OXCARBAZEPINE belongs to a group of medicines called anti-convulsants or anti-epileptics used to treat epilepsy/seizures/fits. Epilepsy is a central nervous system disorder characterized by a sudden rush of electrical activity in the brain leading to seizures, unusual behaviour, and loss of awareness.
OXCARBAZEPINE works by reducing the attacks of seizures or epilepsy by decreasing the nerve impulses that cause fits. Thereby helps in controlling seizures.
You are advised to take OXCARBAZEPINE for as long as your doctor has prescribed it for you depending on your medical condition. In some cases, you may experience common side-effects such as dizziness, sleepiness, tiredness, headache, nausea, vomiting, double vision, stomach pain, diarrhoea or constipation, and weakness. You are advised to talk to your doctor if you experience these side-effects persistently.
Please do not stop taking OXCARBAZEPINE without consulting your doctor to avoid precipitating seizures. Do not take OXCARBAZEPINE if you are pregnant or planning for pregnancy unless prescribed by the doctor. Avoid taking OXCARBAZEPINE while breastfeeding as it may cause side-effects in breastfed babies. OXCARBAZEPINE should not be given to children unless prescribed. Consult your doctor immediately if you experience suicidal tendencies.
Epilepsy
OXCARBAZEPINE belongs to a group of medicines called anti-convulsants or anti-epileptics. OXCARBAZEPINE is used to treat epilepsy/seizures/fits. OXCARBAZEPINE works by decreasing the nerve impulses that cause fits and pain thereby controlling seizures. OXCARBAZEPINE is used alone or in combination to treat and prevent partial seizures in adults. OXCARBAZEPINE may be used as sole therapy in treating and preventing seizures in children above 4 years or is used in combination in children above 2 years. OXCARBAZEPINE does not cause dependence or tolerance.
Do not take OXCARBAZEPINE if you are allergic to any of its contents. Inform your doctor if you have or had heart problems, kidney and liver problems, if you have low levels of sodium in blood or if you are taking medicines that could lower the levels of sodium in the blood, or if you are using hormonal contraceptives. Do not stop taking OXCARBAZEPINE without consulting your doctor to avoid precipitating seizures. Consult your doctor if you are pregnant or planning for pregnancy. Nursing mothers should consult the doctor before using OXCARBAZEPINE as it may pass into the breast milk and affect the baby. OXCARBAZEPINE should not be given to children unless prescribed. Avoid consuming alcohol along with OXCARBAZEPINE as it could lead to increased dizziness and sleepiness. Consult your doctor immediately if you experience suicidal tendencies.
Drug-Drug Interactions: OXCARBAZEPINE may have interaction with antipsychotic (aripiprazole, lurasidone, quetiapine), sedative (zolpidem), anti-depressant (duloxetine, escitalopram, pregabalin, fluoxetine, trazodone, sertraline), antibiotics (erythromycin), pain killer (hydrocodone, methadone), anti-convulsant (lamotrigine, topiramate), antacid (esomeprazole), anti-anxiety (alprazolam), an antihistamine (cetirizine).
Drug-Food Interactions: No interactions found/established.
Drug-Disease Interactions: Inform your doctor if you have depression, liver disease, kidney dysfunction, suicidal tendency, irregular heartbeat, thyroid dysfunction, hyponatremia (low levels of sodium in the blood), or blood disorders.
Avoid consumption of alcohol while taking OXCARBAZEPINE as it may increase dizziness and sleepiness.
Please consult your doctor if you have any concerns regarding this, your doctor will prescribe only if the benefits outweigh the risks.
OXCARBAZEPINE should not be taken by breastfeeding mothers as it passes into breast milk and could lead to side-effects in breastfed babies.
Avoid driving as OXCARBAZEPINE may cause drowsiness, sleepiness and tiredness.
Dose adjustment may be needed in patients with liver impairment. Please consult your doctor if you have a liver impairment or any concerns regarding this.
Dose adjustment may be needed in patients with kidney impairment. Please consult your doctor if you have kidney impairment or any concerns regarding this.
OXCARBAZEPINE can be given to children aged above 6years if prescribed by the doctor.
Epilepsy/Seizures: Seizures, also known as fits or convulsions, is a single occurrence of abnormal electrical activity in the brain, whereas epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures. The possible causes of epilepsy include traumatic brain injury, scarring on the brain after a brain injury, high fever, stroke, vascular diseases, lack of oxygen to the brain, brain tumours, and genetic disorders. Symptoms include mood changes, anxiousness, nausea, dizziness, weakness, headache, muscle jerking, spasms, loss of balance, teeth clenching, rapid blinking or eye movements, biting the tongue, confusion, and loss of consciousness.