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Welcome to OrderMeds.Net
OXCARBAZEPINE
- Information
-
Additional Information
Why is this medication prescribed
Oxcarbazepine is used alone or in combination with other medications to treat certain types of seizures in the treatment of epilepsy. Oxcarbazepine is in a class of drugs called antiepileptics. It works by blocking the effects of substances in the brain that may cause seizures.
This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Proper Use of This Medicine
Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor.Do not take more or less of it, and do not take more or less often than your doctor ordered.
Do not suddenly stop taking this medicine without first checking with your doctor. To keep your seizures under control, it is usually best to gradually reduce the amount of oxcarbazepine you are taking before stopping completely.
Dosing
The dose of oxcarbazepine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of oxcarbazepine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
- For oral dosage form (tablets):
- For epilepsy:
- Adults and teenagers 17 years of age and older At first, 300 milligrams (mg) two times a day. Your doctor may increase your dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 2400 mg a day.
- Children 4 to 16 years of age Dose is based on body weight. The usual dose is 8 to 10 mg per kg (3.7 to 4.5 mg per pound) of body weight. The doctor may need to adjust the dose based on your response to the medicine.
- Children up to 4 years of age Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
- For epilepsy:
Missed dose
If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Check with your doctor if you miss two or more doses. Do not double doses.
Storage
To store this medicine:
- Keep out of the reach of children.
- Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
- Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Ask your health care professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.
Other uses for this medicine
Oxcarbazepine is used occasionally to treat anxiety. Talk to your doctor about the possible risks of using this drug for your condition.
What other information should I know
Call your doctor if you continue to have seizures or convulsions while taking this medication.If you give this drug to a child, observe and keep a record of the child's moods, behavior, attention span, hand-eye coordination, and ability to solve problems and perform tasks requiring thought. Ask the child's teacher to keep a similar record. This information can help the child's doctor determine whether to continue the drug or to change the dose or drug.
You should wear or carry identification jewelry or cards indicating medication use and epilepsy.
Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain lab tests to check your response to oxcarbazepine.
Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.
Before Using This Medicine
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For oxcarbazepine, the following should be considered:
Allergies Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to oxcarbazepine or carbamazepine. Also tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.
Pregnancy Oxcarbazepine has not been studied in pregnant women. However, oxcarbazepine is closely related to carbamazepine, a drug known for causing birth defects in humans. Before taking this medicine, make sure that your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.
Breast-feeding Oxcarbazepine is known to pass into breast milk and may cause unwanted effects in nursing infants. It may be necessary for you to take another medicine or to stop breast-feeding during treatment. Be sure you have discussed the risks and benefits of the medicine with your doctor.
Children This medicine has been tested in children 4 years of age and older, and in effective doses, has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems than in adults.
Other medicines Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking oxcarbazepine, it is especially important that your doctor and pharmacist know if you are taking any of the following:
- Carbamazepine (e.g., Tegretol) or
- Phenobarbital or
- Phenytoin (e.g., Dilantin) or
- Valproic acid (e.g., Depakote) Blood levels of oxcarbazepine may be decreased, causing a decrease in effectiveness and a possible increase in seizure frequency
- Felodipine (e.g., Plendil) or
- Verapamil (e.g., Calan) The effect of these medicines may be decreased.
- Oral contraceptives (birth control pills containing estrogen) the effectiveness of these medicines may be decreased
Other medical problems The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of oxcarbazepine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:- Kidney disease or
- Prior hypersensitivity reaction to carbamazepine or
- Hyponatremia (condition in which your body has too little sodium)
In case of emergency overdose
In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.
- For oral dosage form (tablets):
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