Trileptal Side Effects
Serious Adverse Side Effects
Trileptal｜Oxcarbazepine has many serious adverse side effects associated with it, such as:
- Dermatological side effects such as erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis, all serious and deadly allergic reactions to the skin
- Endocrine metabolic side effects such as hyponatremia, a condition where bodily fluids outside the blood cells lack sodium
- Gastrointestinal side effects such as pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas
- Hematological side effects such as agranulocytosis, where there’s a dangerously low amount of white blood cells, aplastic anemia, a condition where the bone marrow doesn’t replenish old blood cells with new ones, and pancytopenia, which is a reduction of white, red and platelet blood cells
- Immunological side effects such as anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction and immune hypersensitivity reactions (intolerance to the medication)
- Neurological side effects such as status epilepticus, a persistent state of seizures
- Psychiatric side effects such as suicidal thoughts
- Respiratory side effects such as pneumonia
- Other side effects such as angioedema, an allergic reaction that involves swelling of the skin
Common Adverse Side Effects
More common and less severe adverse side effects with
Trileptal｜Oxcarbazepine include:
- Gastrointestinal side effects such as abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting
- Neurological side effects such as abnormal walking, lack of coordination, dizziness, headache, involuntary eye movement, drowsiness and tremors
- Ophthalmic side effects such as abnormal vision and double vision
- Other side effects such as fatigue
Warnings & Recalls for Trileptal
The only contraindication of
Trileptal｜Oxcarbazepine is a hypersensitivity to the active component of this drug, Oxcarbazepine.
Who Should Not Take This Drug
The warnings, precautions and preexisting conditions that hinder a patient’s ability to take this drug include:
- Concurrent use with hormonal contraceptives
- Rapid withdrawal from this drug
- Kidney impairment
- Suicidal individuals are at an increased risk of danger from suicidal thoughts
The pregnancy category rating of this drug from the FDA is a C, which means there isn’t a significant risk to pregnant women should they choose to take this drug, however it is best to discontinue this drug upon conception.
Trileptal Treatment and Use
Trileptal｜Oxcarbazepine is a drug that’s manufactured and marketed by Novartis International AG and is used alone or in a combination with other drugs to control epilepsy. The drug classification of Trileptal｜Oxcarbazepine is that of an anticonvulsant. It is also known as a mood stabilizing drug and can be used to treat anxiety, bipolar disorder and mood disorders as well as motor tics. It is administered as a suspended solution to take orally and also comes in film-coated tablet form.
It is worth noting that it was first approved by the FDA in 2000. In September of 2010, the pharmaceutical company Novartis pled guilty to marketing Trileptal｜Oxcarbazepine for unapproved uses that included neuropathic pain as well as bipolar disorder in the duration of 2000 to 2001.
How This Drug Works
The mechanism of action for Trileptal｜Oxcarbazepine is still yet largely unknown. The pharmacological activity of the main ingredient for this drug, Oxcarbazepine, occurs primarily through a metabolite called MHD, or 10-monohydroxy metabolite. In studies that have taken place, MHD-induced blockage of certain sodium channels results in the relaxation of hyper-excited neuronal membranes, the diminishing of synaptic impulses and inhibition of the repetition of neuronal discharges.
Dosage Information
In a therapeutic setting for epilepsy, Trileptal｜Oxcarbazepine is administered 300mg orally twice a day and the dosage is increased by the 3rd day to 1200mg. In monotherapy, the dosage can be up to 600mg per day which can be increased to 2400mg per day within 2-4 weeks of starting the regimen while gradually reducing the dosage of other drugs used concurrently with Trileptal｜Oxcarbazepine.
