Trileptal

What is it?

An antieonvulsant and dibenzazepine, available as scored, oval, yellow tablets in 3 strengths containing 150mg, 300mg and 600mg of oxcarbazepine.

Medical Uses

Partial convulsions that may be accompanied by secondary, generalised tonic-clonic seizures.

Dosage

Adults, 600mg each day at first as 2 divided doses, then increase every week, if required, by amounts up to 600mg to a usual daily, divided dose in the order of 600 to 2400mg. Children, aged over 6 years, 8 to 10mg per kg of body weight as 2 divided doses at first. Then increase every week by amounts up to 10mg per kg of body weight, if required, to a daily maximum of 46mg per kg each day, as divided doses.

Special Care

Elderly persons, pregnancy, heart and circulatory disease, allergy to carbamazepine, impaired kidney function. Patients with weak heart or heart failure should have body weight monitored and those considered at risk should have sodium levels checked before and during treatment period.

Avoid Use

Children aged under 6 years, breastfeeding.

Possible Drug and Food Interactions

Phenobarbitone, calcium antagonists, other anti-epileptic drugs, drugs causing low blood sodium levels, drugs metabolised by CYP2C19 (an enzyme), NSAIDs, hormonal contraceptives, phenytoin, lithium, alcohol, MAOIs.

Known Side Effects

Gastrointestinal upset, CNS effects, skin effects, disturbance of vision, weariness, weakness, thrombocytopenia (low levels of blood platelets which may cause bleeding), low blood sodium levels, Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Any adverse side effects should be reported to the Committee on the Safety of Medicines (CSM).