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Oxcarbazepine: 7 things you should know

Medically reviewed by Carmen Fookes, BPharm. Last updated on Dec 30, 2022.

1. How it works

2. Upsides

3. Downsides

If you are between the ages of 18 and 60, take no other medication or have no other medical conditions, side effects you are more likely to experience include:

Note: In general, seniors or children, people with certain medical conditions (such as liver or kidney problems, heart disease, diabetes, seizures) or people who take other medications are more at risk of developing a wider range of side effects. View complete list of side effects

4. Bottom Line

Oxcarbazepine is an antiseizure medication that is used either alone or in combination with other antiseizure medications to reduce seizure frequency in people with partial seizures and sometimes other seizure types. CNS side effects (including concentration difficulties, sleepiness, and confusion) are the main side effects associated with its use.

5. Tips

6. Response and effectiveness

7. Interactions

Medicines that interact with oxcarbazepine may either decrease its effect, affect how long it works for, increase side effects, or have less of an effect when taken with oxcarbazepine. An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of the medications; however, sometimes it does. Speak to your doctor about how drug interactions should be managed.

Common medications that may interact with oxcarbazepine include:

Alcohol may also increase drowsiness associated with oxcarbazepine, so is best avoided.

Note that this list is not all-inclusive and includes only common medications that may interact with oxcarbazepine. You should refer to the prescribing information for oxcarbazepine for a complete list of interactions.

References

Further information

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use oxcarbazepine only for the indication prescribed.

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

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