Eslicarbazepine Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Sep 22, 2024.

Applies to eslicarbazepine: oral tablet.

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits. This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly and to decide if you should continue to take it. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

Eslicarbazepine may cause some people to be agitated, irritable, or display other abnormal behaviors, such as feeling sad or hopeless, getting upset easily, or feeling nervous, restless, or hostile. It may also cause some people to have suicidal thoughts and tendencies or to become more depressed. If you notice any of these side effects, tell your doctor right away.

Serious skin reactions can occur with this medicine. Check with your doctor right away if you have blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin, red skin lesions, severe acne or skin rash, sores or ulcers on the skin, or fever or chills while you are using this medicine.

This medicine may cause serious allergic reactions affecting multiple body organs (eg, liver, kidneys). Check with your doctor right away if you have the following symptoms: a fever, dark urine, headache, rash, stomach pain, swollen, painful, or tender lymph glands in neck, armpit, or groin, unusual tiredness, or yellow eyes or skin.

This medicine may cause serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis and angioedema. These can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. Call your doctor right away if you have a rash, itching, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth while you are using this medicine.

This medicine may cause hyponatremia (low sodium in the blood). Check with your doctor right away if you have confusion, decreased urine output, dizziness, fast or irregular heartbeat, headache, muscle pain or cramps, nausea, vomiting, swelling of the face, ankles, or hands, or unusual tiredness or weakness while you are using this medicine.

Eslicarbazepine may make you dizzy, drowsy, clumsy, tired, or have vision changes. Do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous until you or your child know how this medicine affects you. If these reactions are especially bothersome, check with your doctor.

Check with your doctor right away if you have pain or tenderness in the upper stomach, pale stools, dark urine, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, or yellow eyes or skin. These could be symptoms of a serious liver problem.

Do not suddenly Stop taking eslicarbazepine without checking first with your doctor. Your doctor may want you to gradually reduce the amount you are using before stopping it completely. This may help decrease your chance of having more seizures.

This medicine may increase your risk of having blood problems (eg, pancytopenia, agranulocytosis, leukopenia). Talk to your doctor about this risk.

Some birth control pills may not work as well while you are using this medicine. You might need additional forms of birth control with your pills to avoid getting pregnant. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns.

Before you have any medical tests, tell the medical doctor in charge that you are taking this medicine. The results of some tests may be affected by this medicine.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Common side effects of eslicarbazepine

Some side effects of eslicarbazepine may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Serious side effects of eslicarbazepine

Along with its needed effects, eslicarbazepine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking eslicarbazepine:

For healthcare professionals

Applies to eslicarbazepine: oral tablet.

General adverse events

The more commonly reported adverse events have included dizziness, somnolence, nausea, headache, diplopia, vomiting, fatigue, vertigo, ataxia, blurred vision, and tremor.

Dermatologic

• Common (1% to 10%): Rash
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Alopecia, dry skin, hyperhidrosis, erythema, skin disorder, pruritus
• Frequency not reported: Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), nail disorder^[Ref]

Hematologic

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Anemia
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Thrombocytopenia, leukopenia
• Frequency not reported: Decreased hematocrit, decreased hemoglobin
• Postmarketing reports: Agranulocytosis, megoblastic anemia, pancytopenia^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Very common (10% or more): Dizziness (up to 28%), somnolence (up to 18%), headache (up to 15%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Vertigo, ataxia, balance disorder, tremor, dysarthria, memory impairment
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Coordination abnormal, memory impairment, amnesia, hypersomnia, sedation, aphasia, dysesthesia, dystonia, lethargy, parosmia, cerebellar syndrome, convulsion, peripheral neuropathy, nystagmus, speech disorder, dysarthria, burning sensation, paresthesia, migraine^[Ref]

Metabolic

• Common (1% to 10%): Hyponatremia, decreased appetite
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Electrolyte imbalance, dehydration, hypochloremia^[Ref]

Psychiatric

• Common (1% to 10%): Depression, insomnia
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Apathy, depression, nervousness, agitation, irritability, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, confusional state, mood swings, crying, psychomotor retardation, psychotic disorder^[Ref]

Ocular

• Very common (10% or more): Diplopia (up to 11%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Blurred vision, visual impairment
• Frequency not reported: Oscillopsia, binocular eye movement disorder, ocular hyperemia, saccadic eye movement, eye pain^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Common (1% to 10%): Hypertension
• Frequency not reported: Palpitations, bradycardia, tachycardia, hypotension, peripheral edema, PR interval prolongation^[Ref]

Hepatic

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Liver disorder
• Frequency not reported: Increased transaminases^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Very common (10% or more): Nausea (up to 16%), vomiting (up to 10%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Gastritis, dyspepsia, dry mouth, abdominal discomfort, abdominal distension, gingivitis, melena, toothache
• Frequency not reported: Duodenitis, epigastric discomfort, irritable bowel syndrome, odynophagia, stomatitis, increased appetite, decreased appetite, and ageusia^[Ref]

Genitourinary

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Urinary tract infection^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

• Common (1% to 10%): Falls, asthenia
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Myalgia, bone metabolism disorder, muscular weakness, pain in extremity, back pain, neck pain^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Common (1% to 10%): Cough
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Epistaxis, chest pain
• Frequency not reported: Dysphonia^[Ref]

Endocrine

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hypothyroidism^[Ref]

Other

• Common (1% to 10%): Fatigue, asthenia, gait disturbance, peripheral edema
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Malaise, chills^[Ref]

See also:

Further information

Eslicarbazepine side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.

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