Oxcarbazepine

1 medicine

Oxcarbazepine is an anticonvulsant used to control focal seizures. It can cause low blood sodium and, in people of certain Asian ancestries carrying the HLA-B*1502 gene, a serious risk of severe skin reactions.

Trileptal

Oxcarbazepine

150/300/600mg

Trileptal is a neurology medication containing Oxcarbazepine, available as 150/300/600mg tablets.

from $0.67 / tablet View

Key facts

  • Oxcarbazepine is an anticonvulsant that calms overactive electrical signals in the brain to control seizures.
  • It is usually taken twice daily, with the dose increased gradually over one to two weeks.
  • Oxcarbazepine can lower blood sodium (hyponatraemia) and, rarely, trigger a severe skin reaction; people of Han Chinese, Thai, or other South and Southeast Asian ancestry carrying the HLA-B*1502 gene have a much higher risk and should be tested before starting.
  • Seek urgent care for confusion, severe drowsiness, a rash with blistering or peeling skin, or fever with sore throat or mouth ulcers.

What oxcarbazepine treats

Oxcarbazepine treats focal (partial) seizures, with or without spread to the rest of the brain, in adults and children. It is used alone or alongside other anticonvulsants. Its approved use is epilepsy; other uses are off-label.

How oxcarbazepine works

Nerve cells fire using sodium channels that let electrical signals pass along their length. Oxcarbazepine blocks these channels when they are firing repeatedly and abnormally fast, dampening the runaway electrical activity that causes a seizure without shutting down normal nerve signalling.

Before you take it

  • Tell your prescriber if your family background includes Han Chinese, Thai, or other South or Southeast Asian ancestry; genetic testing for HLA-B*1502 is recommended before starting, because carriers have a markedly higher risk of severe skin reactions.
  • Tell your prescriber about any history of low blood sodium, kidney disease, or an allergic reaction to carbamazepine, since about a quarter of people allergic to carbamazepine also react to oxcarbazepine.
  • Oxcarbazepine can reduce the effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives; use an additional barrier method.
  • Do not stop oxcarbazepine abruptly, since stopping suddenly can trigger seizures. Any dose change should be gradual and supervised.

Side effects

Common effects include dizziness, drowsiness, headache, nausea, and double or blurred vision.

Seek urgent medical care for:

  • Confusion, severe drowsiness, or difficulty waking, which can signal dangerously low sodium.
  • A spreading rash, blistering, or peeling skin.
  • Fever with sore throat, mouth ulcers, or swollen glands.
  • Swelling of the face, lips or throat, or difficulty breathing.

Safety essentials

  • Blood sodium should be checked before starting and periodically during treatment, especially in older adults or anyone taking other sodium-lowering medicines; symptoms of low sodium include headache, confusion, and nausea.
  • Anyone with an at-risk ancestry should be tested for HLA-B*1502 before starting oxcarbazepine; a positive result generally rules the drug out.
  • Stop the medicine and get medical attention immediately at the first sign of a rash, since severe skin reactions can worsen quickly if the drug is continued.

This page is educational and does not replace advice from a doctor or pharmacist who knows your health history.