Eslicarbazepine Dosage

Medically reviewed on November 9, 2017.

Usual Adult Dose for Epilepsy

Monotherapy and Adjunctive Therapy:
-Initial dose: 400 mg orally once a day; some patients may be initiated at 800 mg orally once a day if the need for seizure reduction outweighs an increased risk of adverse reactions
-Dose titration: Increase dosage by 400 to 600 mg weekly, based on response and tolerability
-Maintenance dose: 800 to 1600 mg orally once a day; for patients on monotherapy, the 800 mg once daily maintenance dose should be considered in patients who are unable to tolerate a 1200 mg daily dose; for patients on adjunctive therapy, the 1600 mg daily dose should be considered in patients who did not achieve a satisfactory response with a 1200 mg daily dose

Comments:
-This drug may be taken without regard to meals.
-Tablets may be swallowed whole or crushed.

Use: For the treatment of partial-onset seizures as monotherapy or adjunctive therapy

Usual Adult Dose for Seizures

Monotherapy and Adjunctive Therapy:
-Initial dose: 400 mg orally once a day; some patients may be initiated at 800 mg orally once a day if the need for seizure reduction outweighs an increased risk of adverse reactions
-Dose titration: Increase dosage by 400 to 600 mg weekly, based on response and tolerability
-Maintenance dose: 800 to 1600 mg orally once a day; for patients on monotherapy, the 800 mg once daily maintenance dose should be considered in patients who are unable to tolerate a 1200 mg daily dose; for patients on adjunctive therapy, the 1600 mg daily dose should be considered in patients who did not achieve a satisfactory response with a 1200 mg daily dose

Comments:
-This drug may be taken without regard to meals.
-Tablets may be swallowed whole or crushed.

Use: For the treatment of partial-onset seizures as monotherapy or adjunctive therapy

Usual Pediatric Dose for Epilepsy

4 to less than 18 years:
Monotherapy and Adjunctive Therapy:
11 to 21 kg:
-Initial dose: 200 mg orally once a day; increase once a week in increments of no more than 200 mg, based on tolerability and response
-Maintenance dose: 400 to 600 mg orally once a day
-Maximum dose: 600 mg orally once a day
22 to 31 kg:
-Initial dose: 300 mg orally once a day; increase once a week in increments of no more than 300 mg, based on tolerability and response
-Maintenance dose: 500 to 800 mg orally once a day
-Maximum dose: 800 mg orally once a day
32 to 38 kg:
-Initial dose: 300 mg orally once a day; increase once a week in increments of no more than 300 mg, based on tolerability and response
-Maintenance dose: 600 to 900 mg orally once a day
-Maximum dose: 900 mg orally once a day
Greater than 38 kg:
-Initial dose: 400 mg orally once a day; increase once a week in increments of no more than 400 mg, based on tolerability and response
-Maintenance dose: 800 to 1200 mg orally once a day
-Maximum dose: 1200 mg orally once a day

Comments:
-This drug may be taken without regard to meals.
-Tablets may be swallowed whole or crushed.

Use: For the treatment of partial-onset seizures in patients 4 years of age and older

Usual Pediatric Dose for Seizures

4 to less than 18 years:
Monotherapy and Adjunctive Therapy:
11 to 21 kg:
-Initial dose: 200 mg orally once a day; increase once a week in increments of no more than 200 mg, based on tolerability and response
-Maintenance dose: 400 to 600 mg orally once a day
-Maximum dose: 600 mg orally once a day
22 to 31 kg:
-Initial dose: 300 mg orally once a day; increase once a week in increments of no more than 300 mg, based on tolerability and response
-Maintenance dose: 500 to 800 mg orally once a day
-Maximum dose: 800 mg orally once a day
32 to 38 kg:
-Initial dose: 300 mg orally once a day; increase once a week in increments of no more than 300 mg, based on tolerability and response
-Maintenance dose: 600 to 900 mg orally once a day
-Maximum dose: 900 mg orally once a day
Greater than 38 kg:
-Initial dose: 400 mg orally once a day; increase once a week in increments of no more than 400 mg, based on tolerability and response
-Maintenance dose: 800 to 1200 mg orally once a day
-Maximum dose: 1200 mg orally once a day

Comments:
-This drug may be taken without regard to meals.
-Tablets may be swallowed whole or crushed.

Use: For the treatment of partial-onset seizures in patients 4 years of age and older

Renal Dose Adjustments

-CrCl 50 mL/min or greater: No adjustment recommended.
-CrCl less than 50 mL/min: The initial, titration, and maintenance dosages should generally be reduced by 50%; titration and maintenance dosages may be adjusted per clinical response.

Liver Dose Adjustments

-Mild to moderate liver impairment: No adjustment recommended.
-Severe liver impairment: Data not available

Dose Adjustments

-The dosage should be reduced gradually to minimize the risk of increased seizure frequency and status epilepticus.
-Carbamazepine reduces the plasma concentration of this drug; when taken concomitantly, the dose of one of the drugs may need to be adjusted based on efficacy and tolerability.
-For patients taking other enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) (i.e., phenobarbital, phenytoin, primidone), higher doses of this drug may be needed.
-This drug should not be taken as an adjunctive therapy with oxcarbazepine.

Precautions

Safety and efficacy have not been established in patients younger than 4 years.

Consult WARNINGS section for additional precautions.

Dialysis

Hemodialysis partially removes this drug.

Other Comments

Administration advice:
-This drug may be taken without regard to meals.
-Tablets may be swallowed whole, divided, or crushed.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer