The generic Trileptal i.e. Oxcarbazepine belongs to a group of drugs known as ‘Anticonvulsants’, or ‘Antiepileptic drugs’. Its working mechanism is as follows: The generic Trileptal i.e. Oxcarbazepine medicine works by decreasing the nerve impulses that cause the seizures disorder epilepsy. Trileptal is used to treat partial seizures in adults and children who are at least 2 years old.

However, before taking Oxcarbazepine i.e. Trileptal medication, ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer’s information for the patient and read it carefully. Talk to your doctor about all the possible risks of taking Trileptal medication. However, Trileptal may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide. Hence, for more information, consult your doctor and your medical pharmacist.

Follow the directions given by the doctor exactly for the usage of the Trileptal i.e. Oxcarbazepine medication and also read the prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part that you do not understand.

Take this medication by mouth usually twice daily. This drug may be taken with or without food. The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to therapy. It is important to take all doses on time to keep the level of medication in your blood constant. Take doses at evenly spaced intervals. Do not skip doses. Do not suddenly stop taking this drug without your doctor’s approval since seizures may reoccur. Notify your doctor if seizure control worsens.

If you notice any of the symptoms, which seem severe or persistent to you, please contact your doctor immediately. However, your doctor may need to monitor you carefully for side effects and alter the doses if necessary.

The side effects like headache, trouble in sleeping, acne, vomiting, rashes, constipation, dry mouth, dizziness, drowsiness, fatigue, nausea etc. may occur. Also inform your doctor immediately if you develop any of these serious side effects: double vision, change in vision, involuntary eye movements, difficulty in speaking, loss of coordination, trouble in walking, abnormal gait, uncontrolled muscle movements i.e. tremor, dulled sense of touch, stomach pain etc.

Let your doctor know, if you develop any of these unlikely but serious side effects, such as: chest pain, mental/mood changes, bloody stool. A serious allergic reaction to this drug is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. And symptoms of a serious allergic reaction include: rashes, itching, swelling, severe dizziness, trouble in breathing etc.

Inform your doctor if you experience any of these side effects or some new side effects occur which appear too bothersome to you.

Inform your doctor if you are allergic to the formulation of this medication or any other medication in any other form and also inform your doctor about any other medication you may be taking in any other form, as they may affect the way your medicine works.

However, Trileptal may interact with – calcium channel blockers e.g. verapamil felodipine, other seizure control medication e.g. carbamazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital, valproic acid. This medication may decrease the effectiveness of combination-type birth control pills. You may need to use an additional form of reliable birth control while using this medication and so consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Also inform your doctor if you take any drugs that make you drowsy such as: medicine for sleep, sedatives, tranquilizers, anti-anxiety drugs e.g. diazepam, narcotic pain relievers e.g. hydrocodone, codeine, psychiatric medicines e.g. phenothiazines such as chlorpromazine or tricyclics such as amitriptyline, muscle relaxants, antihistamines that cause drowsiness e.g. diphenhydramine. Check the labels on all your medicines e.g. cough-and-cold products because they may contain ingredients that cause drowsiness. Ask your pharmacist about the safe use of those products. Do not start or stop any medicine without doctor or pharmacist approval.

Moreover, Trileptal i.e. Oxcarbazepine may also interact with some kind of foods, varied medications, herbal products, nutritional supplements, vitamins, other OTC medicines, some vaccinations etc. Acquire more information about the interactions of the Trileptal medication from your doctor and the medical pharmacists.

In case of overdose call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.
If the suffering patient has collapsed or is not breathing call local emergency services at 911. Canadian residents should call their local poison control center directly.

Do not allow any other person to use your medication without getting doctor’s prescription themselves and also avoid using this medicine for other health conditions on your own. Keep the medicine away from the children and pets.

Also inform your doctor, if you are pregnant or are breast feeding. If you conceive during the course, inform your doctor immediately. Do not share your medicines with anyone, even if they have the same symptoms, for it may harm them. Do not begin, increase, decrease, or stop using this medicine on your own. In short discuss your complete medical history with your doctor, before taking the medicine.

Remember, it is very important to keep regular appointments with your doctor to study the way your body is responding to the course. And if you are going to have a surgery, tell your health care professional that you are using Trileptal medication.

Carry with you at all times an ID card mentioning your name, the medicine you are taking, the dosage, the name of the person and your health care professional they should call in case of an emergency. Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory and keep regular checks ups.

Also avoid alcohol and alcohol containing beverages whilst on a course with this medication.

And in case, if you wish to use the medicine in children, please contact your pediatrician for sure before its use.

If you missed the Trileptal i.e. Oxcarbazepine medication dose, do take the medicine immediately provided that there is ample of time in between the next dose. However, if it is almost time for the next dose skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Never double your doses to cope up with the missed. And in case, if you miss your one or two consecutive doses consult to your doctor or physician for guidance and continue further.

Generic Trileptal i.e. Oxcarbazepine is an anticonvulsant used alone or with other medicines to treat certain types of seizures in adults and children 2 years of age and older.

However, it may also be used to treat some other medical conditions which may be determined by your doctor accordingly and consult a pediatrician for the use of this medication in children.

The generic Trileptal i.e. Oxcarbazepine medication may be prescribed for other uses also and hence ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information about the Trileptal i.e. Oxcarbazepine medication.

Store generic Trileptal i.e. Oxcarbazepine, at room temperature at 77 degrees F 25 degrees C in a tight container away from light and moisture. And brief storage in between 59-86°F and 15-30°C is permitted. However, store it in a cool and dry place. Keep the medicine in the container, it came in and always keep it tightly closed. Check Expiry date without fail. Keep all medicines away from women, newborns, children and pets. Do not freeze in any case. Also, keep it away from heat, dampness and direct light. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down. When the medicine is not in use or outdated it should be discarded. Take help of your pharmacist in disposing this medicine properly. In any case, do not store the Trileptal medication in the bathroom.

Following precautions must be taken during consuming generic Trileptal i.e. Oxcarbazepine:

1. Inform your doctor if you have or have ever had: kidney disease, lung disease, liver disease, heart disease, diabetes, low or high blood pressure, decreased sodium blood levels, hyponatremia, recent seizures, heart attack, strokes, suicidal thoughts, trouble in urinating, dehydration, glaucoma, irregular heartbeats, mania/bipolar disorder, other cardiac disease, prostate enlargement, recent weight loss, serious injury/infection or any other severe disease etc. Also inform, if you drink alcoholic beverages or are a tobacco smoker etc.

2. Also acknowledge your doctor if you need to undergo any kind of surgery, including dental surgery or need an x-ray procedure that uses contrast agents. So, inform your doctors immediately about it, so that the doctor can decide whether to continue taking Trileptal medication or stop it during the surgery.

3. Let the doctor also know, if you are in-taking or are planning to take any prescribed or non prescribed medicines, health supplements or any other OTC medications, vitamins etc.

4. Do not use the Trileptal i.e. Oxcarbazepine medication, if you have any kind of allergy to it or to any ingredients of it and tell your doctor or pharmacist about the allergy and get treated accordingly.

5. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breast feeding before taking Trileptal medication. Hence also, inform your doctor immediately when you plan to conceive, or become pregnant during the course.

6. Do not share the drug with others unless they are prescribed by the doctor themselves. And if your symptoms of side effects do not improve in few weeks or if they become worse and bothersome, check these conditions immediately with your doctor.

7. Please, use the Trileptal medicine in the prescribed amount and do not overdose it or use it for the longer period of time. Do not discontinue on your own and consult your doctor before doing so to avoid further problems.

8. Regularly, keep your appointments with your doctor and keep an eye on the progress or side effects that has been noticed during the complete course.

9. Also, avoid smoking and consuming alcohol and alcohol containing beverages during the complete course to achieve good results.

10. For more information, contact your doctor and your pharmacists and also discuss the risks and benefits of the generic Trileptal.

11. Remember: This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy use caution engaging in activities requiring alertness such as driving or using machinery. It is also important that your doctor checks your progress at regular intervals.

12. Also, Laboratory and/or medical tests e.g. sodium levels, pregnancy tests may be performed to monitor your therapy.