Equetro Uses

Although Equetro is approved for use in treating manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar disorder, it can also be prescribed for treating conditions it is not approved to treat. Some of these potential "off-label" Equetro uses include treating seizures, dementia, and nerve pain. Equetro is used on a short-term basis, as it has not been adequately studied for the long-term treatment of bipolar disorder.

 

What Is Equetro Used For? -- An Overview

Equetro® (carbamazepine) is a prescription medication used to treat bipolar disorder.
 
Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, is a serious brain disease that causes extreme shifts in mood, energy, and functioning. Currently, it is thought that bipolar disorder may be at least partially genetic (see Bipolar Causes). Bipolar disorder is different from the normal ups and downs that everyone goes through -- the symptoms of bipolar disorder are more severe. Episodes of mania and depression typically recur throughout the affected person's lifespan.
 
Between episodes, most people with bipolar disorder are free of symptoms (see Bipolar Disorder Symptoms). Effective bipolar disorder treatment usually involves a combination of psychotherapy (see Bipolar Psychosocial Treatments) and bipolar medications.
 
Equetro is approved to treat manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar disorder. Mixed episodes have characteristics of both mania and depression. Equetro has not been adequately studied for the long-term treatment of bipolar disorder.
 

How Does Equetro Work?

It is not known how exactly Equetro works for treating bipolar disorder. In fact, carbamazepine (the active ingredient of Equetro) was originally developed as a seizure medication and is still one of the most commonly used medications to treat seizures. Equetro affects several different brain chemicals -- though it is not known if this is how Equetro works for bipolar disorder.
 
(Equetro Uses Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;