Oxcarbazepine for epilepsy

Examples

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Brand Name	Chemical Name
Trileptal	oxcarbazepine

Oxcarbazepine requires two daily doses and comes in tablet form.

How It Works

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

Why It Is Used

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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 medication.

How Well It Works

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

Several studies have shown that it is as effective as carbamazepine, phenytoin, or valproate in treating partial seizures.²

Side Effects

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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 somewhat likely to have an adverse reaction to oxcarbazepine.

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

What To Think About

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• Side effects. Oxcarbazepine is well-tolerated by most people. Although similar to carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine seems to cause less frequent and less severe side effects.
• Cost. Oxcarbazepine is expensive.
• Other concerns. Although the safety of oxcarbazepine during pregnancy has not been determined, its chemical makeup is very similar to carbamazepine, which has been shown to increase the risk of certain birth defects. Oxcarbazepine may interact with other medications and may make birth control pills less effective. A woman taking carbamazepine may need to use a method of birth control other than birth control pills to reduce her chances of becoming pregnant.

For some people, oxcarbazepine may produce side effects or carry risks, including an increased risk of birth defects, that are not fully known yet. 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 medication to best manage your epilepsy. The goal is to prevent seizures while causing as few unwanted side effects as possible. Once the most effective medication program is determined, 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.

References

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Citations

1. Castillo S, et al. (2005). Oxcarbazepine add-on for drug-resistant partial epilepsy. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (1). Oxford: Update Software.

2. Drugs for epilepsy. (2003). Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics, 1(9): 57–64.

Credits

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Author	Monica Rhodes
Editor	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS
Associate Editor	Pat Truman
Primary Medical Reviewer	Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics
Specialist Medical Reviewer	Steven C. Schachter, MD - Neurology
Last Updated	November 11, 2005