Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal) is an anticonvulsant and mood stabilizing drug, used primarily in the treatment of epilepsy and bipolar disorder.

While similar in chemical structure to carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine contains an oxygenated benzylcarboxamide group. This difference helps reduce the impact on the liver of metabolizing the drug, and also prevents the serious forms of anemia occasionally associated with carbamazepine.

Side effects

Oxcarbazepine occasionally causes fatigue, nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, drowsiness, and blurred or double vision. It can cause hyponatremia, so blood sodium levels should be tested if the patient complains of severe fatigue.

External links

• Oxcarbazepine / Trileptal Fact Sheet
• Explanatory article
• Diagram illustrating the chief difference between oxcarbazepine and carbemazepine
• RxList entry
• http://www.psycheducation.org/depression/meds/moodstabilizers.htm
• http://www.psycheducation.org/depression/meds/trileptal.htm