Type of medicine Antiepileptic
Used for Epilepsy
Also called Trileptal
Available as Tablets
Oral liquid

Trileptal controls the convulsions (fits), suffered by epileptics, by reducing the activity of the central nervous system. It can be used on its own or with other medicines for epilepsy.

Why is this drug prescribed?

Trileptal tablets and suspension contain the active ingredient oxcarbazepine, which is a drug used to treat epilepsy. It works by stabilising electrical activity in the brain. Oxcarbazepine is also available without a brand name, ie as the generic drug. The brain and nerves are made up of many nerve cells that communicate with each other through electrical signals. These signals must be carefully regulated for the brain and nerves to function properly. When abnormally rapid and repetitive electrical signals are released in the brain, the brain becomes over-stimulated and normal function is disturbed. This can result in fits or seizures. Oxcarbazepine prevents epileptic fits by preventing the excessive electrical activity in the brain. It is thought to achieve this by preventing sodium from entering nerve cells when they begin to fire rapid and repetitive electrical signals. A build up of sodium in the nerve cells is necessary for the electrical signal to build up and be passed on to other nerve cells. As oxcarbazepine prevents this, it helps stabilise the electrical activity in the brain. Preventing the build-up of the electrical signal also prevents the release of a neurotransmitter called glutamate from the nerve cells in the brain. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that are stored in nerve cells and are involved in transmitting messages between the nerve cells. Glutamate is a neurotransmitter that acts as a natural 'nerve-exciting' agent. It is released when electrical signals build up in nerve cells and subsequently excites more nerve cells. It is thought to play a key role in causing epileptic seizures. Reducing the release of glutamate from the nerve cells in the brain is another way in which oxcarbazepine may help stabilise the electrical activity in the brain and prevent epileptic fits. Oxcarbazepine is related to carbamazepine, and is also used by specialists as a mood stabiliser for treating people with the psychiatric illness, bipolar affective disorder. This is an unlicensed use of oxcarbazepine. It is not fully understood how it works as a mood stabiliser, but is thought to be to do with the reduction of glutamate activity in the brain.

Treatments

* Partial seizures, with or without generalised tonic-clonic seizures. * Mood stabiliser in bipolar affective disorder.

What side effects can this drug cause?

* Sleepiness. * Headache. * Dizziness. * Visual disturbances such as double vision or blurred vision. * Fatigue. * Disturbances of the gut such as diarrhoea, constipation, nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain. * Low blood sodium level. * Agitation. * Confusion. * Depression. * Unstable moods. * Shaky movements and unsteady walk. * Concentration or memory difficulties. * Skin reactions such as rash and itch. * Acne. * Hair loss. * Weakness or loss of strength. * Decreased number of white blood cells in the blood. * Inflammation of the liver. * Irregular heart beats. * Chronic inflammatory disease which affects the skin and various internal organs.