamide?
CDI records a moderate classification for Carbamazepine and Rufinamide. The stored summary is: Carbamazepine decreases rufinamide concentration by 19-26% and rufinamide decreases carbamazepine by 7-13%. The mechanism involves carbamazepine induces rufinamide clearance; effect is concentration-dependent. Patients taking both medications should consult their healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing the dosage of either drug. This record was extracted from drug labeling through openFDA. NIH/NLM RxNorm is used for drug identities. The summary and severity classification are CDI's processed information, not a verbatim source quotation. Product, route, and patient circumstances matter.
- Severity
- Moderate
- Carbamazepine Class
- Mood Stabilizer
- Management
- Monitor for effects
- Data Source
- U.S. FDA via OpenFDA
Recorded Mechanism
Carbamazepine induces rufinamide clearance; effect is concentration-dependent
What To Tell Your Doctor or Pharmacist
If you are taking Carbamazepine and your doctor is considering prescribing Rufinamide (or vice versa), make sure to:
- Inform your doctor and pharmacist of all current medications, including over-the-counter drugs and supplements
- Ask whether the benefits of combining these medications outweigh the risks for your specific situation
- Ask what symptoms to watch for that would indicate the interaction is causing problems
- Ask whether any dosage adjustments are needed
- Never stop or change either medication without first consulting your healthcare provider