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Unlike the delivery systems used in other
extended-release products, each Carbatrol® capsule is filled with 3 different
types of timed-release beads. These beads dissolve and release medication into
your bloodstream over a period of about 12 hours, making it possible for you to take your
medicine once in the morning and again at night without having to worry about remembering
to take it during a busy day.
The unique Carbatrol® delivery system is made up of:
- 25% immediate-release beads, which release carbamazepine almost as
soon as swallowed for rapid absorption and therapeutic blood levels
- 40% extended-release beads, which dissolve gradually over 8 to 12
hours
- 35% enteric-release beads, which dissolve farther along in the
digestive system and help maintain optimal drug levels toward the end of the dosing period
Why the delivery system is important
Another extended-release carbamazepine, called Tegretol®-XR, has a different delivery
system and comes in tablet rather than capsule form. Although these tablets also provide
effective seizure control, they have a number of differences. They must be swallowed whole
and cannot be opened and sprinkled on soft food, as Carbatrol® capsules can.
Tegretol®-XR tablets must always be taken with food, while Carbatrol® can be taken with
or without food. The amount of medicine released by the tablet can vary significantly,
depending on how long the tablet remains in the stomach.1,2 The tablet may also
pass through the digestive system without completely breaking down, leaving an undissolved
shell or "ghost pill" in the patient's stool. Carbatrol® is free of all of
these inconveniences.
References
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