How long does Trileptal withdrawal last?

Trileptal (oxcarbazepine) is an anticonvulsant medication used to treat partial-onset seizures. It is also used off-label as a mood stabilizer for the treatment of bipolar disorder. Withdrawal from Trileptal may take weeks or months and should be done following the advice of your healthcare provider.

Stopping Trileptal suddenly can cause serious problems and withdrawal symptoms including a return of seizures or symptoms of bipolar disorder. Before stopping treatment with Trileptal you should work with your healthcare provider to plan slowly reducing or tapering off your dose.

If you are taking Trileptal to treat your seizures, how long your Trileptal withdrawal lasts will depend on a range of factors such as:

• How many antiepileptic medications you are on
• What dose you take
• How often you had seizures before taking Trileptal
• Your risk from withdrawal seizures

If you’re taking an anticonvulsant like Trileptal for bipolar disorder, NICE recommends your withdrawal from Trileptal should take at least four weeks. Stopping Trileptal slowly helps to lower your risk of a relapse.