Oxcarbazepine
Known as | Trileptal® |
Uses | Effective against partial seizures (including secondary generalized tonic-clonic) and primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Ineffective against or may worsen absence, myoclonic, or tonic/atonic seizures. |
How to Use | Loading dose = 300-600 mg/d, maintenance dose = 900-2400 mg/d, bidaily or tridaily. |
Side Effects | Produces less adverse effects than carbamazepine, a closely related drug. May cause nervous system toxicity (somnolence, diplopia), rash, or hyponatremia (low blood sodium). |
Precautions | Care must be taken when converting from carbamazepine. Blood levels of oxcarbazepine may go up as the hepatic effects of carbamazepine disappear. |
Interactions | - Increases blood levels of phenytoin.
- Decreases blood levels of oral contraceptives.
- Blood levels decreased by phenobarbital, phenytoin, carbamazepine, valproate.
- Blood levels not changed by gabapentin, lamotrigine, topiramate, tiagabine, levetiracetam, zonisamide. Effect of felbamate unknown.
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Disclaimer
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