Carbamazepine

carbamazepine

Carbamazepine is a generic drug used to treat epilepsy, bipolar disorder, and nerve pain. In December 2007, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration added to the drug’s warning, suggesting that patients of Asian decent undergo genetic testing before using the drug.

According to the FDA, research has indicated a relationship between certain serious skin reactions to the drug and an inherited variant of the gene HLA-B 1502, which is almost exclusively found in individuals of Asian descent.

Skin reactions include Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), allergic reactions that can cause severe blistering, rashes, and fever, and, under certain circumstances, may be fatal.