Tegretol Alternatives Compared

View side-by-side comparisons of medication uses, ratings, cost, side effects and interactions.
Tegretol (carbamazepine)	Carbamazepine	Gabapentin	Enter another drug to compare

Tegretol (carbamazepine)

Carbamazepine

Gabapentin

Prescription only

Prescribed for Trigeminal Neuralgia, Schizoaffective Disorder, Epilepsy. Tegretol may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Prescription only

Carbamazepine is an anticonvulsant that may be used in the treatment of various seizure disorders and also to relieve nerve pain associated with conditions such as trigeminal neuralgia or diabetic... View more

Prescription only

Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant with pain-relieving effects that may be used to treat certain seizure disorders or relieve nerve pain. Common side effects include dizziness or drowsiness and it may... View more

More about Tegretol (carbamazepine)

More about Carbamazepine

More about Gabapentin

Ratings & Reviews

Tegretol has an average rating of 6.9 out of 10 from a total of 128 ratings on Drugs.com. 59% of reviewers reported a positive effect, while 22% reported a negative effect.

Carbamazepine has an average rating of 7.0 out of 10 from a total of 352 ratings on Drugs.com. 59% of reviewers reported a positive effect, while 21% reported a negative effect.

Gabapentin has an average rating of 7.1 out of 10 from a total of 2574 ratings on Drugs.com. 63% of reviewers reported a positive effect, while 21% reported a negative effect.

View all 128 reviews

View all 352 reviews

View all 2574 reviews

Side Effects Experienced by Users Side effects are reported in Drugs.com user reviews and not clinically verified.

Drowsiness (10.2%)
Tiredness (9.4%)
Dizziness (7.8%)
Nausea (7.0%)
Memory loss (5.5%)
Rash (4.7%)
Depression (3.9%)

View all Tegretol side effects

Dizziness (12.5%)
Drowsiness (9.1%)
Tiredness (7.1%)
Nausea (5.7%)
Memory loss (4.8%)
Sleepy (4.5%)
Rash (3.4%)

View all Carbamazepine side effects

Dizziness (7.3%)
Drowsiness (7.0%)
Anxiety (5.7%)
Tiredness (4.0%)
Weight gain (3.8%)
Insomnia (3.7%)
Memory loss (3.4%)

View all Gabapentin side effects

Drug Class

Dibenzazepine anticonvulsants

Dibenzazepine anticonvulsants

Gamma-aminobutyric acid analogs

Generic Availability

Lower cost generic approved

Lower cost generic

Pricing and Coupons * Prices are without insurance

Quantity	450 mL
Strength	100 mg/5 mL
Per unit^*	$0.49
Cost^*	$222.24

View all Tegretol prices

Quantity	100 each
Strength	200 mg
Per unit^*	$0.88
Cost^*	$88.36

View all Carbamazepine prices

Quantity	100 each
Strength	300 mg
Per unit^*	$0.24 - $0.33
Cost^*	$23.69 - $33.10

View all Gabapentin prices

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Dosage Forms

Oral suspension
Oral tablet

Oral capsule, extended release
Oral suspension
Oral tablet
Oral tablet, chewable
Oral tablet, extended release

Oral capsule
Oral solution
Oral tablet
Oral tablet, extended release

Half Life Drug half-life is the time required for plasma concentration to reduce to half its original value.

19 hours

6 hours

CSA Schedule ¹ View glossary of CSA terms

Not a controlled drug

Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.

Not a controlled drug

Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.

Not a controlled drug

Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.

Pregnancy Category

Category D Positive evidence of risk

See the full pregnancy warnings document.

Category D Positive evidence of risk

See the full pregnancy warnings document.

Category C Risk cannot be ruled out

See the full pregnancy warnings document.

Drug Interactions

A total of 804 drugs are known to interact with Tegretol:

260 major drug interactions (772 brand and generic names)
509 moderate drug interactions (3054 brand and generic names)
35 minor drug interactions (104 brand and generic names)

A total of 804 drugs are known to interact with Carbamazepine:

260 major drug interactions (772 brand and generic names)
509 moderate drug interactions (3054 brand and generic names)
35 minor drug interactions (104 brand and generic names)

A total of 270 drugs are known to interact with Gabapentin:

28 major drug interactions (148 brand and generic names)
232 moderate drug interactions (1027 brand and generic names)
10 minor drug interactions (52 brand and generic names)

Alcohol/Food/Lifestyle Interactions

You should preferably avoid the regular consumption of grapefruits and grapefruit juice while... View more

You should preferably avoid the regular consumption of grapefruits and grapefruit juice while... View more

Alcohol can increase the nervous system side effects of gabapentin such as dizziness, drowsiness... View more

Disease Interactions

First Approval Date

March 11, 1968

December 30, 1993

WADA Class View classifications

N/A

More Information

Patient Resources

Tegretol uses

Gabapentin uses

Professional Resources

Prescribing information

¹ The Controlled Substances Act (CSA) schedule information displayed applies to substances regulated under federal law. There may be variations in CSA schedules between individual states.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer

Tegretol Alternatives Compared

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