Oxcarbazepine
Anti-epileptic · Anticonvulsant
Indications
Partial seizures with or without secondarily generalized tonic-clonic seizures.
Dosage
Monotherapy: Adults: Initial: 300 mg twice daily. Titrate: Increase by 300 mg/day every 3 day. Maintenance: 1200 mg/day. Children: 4-16 yr: Initial: 4-5 mg/kg twice daily. Titrate: Increase by 5 mg/kg/day every 3 day. Maintenance (mg/day): 20 kg: Initial: 600 mg, Max: 900 mg. 25-30 kg: Initial: 900 mg. Max: 1200 mg. 35-40 kg: Initial: 900 mg Max: 1500 mg. 45 kg: Initial: 1200 mg. Max: 1500 mg. 50-55 kg: Initial: 1200 mg. Max: 1800 mg. 60-65 kg: Initial: 1200 mg. Max: 2100 mg. 70 kg: Initial: 1500 mg. Max: 2100 mg. Adjunct Therapy: Adults: Initial: 300 mg twice daily. Titrate: Increase weekly by max of 600 mg/day. Maintenance 600 mg twice daily. Children: 4-16 yr: Initial: 4-5 mg/kg twice daily. Max: 600 mg/day. Titrate: Increase over 2 wk. Maintenance (mg/day): 20-29 kg: 900 mg. 29.1-39 kg: 1200 mg. >39 kg: 1800 mg. Conversion to Monotherapy: Adults: Initial: 300 mg twice daily while…
Adverse Effects
Fatigue, asthaenia, dizziness, headache, somnolence, agitation, amnesia, apathy, ataxia, impaired concentration, confusion, depression, emotional lability, nystagmus, tremor, GI upset, diplopia, vertigo, blurred vision, hyponatraemia, acne, alopecia, rash, wt.
Risk Factor (Pregnancy/Lactation)
Pregnancy: Risk cannot be ruled out. Lactation: Contraindicated or not recommended. Precautions: Renal or severe hepatic impairment. Hypersensitivity to carbamazepine. Monitor sodium levels in patients at risk prior to and during therapy. Cardiovascular disease; monitor weight in cardiac insufficiency or heart failure. Cardiac conduction disturbances. Monitor for skin reactions; withdraw immediately if occur and do not restart therapy with oxcarbazepine. Elderly. Withdraw gradually.
Interactions
Hormonal contraceptives, cyclosporin, tacrolimus, carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, lamotrigine, valproate, MAOIs, lithium, alcohol, St John's wort.
Advice to Patient
Take with or without meals. Shake suspension well before use and prepare dose immediately afterward. Withdraw prescribed amount using supplied oral dosing syringe. Mix dose in a small glass of water just before taking it, or swallow medication directly from syringe. Close bottle and rinse syringe with warm water and let it dry thoroughly. Contact prescriber if there is change in mental status, change in memory, change in gait, dizziness, acute weakness or fatigue, lack of sleep, muscle pain, cramps or weakness, skin rash, skin irritation, swelling of extremities, unusual bruising or bleeding, blood in urine/mouth/stool, swelling of face/eyes/lips/tongue, loss of control on seizure or if there is worsening of condition. Avoid alcohol during therapy. Take sufficient amount of fluids (2-3 litres per day) to maintain hydration, unless restricted by the prescriber. On start of therapy or…
Pharmacokinetics
Absorption: Complete. Metabolism: Extensively metabolized in the liver. Bioavailability: Immediate release tabs and susp have similar bioavailability (based on MHD serum conc.). Extended release tabs and immediate release products are not bioequivalent. Immediate release: Decreased in children <8 yrs; increased in elderly >60 yrs. Half-life elimination: Children 2-5 yrs: MHD (10-monohydroxy metabolite): Single dose: Mean range: 4.8-6.7 hrs. 6-12 yrs: MHD: Single dose: Mean range: 7.2-9.3 hrs. Adults: Immediate release: Parent drug: 2 hrs; MHD: 9 hrs; renal impairment (CrCl 30 mL/min): MHD: 19 hrs; Extended release: Parent drug: 7-11 hrs; MHD: 9-11 hrs. Time to peak, serum: Children 2-12 yrs: Immediate release: Oxcarbazepine: 1 hr; MHD: 3-4 hrs. Adults: Immediate release: MHD: Tabs: Median: 4.5 hrs; Susp: Median: 6 hrs; Extended release: MHD: 7 hrs. Excretion: Urine (95%). Faeces (<4%).
Brands with this active ingredient
Compiled by Healify Pharmacy from published drug references. How we compile it →
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