Details

Oxcarbazepine is an anticonvulsant, or antiepileptic drug. It works by decreasing nerve impulses that cause seizures. Oxcarbazepine is used either alone or with other medicines to treat partial seizures. Oxcarbazepine can reduce the sodium in your body to dangerously low levels, which can cause a life-threatening electrolyte imbalance. To make sure oxcarbazepine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have liver disease kidney disease depression, or a mood disorder a history of suicidal thoughts or actions if you are allergic to carbamazepine. Do not start or stop taking oxcarbazepine during pregnancy without your doctor's advice. Do not give this medicine to a child without medical advice.

Typical Uses

Oxcarbazepine is used alone or with other medications to treat seizure disorders (epilepsy). This medication may also be used to help treat certain types of nerve pain (such as trigeminal neuralgia).

Side Effects

Common oxcarbazepine side effects may include increased seizures (or more severe seizures) sores around your eyes painful mouth sores, trouble swallowing problems with speech, balance, or walking liver problems-nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, tired feeling, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-coloured stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes) signs of inflammation in your body-swollen glands, flu symptoms, easy bruising or bleeding, severe tingling or numbness, muscle weakness, upper stomach pain, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), chest pain, new or worsening cough with fever, trouble breathing or severe skin reaction-fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.

Drug Interactions

• Oxcarbazepine+dolutegravir- Oxcarbazepine may significantly reduce the blood levels of dolutegravir, which may make the medication less effective in treating HIV infection. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns.
• Oxcarbazepine+propoxyphene- Using propoxyphene together with oxcarbazepine may increase side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, and difficulty concentrating. Some people, especially the elderly, may also experience impairment in thinking, judgment, and motor coordination. You should take propoxyphene exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take larger doses or use the drug more frequently than prescribed.
• Oxcarbazepine+hydrocodone- Oxcarbazepine may reduce the blood levels of hydrocodone, which may make the medication less effective in treating your pain. Additionally, if you have been receiving treatment with hydrocodone, adding oxcarbazepine may cause you to experience unpleasant withdrawal symptoms such as watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing, yawning, excessive sweating, goose bumps, fever, chills, flushing, restlessness, irritability, anxiety, depression, pupil dilation, tremor, rapid heartbeat, body aches, involuntary twitching and kicking, abdominal cramping, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and weight loss.
• Oxcarbazepine+buprenorphine- Using buprenorphine together with other medications that cause central nervous system depression such as oxcarbazepine can lead to serious side effects such as respiratory distress, coma, or even death. You may need a dose adjustment or more frequent monitoring by your doctor to safely use both medications.

Mechanism of action

Oxcarbazepine belongs to a group of medicines called antiepileptic drugs. It works by stabilising the electrical activity of your brain and controls fits.

Pregnancy Category : C