TRILEPTAL (Oxcarbazepine)
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OptimistMinds
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The Optimistminds editorial team is made up of psychologists, psychiatrists and mental health professionals. Each article is written by a team member with exposure to and experience in the subject matter. The article then gets reviewed by a more senior editorial member. This is someone with extensive knowledge of the subject matter and highly cited published material.
Oxcarbazepine, sold under the brand name Trileptal or other names, is a medication used to treat brain disorders and emotional disturbance.
For brain disorders, it’s used for instances of focal seizures and generalized seizures.
For individuals with bipolar disorder, trileptal has been used alone and has been used as add-on therapy for those who have not experienced any success with alternative treatments.
What is Trileptal?
Trileptal (oxcarbazepine) is classified within a group of drugs known as anticonvulsant or antiepileptic drugs.
These drugs decrease the nerve impulses that cause seizures and pain.
Trileptal is prescribed either alone or alongside different medications to treat partial seizures.
Trileptal is prescribed alone as a medicine in adults and children above the age of 4.
It is also prescribed with other medications in adults and children above the age of 2.
Before taking these drugs
You should not take Trileptal if you’re allergic to oxcarbazepine or eslicarbazepine.
Before being prescribed Trileptal, tell your doctor if you have a medical history of:
Ø liver disease
Ø urinary tract disease
Ø mood issues or unsafe thoughts
Ø an allergy to carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Tegretol).
Some people may experience thoughts regarding suicide while taking oxcarbazepine.
Your doctor should monitor your mental health at regular visits.
Your family and different caregivers should be aware of changes in your mood or symptoms.
Do not begin or stop taking Trileptal as prescribed to you during a pregnancy without your doctor’s recommendation and guidance.
Experiencing a seizure of any sorts during a pregnancy can harm both the mother and the baby.
Tell your doctor quickly if you become pregnant or are planning to become pregnant while taking oxcarbazepine for seizures or any purpose at all.
If you’re pregnant and taking oxcarbazepine, you could also be a part of a study that traces the consequences and effects of oxcarbazepine on the baby inside of a mother who is taking oxcarbazepine.
Oxcarbazepine will make hormonal birth management pills less effective.
Consult with your doctor about the possibility of using a non-hormonal birth control, such as a diaphragm with spermicide, as an alternative method to prevent pregnancy.
You should not breast-feed while you’re taking Trileptal.
Do not offer these drugs to a toddler without medical recommendation.
There are specific age restrictions for the utilization of oxcarbazepine in young children, depending on the dose type and whether or not it’s used alone or with different medicines.
How Should I Take Trileptal?
Read the Medication Guide provided by your pharmacist before you begin using oxcarbazepine and when you get a refill.
If you have any questions, consult your doctor or pharmacist.
Take this medication by mouth with or without food as directed by your doctor, typically twice daily.
The dosage is determined by your medical condition, response to treatment, and other medications you may also be taking.
Children’s dosages are based mostly on weight.
To scale back your risk of side effects, your doctor should direct you to begin this medication at a small dose and slowly increase your dose.
Follow your doctor’s directions rigorously.
Ensure that you inform your doctor and pharmacist regarding all the medication you utilize (including prescription medication, nonprescription medication, and flavoring products).
Ø Take Trileptal specifically as prescribed by your doctor. Your doctor could change your dose. Use the medication specifically as directed.
Ø Shake the Trileptal oral suspension (liquid) before you live a dose. Use a medicine dose-measuring device rather than a kitchen spoon.
Ø Take the liquid directly from the oral syringe, or combine the medication with a small glass of water. Once using the syringe, rinse it with water and leave it to air dry.
Ø You may take the Trileptal oral liquid or tablets with or without food.
Ø You may want frequent blood tests.
Ø Do not stop taking oxcarbazepine suddenly, even if you are feeling fine. Stopping suddenly could cause accumulated seizures. Follow your doctor’s directions regarding tapering your dose.
Ø In case of emergency, wear or carry medical identification to let others recognize you utilize Trileptal.
Ø Seizures are a malady usually treated with a mix of medicine. Use all medications as directed by your doctor.
Read the medication guide or patient directions provided with every medication.
Don’t change your doses of medication without the guidance and recommendation of your doctor.
Ø Store in a location away from wetness and warmth. Throw away any unused liquid after 7 weeks.
Ø Close the bottle tightly.
Trileptal Side Effects
Seek emergency medical treatment if you have signs of hypersensitivity to Trileptal: hives; tough breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Seek medical treatment if you experience a significant drug reaction that affects several components of your body.
Oxcarbazepine may decrease the sodium in your body to hazardously low levels, which could cause a severe sodium imbalance.
Consult your doctor immediately if you experience nausea, lack of energy, confusion, feeling tired or irritable, severe weakness, muscle pain, or accumulated seizures.
Report any experienced symptoms to your doctor, such as mood or behavior changes, depression, anxiety, or if you are feeling agitated, hostile, restless, overactive (mentally or physically), or have thoughts regarding suicide or inflicting pain upon yourself.
Common Trileptal side effects could include:
Ø vertigo, drowsiness, tiredness
Ø balance or coordination problems
Ø nausea, vomiting
Ø tremors or shaking
Ø double vision
Ø rash
What different medications can affect Trileptal?
Using Trileptal with different medications that cause you to feel drowsy will increase these effects.
Consult with a doctor before utilizing any opioid medication, pills, muscle agents, or drugs for anxiety or seizures.
Sometimes it’s not safe to use medications at the same time.
Some medications will affect your blood levels differently in comparison to other medications you may be taking, which can increase side effects or cause the medications to be less effective.
Many medications can interact with oxcarbazepine.
This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Not all potential interactions are listed here.
Discuss with your doctor all of the current drugs and any medicine you are using when you begin or stop taking oxcarbazepine.
Side Effects
Ø Dizziness, drowsiness, tiredness, nausea/vomiting, stomach/abdominal pain, headache, bother sleeping, or constipation may occur.
If any of those effects last, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.
Ø Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the profit to you is larger than the danger of side effects.
Many folks who use this medication don’t experience extreme side effects.
Ø A small variety of individuals who take anticonvulsants for any condition (such as seizure, bipolar disorder, pain) could experience depression, unsafe thoughts, suicidal attempts, and various mental or mood issues.
Tell your doctor quickly if you or your family/caregiver notice any unusual or sudden changes in your mood, thoughts, or behavior including signs of depression, unsafe thoughts, and thoughts or actions regarding harming yourself.
Ø Tell your doctor quickly if you experience any serious side effects, including loss of coordination, vision changes (such as double vision), rapid/uncontrollable eye movements, shaking (tremor), simple bleeding/bruising, and uncommon weariness.
Ø Immediately seek medical attention if you have got any serious side effects, including signs of infection (such as fever, swollen body fluid nodes, sore throat that does not flee, cough) or symptoms of low sodium level (severe nausea, extreme sleepiness, confusion, seizures).
Ø Oxcarbazepine may seldom cause serious and possibly fatal skin reactions.
Some folks of specific ethnicities (including folks of Asian/South Asian descent) are at higher risk for serious side effects.
Your doctor could order a blood test to assess your risk before you begin taking this medication.
If the biopsy shows you’re a higher risk, your doctor should discuss the risks and advantages of taking oxcarbazepine versus different options decisions with you.
Such skin reactions have developed within a few months of beginning treatment.
Seek medical treatment quickly if you develop symptoms of a serious skin reaction such as skin rash/blisters/peeling, itching, or swelling. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for additional details.
Ø Immediately seek medical attention if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe vertigo, and respiratory distress.
Precautions
Before taking oxcarbazepine, if you’re allergic to it, carbamazepine, eslicarbazepine, or different anti-seizure medications, then call your doctor first.
This product could contain ingredients which have the potential to cause chemical aversions or different side effects.
See your doctor or pharmacist for additional details.
Before beginning this medication, tell your doctor or chemist your extensive medical history, particularly of: kidney illness and sodium imbalance.
This drug could cause you to be dizzy or drowsy. Alcohol or narcotics will cause you to become even more dizzy or drowsy.
Don’t drive, use machinery, or do something that necessitates alertness. Limit alcoholic beverages.
Talk to your doctor if you’re using drugs and narcotics.
Before having surgery, tell your medical provider about all the substances that you utilize (including prescription medication, nonprescription medication, and flavoring products).
Children could also be additionally sensitive to the side effects of this drug, particularly infections.
During pregnancy, this medication should only be used if it is the only option for an individual. It can hurt an unborn baby.
However, since untreated seizures are a significant condition that will hurt a pregnant woman and her unborn baby, don’t stop taking this medication unless directed by your doctor.
If you’re thinking about becoming pregnant, are pregnant, or suppose that you may be pregnant, consult with your doctor quickly about the advantages and risks of taking this medication throughout pregnancy.
Since hormonal birth control may not work while taking this medication (see Drug Interactions section), discuss reliable styles of contraception together with your doctor.
This medication passes into breast milk however it is unlikely to hurt a nursing infant.
Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the medication as you normally would have, however, skip the previous missed dose if it’s nearly time for your next dose.
Don’t take two doses at one time.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention.
What should I avoid while I am taking Trileptal?
Do not drink alcohol.
Drinking alcohol will increase possible effects, and will increase the likelihood and intensity of seizures.
Avoid becoming hot or dehydrated while exercising, in warm weather, or by not drinking enough liquid.
Follow your doctor’s directions regarding the kind and quantity of liquids you are suggested to drink.
Avoid driving and operating machinery until you recognize how these drugs specifically affect you.
Your reactions and reaction times may be impaired.
References:
Recommended Readings:
- Oxcarbazepine and Bipolar Disorder: A Guide
- The Treatment of Epilepsy
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