Oxcarbazepine for epilepsy

Examples

Generic Name	Brand Name
oxcarbazepine	Trileptal

Oxcarbazepine requires two daily doses and comes in tablet form.

How It Works

Oxcarbazepine prevents seizures by calming the electrical activity in the brain. It works in a fashion similar to carbamazepine (for example, Tegretol), which for many years has been used to treat epilepsy.

Why It Is Used

Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal) may be used to treat partial seizures in adults and children. In adults, it may be used by itself or combined with another antiepileptic medicine.

How Well It Works

Initial studies indicate that oxcarbazepine is effective when added to other antiepileptic medicines for both adults and children.¹ It effectively controls partial seizures that have not been controlled by other medicines.

Several studies have shown that oxcarbazepine, when used alone, is as effective as carbamazepine, phenytoin, or valproic acid in treating partial seizures, and it has fewer side effects.²

Side Effects

The most common side effects of oxcarbazepine include:

• Headache.
• Sleepiness.
• Dizziness.
• Nausea or upset stomach.

In rare cases, oxcarbazepine may cause a serious skin rash. Contact your doctor if you develop a rash while taking oxcarbazepine.

Less commonly, oxcarbazepine may lower sodium levels in the blood or cause problems with concentration, double vision, speech, coordination, and walking.

People who have had a serious allergic reaction to carbamazepine are more likely to have an adverse reaction to oxcarbazepine too.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning on antiepileptic medicines and the risk of suicide and suicidal thoughts. The FDA does not recommend that people stop using these medicines. Instead, people who take antiepileptic medicine should be watched closely for warning signs of suicide. People who take antiepileptic medicine and who are worried about this side effect should talk to a doctor.

See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)

What To Think About

• Side effects. Oxcarbazepine is well-tolerated by most people. Although similar to carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine seems to cause less frequent and less severe side effects.
• Drug interactions. Many medicines for epilepsy can interact with other medicines you may be taking. This means that your epilepsy medicine may not work as well, or it may affect the way another medicine you are taking works. Some of these interactions can be dangerous. It is important to tell your doctor about all the medicines, herbal pills, and dietary supplements you are taking. Oxcarbazepine may make birth control pills less effective. A woman taking oxcarbazepine may need to use a method of birth control other than birth control pills to reduce her chances of becoming pregnant.
• Cost. Oxcarbazepine is expensive.
• Risk of birth defects. All medicines for epilepsy have some risk of birth defects. But the risk of birth defects needs to be carefully compared to other risks to the baby if the mother stops taking her epilepsy medicine. If you are thinking about becoming pregnant, it is important to plan ahead and talk with your doctor about the benefits and risks of taking epilepsy medicine during your pregnancy. It you are already pregnant, it is not too late. The best thing to do is talk to your doctor about your pregnancy before you make any changes to the medicines you are taking.
• Other concerns. For some people, oxcarbazepine may cause side effects or carry risks that are not yet fully known. Report any unexpected side effects or problems to your doctor.

It may take time and careful, controlled adjustments by you and your doctor to find the combination, schedule, and dosing of medicine to best manage your epilepsy. The goal is to prevent seizures while causing as few unwanted side effects as possible. After you and your doctor figure out the most effective medicine program for you, it is important that you follow it exactly as prescribed.

Complete the new medication information form (PDF)(What is a PDF document?) to help you understand this medication.

Author:	Monica Rhodes	Last Updated: October 29, 2007
Medical Review:	Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics Theresa O'Young, PharmD - Clinical Pharmacist Steven C. Schachter, MD - Neurology
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