Trileptal
- Generic Name: oxcarbazepine
- Brand Name: Trileptal
Trileptal (Oxcarbazepine) side effects drug center
Trileptal Side Effects Center
Trileptal (oxcarbazepine) is an anticonvulsant, or antiepileptic drug, used to treat partial seizures in adults and children who are at least 2 years old. Trileptal is available in generic form. Common side effects of Trileptal include:
- dizziness,
- drowsiness,
- tired feeling,
- fatigue,
- nausea,
- vomiting,
- upset stomach,
- diarrhea,
- headache,
- mental slowness,
- trouble concentrating,
- trouble sleeping,
- shaking,
- acne,
- skin rash,
- blurred or double vision,
- dry mouth,
- constipation, and
- problems with speech, balance, or walking.
- changes in vision,
- involuntary eye movements,
- difficulty speaking,
- difficulty concentrating,
- loss of coordination,
- trouble walking (abnormal gait),
- uncontrolled muscle movements (tremor),
- dulled sense of touch,
- easy bleeding or bruising,
- chest pain,
- persistent sore throat,
- stomach or abdominal pain,
- bloody stool,
- dark urine,
- change in amount of urine, or
- yellowing of eyes or skin.
Treatment with Trileptal starts at a dose of 600 mg/day, twice daily. If needed, the dose may be increased by a maximum of 600 mg/day at approximately weekly intervals; the recommended daily dose is 1200 mg/day. Trileptal may interact with carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, or valproic acid. Many other medicines may interact with oxcarbazepine. Tell your doctor all prescription and over-the-counter medications and supplements you use. During pregnancy, Trileptal should be used only when prescribed. It may harm a fetus. Since untreated seizures are a serious condition that can harm both a pregnant woman and the fetus, do not stop taking this medication unless directed by your doctor. Hormonal birth control may not work if taken with this medication. Discuss birth control with your doctor. This medication passes into breast milk but is unlikely to harm a nursing infant. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.
Our Trileptal (oxcarbazepine) Side Effects Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information on the potential side effects when taking this medication.

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Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Seek medical treatment if you have a serious drug reaction that can affect many parts of your body. Symptoms may include: skin rash, fever, swollen glands, flu-like symptoms, muscle aches, severe weakness, unusual bruising, or yellowing of your skin or eyes.
Oxcarbazepine can reduce the sodium in your body to dangerously low levels, which can cause a life-threatening electrolyte imbalance. Call your doctor right away if you have nausea, lack of energy, confusion, feeling tired or irritable, severe weakness, muscle pain, or increased seizures.
Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor, such as: mood or behavior changes, depression, anxiety, or if you feel agitated, hostile, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.
Common side effects may include:
- dizziness, drowsiness, tiredness;
- balance or coordination problems;
- nausea, vomiting;
- tremors or shaking;
- double vision; or
- rash.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Read the entire detailed patient monograph for Trileptal (Oxcarbazepine)
Trileptal Professional Information
SIDE EFFECTS
The following serious adverse reactions are described below and elsewhere in the labeling:
- Hyponatremia [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
- Anaphylactic Reactions and Angioedema [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
- Cross Hypersensitivity Reaction to Carbamazepine [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
- Serious Dermatological Reactions [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
- Suicidal Behavior and Ideation [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
- Cognitive/Neuropsychiatric Adverse Reactions [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
- Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS)/Multi-Organ Hypersensitivity [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
- Hematologic Events [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
Clinical Trials Experience
Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.
Most Common Adverse Reactions In All Clinical Studies
Adjunctive Therapy/Monotherapy In Adults Previously Treated With Other AEDs
The most common (≥10% more than placebo for adjunctive or low dose for monotherapy) adverse reactions with TRILEPTAL: dizziness, somnolence, diplopia, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, ataxia, abnormal vision, headache, nystagmus tremor, and abnormal gait.
Approximately 23% of these 1,537 adult patients discontinued treatment because of an adverse reaction. The adverse reactions most commonly associated with discontinuation were: dizziness (6.4%), diplopia (5.9%), ataxia (5.2%), vomiting (5.1%), nausea (4.9%), somnolence (3.8%), headache (2.9%), fatigue (2.1%), abnormal vision (2.1%), tremor (1.8%), abnormal gait (1.7%), rash (1.4%), hyponatremia (1.0%).
Monotherapy In Adults Not Previously Treated With Other AEDs
The most common (≥5%) adverse reactions with TRILEPTAL in these patients were similar to those in previously treated patients.
Approximately 9% of these 295 adult patients discontinued treatment because of an adverse reaction.
The adverse reactions most commonly associated with discontinuation were: dizziness (1.7%), nausea (1.7%), rash (1.7%), headache (1.4%).
Adjunctive Therapy/Monotherapy In Pediatric Patients 4 Years Old And Above Previously Treated With Other AEDs
The most common (≥5%) adverse reactions with TRILEPTAL in these patients were similar to those seen in adults.
Approximately 11% of these 456 pediatric patients discontinued treatment because of an adverse reaction. The adverse reactions most commonly associated with discontinuation were: somnolence (2.4%), vomiting (2.0%), ataxia (1.8%), diplopia (1.3%), dizziness (1.3%), fatigue (1.1%), nystagmus (1.1%).
Monotherapy In Pediatric Patients 4 Years Old And Above Not Previously Treated With Other AEDs
The most common (≥5%) adverse reactions with TRILEPTAL in these patients were similar to those in adults.
Approximately 9.2% of 152 pediatric patients discontinued treatment because of an adverse reaction. The adverse reactions most commonly associated (≥1%) with discontinuation were rash (5.3%) and maculopapular rash (1.3%).
Adjunctive Therapy/Monotherapy In Pediatric Patients 1 Month To <4 Years Old Previously Treated Or Not Previously Treated With Other AEDs
The most common (≥5%) adverse reactions with TRILEPTAL in these patients were similar to those seen in older children and adults except for infections and infestations which were more frequently seen in these younger children.
Approximately 11% of these 241 pediatric patients discontinued treatment because of an adverse reaction. The adverse reactions most commonly associated with discontinuation were: convulsions (3.7%), status epilepticus (1.2%), and ataxia (1.2%).
Controlled Clinical Studies Of Adjunctive Therapy/Monotherapy In Adults Previously Treated With Other AEDs
Table 3 lists adverse reactions that occurred in at least 2% of adult patients with epilepsy, treated with TRILEPTAL or placebo as adjunctive treatment and were numerically more common in the patients treated with any dose of TRILEPTAL.
Table 4 lists adverse reactions in patients converted from other AEDs to either high-doseTRILEPTAL (2400 mg/day) or low-dose (300 mg/day) TRILEPTAL. Note that in some of these monotherapy studies patients who dropped out during a preliminary tolerability phase are not included in the tables.
Table 3: Adverse Reactions in a Controlled Clinical
Study of Adjunctive Therapy with TRILEPTAL in Adults
Body System/ Adverse Reaction | TRILEPTAL Dos age (mg/day) | |||
TRILEPTAL 600 N=163 % |
TRILEPTAL 1200 N=171 % |
TRILEPTAL 2400 N=126 % |
Placebo N=166 % |
|
Body as a Whole | ||||
Fatigue | 15 | 12 | 15 | 7 |
Asthenia | 6 | 3 | 6 | 5 |
Leg Edema | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Increased Weight | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
Feeling Abnormal | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
Cardiovascular System | ||||
Hypotension | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
Digestive System | ||||
Nausea | 15 | 25 | 29 | 10 |
Vomiting | 13 | 25 | 36 | 5 |
Abdominal Pain | 10 | 13 | 11 | 5 |
Diarrhea | 5 | 6 | 7 | 6 |
Dyspepsia | 5 | 5 | 6 | 2 |
Constipation | 2 | 2 | 6 | 4 |
Gastritis | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Metabolic and Nutritional Disorders | ||||
Hyponatremia | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Musculoskeletal System | ||||
Muscle Weakness | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
Sprains and Strains | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
Nervous System | ||||
Headache | 32 | 28 | 26 | 23 |
Dizziness | 26 | 32 | 49 | 13 |
Somnolence | 20 | 28 | 36 | 12 |
Ataxia | 9 | 17 | 31 | 5 |
Nystagmus | 7 | 20 | 26 | 5 |
Abnormal Gait | 5 | 10 | 17 | 1 |
Insomnia | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
Tremor | 3 | 8 | 16 | 5 |
Nervousness | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
Agitation | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Abnormal Coordination | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Abnormal EEG | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Speech Disorder | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
Confusion | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Cranial Injury NOS | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
Dysmetria | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
Abnormal Thinking | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 |
Respiratory System | ||||
Rhinitis | 2 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
Skin and Appendages | ||||
Acne | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
Special Senses | ||||
Diplopia | 14 | 30 | 40 | 5 |
Vertigo | 6 | 12 | 15 | 2 |
Abnormal Vision | 6 | 14 | 13 | 4 |
Abnormal Accommodation | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Table 4: Adverse Reactions in Controlled Clinical
Studies of Monotherapy with TRILEPTAL in Adults Previously Treated with Other
AEDs
Body System/Adverse Reaction | TRILEPTAL 2400 mg/day N=86 % |
TRILEPTAL 300 mg/day N=86 % |
Body as a Whole | ||
Fatigue | 21 | 5 |
Fever | 3 | 0 |
Allergy | 2 | 0 |
Generalized Edema | 2 | 1 |
Chest Pain | 2 | 0 |
Digestive System | ||
Nausea | 22 | 7 |
Vomiting | 15 | 5 |
Diarrhea | 7 | 5 |
Dyspepsia | 6 | 1 |
Anorexia | 5 | 3 |
Abdominal Pain | 5 | 3 |
Dry Mouth | 3 | 0 |
Hemorrhage Rectum | 2 | 0 |
Toothache | 2 | 1 |
Hemic and Lymphatic System | ||
Lymphade no pathy | 2 | 0 |
Infections and Infestations | ||
Viral Infection | 7 | 5 |
Infection | 2 | 0 |
Metabolic and Nutritional Disorders | ||
Hyponatremia | 5 | 0 |
Thirst | 2 | 0 |
Nervous System | ||
Headache | 31 | 15 |
Dizziness | 28 | 8 |
Somnolence | 19 | 5 |
Anxiety | 7 | 5 |
Ataxia | 7 | 1 |
Confusion | 7 | 0 |
Nervousness | 7 | 0 |
Insomnia | 6 | 3 |
Tremor | 6 | 3 |
Amnesia | 5 | 1 |
Aggravated Convulsions | 5 | 2 |
Emotional Lability | 3 | 2 |
Hypoesthesia | 3 | 1 |
Abnormal Coordination | 2 | 1 |
Nystagmus | 2 | 0 |
Speech Disorder | 2 | 0 |
Respiratory System | ||
Upper Respiratory Tract Infection | 10 | 5 |
Coughing | 5 | 0 |
Bronchitis | 3 | 0 |
Pharyngitis | 3 | 0 |
Skin and Appendages | ||
Hot Flushes | 2 | 1 |
Purpura | 2 | 0 |
Special Senses | ||
Abnormal Vision | 14 | 2 |
Diplopia | 12 | 1 |
Taste Perversion | 5 | 0 |
Vertigo | 3 | 0 |
Earache | 2 | 1 |
Ear Infection NOS | 2 | 0 |
Urogenital and Reproductive System | ||
Urinary Tract Infection | 5 | 1 |
Micturition Frequency | 2 | 1 |
Vaginitis | 2 | 0 |
Controlled Clinical Study Of Monotherapy In Adults Not Previously Treated With Other AEDs
Table 5 lists adverse reactions in a controlled clinical study of monotherapy in adults not previously treated with other AEDs that occurred in at least 2% of adult patients with epilepsy treated with TRILEPTAL or placebo and were numerically more common in the patients treated with TRILEPTAL.
Table 5: Adverse Reactions in a Controlled Clinical
Study of Monotherapy with TRILEPTAL in Adults Not Previously Treated with Other
AEDs
Body System/ Adverse Reaction | TRILEPTAL N=55 % |
Placebo N=49 % |
Body as a Whole | ||
Falling Down NOS | 4 | 0 |
Digestive System | ||
Nausea | 16 | 12 |
Diarrhea | 7 | 2 |
Vomiting | 7 | 6 |
Constipation | 5 | 0 |
Dyspepsia | 5 | 4 |
Musculoskeletal System | ||
Back Pain | 4 | 2 |
Nervous System | ||
Dizziness | 22 | 6 |
Headache | 13 | 10 |
Ataxia | 5 | 0 |
Nervousness | 5 | 2 |
Amnesia | 4 | 2 |
Abnormal Coordination | 4 | 2 |
Tremor | 4 | 0 |
Respiratory System | ||
Upper Respiratory Tract Infection | 7 | 0 |
Epistaxis | 4 | 0 |
Infection Chest | 4 | 0 |
Sinusitis | 4 | 2 |
Skin and Appendages | ||
Rash | 4 | 2 |
Special Senses | ||
Vision Abnormal | 4 | 0 |
Controlled Clinical Studies Of Adjunctive Therapy/Monotherapy In Pediatric Patients Previously Treated With Other AEDs
Table 6 lists adverse reactions that occurred in at least 2% of pediatric patients with epilepsy treated with TRILEPTAL or placebo as adjunctive treatment and were numerically more common in the patients treated with TRILEPTAL.
Table 6: Adverse Reactions in Controlled Clinical
Studies of Adjunctive Therapy/Monotherapy with TRILEPTAL in Pediatric Patients
Previously Treated with Other AEDs
Body System/ Adverse Reaction | TRILEPTAL N=171 % |
Placebo N=139 % |
Body as a Whole | ||
Fatigue | 13 | 9 |
Allergy | 2 | 0 |
Asthenia | 2 | 1 |
Digestive System | ||
Vomiting | 33 | 14 |
Nausea | 19 | 5 |
Constipation | 4 | 1 |
Dyspepsia | 2 | 0 |
Nervous System | ||
Headache | 31 | 19 |
Somnolence | 31 | 13 |
Dizziness | 28 | 8 |
Ataxia | 13 | 4 |
Nystagmus | 9 | 1 |
Emotional Lability | 8 | 4 |
Abnormal Gait | 8 | 3 |
Tremor | 6 | 4 |
Speech Disorder | 3 | 1 |
Impaired Concentration | 2 | 1 |
Convulsions | 2 | 1 |
Involuntary Muscle Contractions | 2 | 1 |
Respiratory System | ||
Rhinitis | 10 | 9 |
Pneumonia | 2 | 1 |
Skin and Appendages | ||
Bruising | 4 | 2 |
Increased Sweating | 3 | 0 |
Special Senses | ||
Diplopia | 17 | 1 |
Abnormal Vision | 13 | 1 |
Vertigo | 2 | 0 |
Other Events Observed In Association With The Administration Of TRILEPTAL
In the paragraphs that follow, the adverse reactions, other than those in the preceding tables or text, that occurred in a total of 565 children and 1,574 adults exposed to TRILEPTAL and that are reasonably likely to be related to drug use are presented. Events common in the population, events reflecting chronic illness and events likely to reflect concomitant illness are omitted particularly if minor. They are listed in order of decreasing frequency. Because the reports cite events observed in open label and uncontrolled trials, the role of TRILEPTAL in their causation cannot be reliably determined.
Body as a Whole: fever, malaise, pain chest precordial, rigors, weight decrease.
Cardiovascular System: bradycardia, cardiac failure, cerebral hemorrhage, hypertension, hypotension postural, palpitation, syncope, tachycardia.
Digestive System: appetite increased, blood in stool, cholelithiasis, colitis, duodenal ulcer, dysphagia, enteritis, eructation, esophagitis, flatulence, gastric ulcer, gingival bleeding, gum hyperplasia, hematemesis, hemorrhage rectum, hemorrhoids, hiccup, mouth dry, pain biliary, pain right hypochondrium, retching, sialoadenitis, stomatitis, stomatitis ulcerative.
Hematologic and Lymphatic System: thrombocytopenia.
Laboratory Abnormality: gamma-GT increased, hyperglycemia, hypocalcemia, hypoglycemia, hypokalemia, liver enzymes elevated, serum transaminase increased.
Musculoskeletal System: hypertonia muscle.
Nervous System: aggressive reaction, amnesia, anguish, anxiety, apathy, aphasia, aura, convulsions aggravated, delirium, delusion, depressed level of consciousness, dysphonia, dystonia, emotional lability, euphoria, extrapyramidal disorder, feeling drunk, hemiplegia, hyperkinesia, hyperreflexia, hypoesthesia, hypokinesia, hyporeflexia, hypotonia, hysteria, libido decreased, libido increased, manic reaction, migraine, muscle contractions involuntary, nervousness, neuralgia, oculogyric crisis, panic disorder, paralysis, paroniria, personality disorder, psychosis, ptosis, stupor, tetany.
Respiratory System: asthma, dyspnea, epistaxis, laryngismus, pleurisy.
Skin and Appendages: acne, alopecia, angioedema, bruising, dermatitis contact, eczema, facial rash, flushing, folliculitis, heat rash, hot flushes, photosensitivity reaction, pruritus genital, psoriasis, purpura, rash erythematous, rash maculopapular, vitiligo, urticaria.
Special Senses: accommodation abnormal, cataract, conjunctival hemorrhage, edema eye, hemianopia, mydriasis, otitis externa, photophobia, scotoma, taste perversion, tinnitus, xerophthalmia.
Surgical and Medical Procedures: procedure dental oral, procedure female reproductive, procedure musculoskeletal, procedure skin.
Urogenital and Reproductive System: dysuria, hematuria, intermenstrual bleeding, leukorrhea, menorrhagia, micturition frequency, pain renal, pain urinary tract, polyuria, priapism, renal calculus.
Other: Systemic lupus erythematosus.
Laboratory Tests
Serum sodium levels below 125 mmol/L have been observed in patients treated with TRILEPTAL [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]. Experience from clinical trials indicates that serum sodium levels return toward normal when the TRILEPTAL dosage is reduced or discontinued, or when the patient was treated conservatively (e.g., fluid restriction).
Laboratory data from clinical trials suggest that TRILEPTAL use was associated with decreases in T4, without changes in T3 or TSH.
Postmarketing Experience
The following adverse reactions have been identified during postapproval use of TRILEPTAL. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.
Body as a Whole: multi-organ hypersensitivity disorders characterized by features such as rash, fever, lymphadenopathy, abnormal liver function tests, eosinophilia and arthralgia [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
Cardiovascular System: atrioventricular block
Immune System Disorders: anaphylaxis [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
Digestive System: pancreatitis and/or lipase and/or amylase increase
Hematologic and Lymphatic Systems: aplastic anemia [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
Metabolism and Nutrition Disorders: hypothyroidism and syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH)
Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders: erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS], Acute Generalized Exanthematous Pustulosis (AGEP)
Musculoskeletal, connective tissue and bone disorders: There have been reports of decreased bone mineral density, osteoporosis and fractures in patients on long-term therapy with TRILEPTAL.
Injury, Poisoning, and Procedural Complications: fall
Nervous System Disorders: dysarthria
Read the entire FDA prescribing information for Trileptal (Oxcarbazepine)
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