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.
References
- Laue-Gizzi H. Discontinuation of antiepileptic drugs in adults with epilepsy. Aust Prescr 2021;44:53-6. https://doi.org/10.18773/austprescr.2021.005.
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Bipolar disorder: assessment and management. Chapter 1 - Recommendations. February 11, 2020. [Accessed October 13, 2022]. Available from: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg185/chapter/1-Recommendations.
Read next
How long does it take for Trileptal to work?
Trileptal works to stop partial-onset seizures and it may take days, weeks or even months to see if Trileptal is working for you to reduce the frequency of your seizures. The length of time patients were treated with Trileptal in clinical studies varied from days to almost 6 months.
If you are taking Trileptal off-label to treat bipolar disorder it may also take several weeks to tell if it is working for you. Continue reading
Does Trileptal cause weight gain?
Trileptal (oxcarbazepine) can cause weight gain in adults and children, according to the results of clinical trials. Other side effects of Trileptal include increased appetite, leg edema (swelling) and digestive changes such as constipation, which can all increase body weight. Continue reading
Is Oxtellar XR the same as Trileptal?
Oxtellar XR and Trileptal are two prescription medications that both contain the same active ingredient called oxcarbazepine. Both medications are taken by mouth and used in the treatment of partial-onset seizures, but they are made by different companies and come in different forms. Continue reading
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Drug information
- Trileptal Information for Consumers
- Trileptal prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side Effects of Trileptal (detailed)
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