available over the counter: no

uses: control of certain types of seizures; treatment of facial pain (trigeminal neuralgia)

mechanism of action: suppresses uncontrollable firing of neurons within the brain

side effects
• serious: confusion, lethargy, sore throat,  fever, seizures
• common: drowsiness, rash, itching, skin sensitivity to sunlight, nausea
• less common: involuntary movements of face, limbs, tongue; depression, agitation, cardiac abnormalities

concerns: never stop drug abruptly; taper drug over many weeks