Carbamazepine/Selected SSRIs Interactions

This information is generalized and not intended as specific medical advice. Consult your healthcare professional before taking or discontinuing any drug or commencing any course of treatment.

Medical warning:

Moderate. These medicines may cause some risk when taken together. Contact your healthcare professional (e.g. doctor or pharmacist) for more information.

How the interaction occurs:

The cause of the interaction is not known.

What might happen:

Your blood levels of carbamazepine may increase and cause toxic effects.

What you should do about this interaction:

If you experience nausea, vomiting, deep sleep, tremor, rapid eye movements, fast heartbeat, muscle twitching, vision or eye changes, fainting, or irregular breathing, contact your doctor as soon as possible. The dose of your medicines may need adjusting.Your healthcare professionals (e.g. doctor or pharmacist) may already be aware of this interaction and may be monitoring you for it. If your doctor prescribes these medicines together, you may need to have your carbamazepine blood level checked. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.

View Reference
  • 1.Spina E, Avenoso A, Pollicino AM, Caputi AP, Fazio A, Pisani F. Carbamazepine coadministration with fluoxetine or fluvoxamine. Ther Drug Monit 1993 Jun;15(3):247-50.
  • 2.Gidal BE, Anderson GD, Seaton TL, Miyoshi HR, Wilenksy AJ. Evaluation of the effect of fluoxetine on the formation of carbamazepine epoxide. Ther Drug Monit 1993 Oct;15(5):405-9.
  • 3.Grimsley SR, Jann MW, Carter JG, D'Mello AP, D'Souza MJ. Increased carbamazepine plasma concentrations after fluoxetine coadministration. Clin Pharmacol Ther 1991 Jul;50(1):10-5.
  • 4.Gernaat HB, Van de Woude J, Touw DJ. Fluoxetine and parkinsonism in patients taking carbamazepine. Am J Psychiatry 1991 Nov;148(11):1604-5.
  • 5.Keppel Hesselink JM. Parkinsonism following addition of fluoxetine to treatment with neuroleptics or carbamazepine. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd 1992 Apr 11;136(15):754-5.
  • 6.Jansen EN, Kolling P. Parkinsonism following addition of fluoxetine to treatment with neuroleptics or carbamazepine. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd 1992 Apr 11;136(15):755-6.
  • 7.Pearson HJ. Interaction of fluoxetine with carbamazepine. J Clin Psychiatry 1990 Mar;51(3):126.
  • 8.Dursun SM, Mathew VM, Reveley MA. Toxic serotonin syndrome after fluoxetine plus carbamazepine. Lancet 1993 Aug 14;342(8868):442-3.
  • 9.Fritze J, Unsorg B, Lanczik M. Interaction between carbamazepine and fluvoxamine. Acta Psychiatr Scand 1991 Dec;84(6):583-4.
  • 10.Cottencin O, Regnaut N, Thevenon-Gignac C, Thomas P, Goudemand M, Debruille C, Robert H. Carbamazepine-fluvoxamine interaction. Consequences for the carbamazepine plasma level. Encephale 1995 Mar-Apr; 21(2):141-5.
  • 11.Rapeport WG, Williams SA, Muirhead DC, Dewland PM, Tanner T, Wesnes K. Absence of a sertraline-mediated effect on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of carbamazepine. J Clin Psychiatry 1996;57 Suppl 1:20-3.
  • 12.Joblin M. Possible interaction of sertraline with carbamazepine. N Z Med J 1994 Feb 9;107(971):43.
  • 13.Andersen BB, Mikkelsen M, Vesterager A, Dam M, Kristensen HB, Pedersen B, Lund J, Mengel H. No influence of the antidepressant paroxetine on carbamazepine, valproate and phenytoin. Epilepsy Res 1991 Nov-Dec; 10(2-3):201-4.
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CONDITIONS OF USE: The information in this database is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or adverse effects, nor should it be construed to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for you or anyone else. A healthcare professional should be consulted before taking any drug, changing any diet or commencing or discontinuing any course of treatment.