About oxcarbazepine
Antiseizure medicine (dibenzazepine derivative)
Used for
- Treats partial-onset seizures in adults and children, alone or with other medicines.
Usual adult dose
Usually starts at 600 mg daily, then increases gradually; typical maintenance is 1,200 mg daily in two doses. Higher doses may be used under supervision.
Usual dose in children
Children aged 2–16 years: dosing is based on body weight, usually divided twice daily, with gradual increases.
Common side effects
- Dizziness or sleepiness
- Double vision or blurred vision
- Nausea or vomiting
- Low blood sodium
Important warnings
- Do not stop suddenly; seizures may worsen.
- Seek urgent care for rash, facial swelling, breathing difficulty, or severe skin reactions.
- May cause low sodium; monitoring may be needed, especially with symptoms.
- Can reduce hormonal contraceptive effectiveness and cause fetal harm.
Pregnancy
May increase risks to an unborn baby. Seizure control and treatment risks should be reviewed with a clinician.
Breastfeeding
Passes into breast milk; discuss potential infant effects and treatment needs with a clinician.
Interactions
- Hormonal contraceptives may work less well.
- May lower levels of some medicines, including felodipine and hormonal contraceptives.
- Some medicines, including phenytoin, may have increased levels.
- Other medicines affecting sodium or causing sleepiness may increase risks.
AI-generated from general medical knowledge, not from this product's official leaflet. It may be incomplete or out of date. Not medical advice — ask a pharmacist or doctor before making any decision.