Oxcarbazepine is a prescription medicine used to treat and prevent epilepsy. This can be used alone or with other medications to treat the condition. This is an FDA-approved oral medication that helps decrease the nerve impulses that cause epilepsy.

What condition does Oxcarbazepine treat?

Oxcarbazepine is a prescription mostly recommended by doctors for epilepsy. Epilepsy occurs if the brain activity becomes abnormal. Wherein, it might affect any process your brain coordinates. Having this attack at certain times can lead to circumstances that are dangerous to yourself or others. Oxcarbazepine belongs to the class of drugs called anticonvulsants. This helps you live your life with confidence that it controls the occurrence of your epilepsy.

How does Oxcarbazepine work?

Oxcarbazepine is an anticonvulsant medicine that works by lessening the nerve impulses which cause epilepsy. By controlling the occurrence of epilepsy, it will help you go about your daily activities. It helps lessen symptoms such as:

• Uncontrollable jerking movements
• Confusion
• Fear or anxiety
• Loss of awareness

This medicine is not associated with any physical or psychological but it should not be stopped suddenly. It needs to be taken regularly as prescribed to be effective. You may trigger a seizure if you missed a dose.

What is the dosage of Oxcarbazepine?

Your dose and how often you take it will depend on:

• Your age
• How severe your condition is
• The condition being treated
• How you react to the first dose
• Other medical conditions you have

This medicine is usually taken twice a day by mouth. Each medicine can be taken with or without a meal or as directed by your doctor. To reduce your risk of side effects, your doctor may direct you to start this medication at a low dose and slowly increase your dose. Follow the instructions of your doctor carefully. For the best benefit, take this medication regularly. To help you remember, take it at the same time and in the same way each day.

Consult your doctor if you wish to stop taking this medication. Some conditions may become worse when this drug is suddenly stopped. Your dosage may need to be slowly decreased. Let your doctor know if your seizures worsen.

What are the precautions in taking Oxcarbazepine?

• In some patients, this medicine may cause suicidal behavior. This risk is especially higher on the prolonged usage of the medicine. Patients should be monitored closely for any changes in behavior and mood.
• This medicine may cause severe skin reactions. If any symptoms appear, inform your doctor and stop taking the drug as early as possible.
• If the usage is stopped abruptly, this medicine may cause withdrawal symptoms. This risk is particularly higher after extended usage of this medication. The treatment must be withdrawn slowly under the close supervision of your doctor. Do not stop the use of this medicine without consulting your doctor.
• This medicine should be used with caution in patients with mild to moderate liver injury. The lowest dosages must be initiated and increase the dose based on the response of the patient. This medicine is not recommended for use in patients with severe liver injury.
• This medicine should be used with carefulness in patients with a known history of kidney diseases due to the increased risk of worsening of the patient’s condition. Close monitoring of kidney function is recommended for such patients.
• Frequent monitoring of blood cell count is necessary. Any signs of low blood count should be reported to the doctor.
• This medicine may lower the sodium levels in the body. Any symptoms of low sodium levels such as headache, nausea, and weakness must be reported to the doctor.
• This medicine may cause blurred vision, dizziness, or drowsiness in some patients. It is recommended that you do not do any activities that need alertness like operating machinery or driving a vehicle if you experience any of these symptoms during treatment with this medicine.
• This is not recommended for use in pregnant or breastfeeding women. The risks and benefits must be discussed with the doctor before taking the medicine.
• The most common side effects of this medicine include feeling dizzy, vomiting, or nausea. Most of these are not serious. Keep taking the medicine but talk to your doctor if these side effects bother you or do not go away.