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Tegretol (carbamazepine)

November 10, 2005
Audience: All healthcare professionals
[UPDATE November 10, 2005] Letters from Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation added below
[UPDATE September 30, 2005] Letters from Ortho-McNeil Neurologics, Inc. added below

[Posted 09/26/2005] AstraZeneca and FDA notified healthcare professionals reports of medication dispensing or prescribing errors between Toprol-XL (metoprolol succinate) extended release tablets, indicated for the treatment of hypertension, long-term treatment of angina pectoris, and heart failure NYHA Class II or III, and Topamax (topiramate), a product of Ortho-McNeil Neurologics, Inc, indicated for the treatment of epilepsy and migraine prophylaxis. There have also been reports of medication errors involving confusion between Toprol-XL and Tegretol or Tegretol-XR (carbamazepine), products of Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, indicated for the treatment of complex partial seizures, generalized tonic-clonic seizures, and trigeminal neuralgia. These reports include instances where Toprol-XL was incorrectly administered to patients instead of Topamax, Tegretol, or Tegretol-XR, and vice versa, some of them leading to adverse events.

[October 2005 - Dear Healthcare Professional Letter - Novartis]
[October 2005 - Dear Pharmacist Letter - Novartis]

[September 2005 - Dear Healthcare Professional Letter - Ortho-McNeil Neurologics, Inc.]
[September 2005 - Dear Pharmacist Letter - Ortho-McNeil Neurologics, Inc.]

[September 22, 2005 - Dear Healthcare Professional Letter - AstraZeneca]
[September 22, 2005 - Dear Pharmacist Letter - AstraZeneca]

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