Get Informed: Trileptal
Active Ingredient(s)
Oxcarbazepine
What does it do?
This product is used in the treatment of seizure disorders. Its exact mechanism of action is unknown.
- Last Text Update:
- 2010-Mar-20 9:17 PM
- Last Data Update:
- 2010-Mar-20 9:02 PM
Other Names
- Trileptal
- Oxcarbazepine
- Oxicodal
How Safe Is It?
- Your Risk Rating
- Please log in
- Average Risk Rating
-
- Pregnancy Category:
- C
- Black Box Warning:
- No
Facts & Figures
- Date Approved
- 14 Jan 2000
- Est US Patients*
- 447,600
- Generic Available
- Yes
- OTC Available
- No
User Age Distribution*
< 21
21-39
40-59
60+
Age (Years)
* Estimated number of US people currently taking Trileptal or its active ingredient based on population adjusted patient numbers registered with iGuard.org.
Trileptal Safety Report
Learn more about iGuard's risk ratings
- Please login or register (it's free) so iGuard can check how Trileptal interacts with other drugs and diseases in your profile.
What is Trileptal used for?
iGuard is currently tracking more than 2,900 patients that use Trileptal (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)). Use the table below to learn why iGuard users take this product; click on any underlined condition to get information on other medications used for treatment.
| Disease / Condition | % | Average Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Bipolar Disorder | 50% | 
|
| Epilepsy/Seizures | 38% | 
|
| Neuropathic Pain | 8% | 
|
| Depression | 8% |
|
| Attention Deficit Disorder | 4% | 
|
| Anxiety | 4% |
|
How well does Trileptal work?
iGuard regularly polls our more than 2,900 users taking Trileptal (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medications (TSQM) . This feedback is continuously updated in tables below for the benefit of the iGuard community. To request scores for specific patient subgroups, please contact research@iguard.org.
Average Satisfaction Score
(out of 10)
Average Effectiveness Score
(out of 10)
- 79%
- of patients are confident that the good things about Trileptal outweigh the bad things.
- 12%
- of patients wish they were told more before they started taking Trileptal.
Common Side Effects of Trileptal
iGuard regularly polls our more than 2,900 users taking Trileptal (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) to monitor the development and frequency of side-effects. This feedback is continuously updated in tables and graphs below for the benefit of the iGuard community.
50% of patients experience side-effects on Trileptal
12% of patients experience signifcant side-effects on Trileptal
Most Common Side Effects...
-
Dizziness
-
Drowsiness
-
Fatigue
-
Mood/Behavior Changes
-
Nausea/Vomiting
-
Grogginess/Confusion
-
Numbness/Tingling
-
Weight Gain
-
Dryness
-
Balance/Coordination Problems
-
Nasal/Sinus Congestion
-
Headache
-
= 10%
Global Patient Feedback for Trileptal (Oxcarbazepine) ( Post a comment )
Question/Comment:
I take oxcarbazine for joint pain, not seizures. It seems to work pretty good. I take 300mg 3xa day. Should I stop taking Celebrex?
54 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-03-15 11:09:39
Question/Comment:
I have been taking this for a few months now, the fatigue has pretty much gone away, however the dizzyness is still there and that is a hard thing to deal with. I take it with Abilify and other things like Ambien to sleep. The drowsiness goes away after a while.
25 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-03-13 08:57:24
Question/Comment:
I have been taking Trileptal since 2002. The doctor started me on it when I had my first seizure. I only have seizures when I am a sleep, I did have side effects when I first started to take Trileptal. An upset stomach, feeling off balance and having a few ticks. I also started to cough within the first 45 minutes after taking a dose. I have not had a seizure since 2003. I am on 300mg every 4 hours along with Dilantin. I am now starting to get side effects again. Off balance and my hands jumping a little.
55 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-09-12 14:00:36
Question/Comment:
HELLO! BEEN ON TRILEPTAL, FOR 5 YARS NOW,AT 300 MG TWICE DAILY,DOCTER SAID IT WAS TO LOW OF DOSE,SO HE DOUBLE IT,OVER NIGHT, I DO NOT TAKE IT ANYMORE,FIND YOURSELF ANOTHER DRUG IF YOU ARE BYPOLAR, I FEEL 100% BETTER, THE DRUGS WAS DELETING THE OTHER MEDS I WAS TAKING,ZOLOFT,TRAZADONE. IT MADE ME SUICIDLE,
48 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-06-28 14:01:00
Answer/Reply:
That is very interesting. I am bipolar and that is why I take Trileptal. I take 1500mg a day....a nice dosage. It makes me "high" and kind of drowsy. But I have been on it for 2 1/2 years and the "high" isn't as bad any more. I can function now. I didn't like it at first because I couldn't function because of the drowsiness and "high". I stopped it and found out that was even worse! So, I had to get used to it and it has made a world of a difference! I also take Zoloft, Lybrel, and Mirapex. The only thing that worries me is it decreasing the effectiveness of my BC, Lybrel. But it has been fine so far. Just being smart and staying protected is all you have to do. It doesn't effect my Zoloft or my Mirapex. I have to take a little bit more of the drugs to keep the effectiveness, but that is fine. Trileptal is a dangerous drug that is not good to keep in your system for years and years. But you know what, I am happy and pretty stable and I don't want to kill myself. So, I am happy. I might have to be on this drug for the rest of my life. So be it. At least I will get to live an entire life. Different drugs affect different people. You just have to see what works for you. But when using these dangerous drugs, you must be very aware and very open with your psychiatrist.
19 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-09-14 08:54:30
Answer/Reply:
it was the zoloft and the tradone you were taking that made you suisidal not the trileptal, i have been taking trileptal for about 1 1/2 yrs and its the best thing i have taken for bypolar,moooood swingssssssssssss nothing else like it. i got offf it for 3 weeks thinking it was making me crazy etc. but i found out i needed it for mood swings,depressant etc i felt alot better with it.DEE
54 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-09-27 05:40:35
Question/Comment:
My 5-yr old grandson's dosage of Trileptal oral was just increased from 5ml to 7.5 ml per dosage (2x daily). He is now experiencing problems with his vision. Is this normal? Will this problem dimenish as his body gets accustomed to the new dosage?
45 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-05-06 21:43:04
Answer/Reply:
My son was diagnoised in june of 2008 with epilepsy and is also on the trileptal and he is supposed to take 3mls 2x a day. he was experincing the same symptoms and also could barley stand. when i told our nero doc about it they said it was normal and the side effects would pass and told me to try givin it to him with food. but they didnt and after a month of this i contacted the his pediatrition and asked him he told me no that he shouldnt have that many side effects and he decreased the dosage to 3 ml 1x a day and since then he has been wonderful. i would recommend if the nero doc is not listening either find a new doc or just let the ped doc know that he is havin these problems. i had to switch nero docs 3xs and still dont go see the doc as much. we perfer to see his ped doc instead because he listens. sometimes u really gotta put your foot down with these docs when they dont listen. u and his mother know whats right for him and whats normal for him and some docs jsut look at it like a paycheck.
26 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-06-01 20:59:52
iGuard Answer/Reply:
Vision problems, including seeing double, are a common side effect of Trileptal (oxcarbazepine) and occur more frequently at higher doses. It is best to find a doctor who is willing to listen and respond to ensure the best care possible for you or the person you care for as it sounds like you have done. Epilepsy that is not controlled could lead to significant problems. You should always consult a doctor before making any adjustments to the medication and ensure the doctor is aware of any side effects that are occurring.
Posted: 2009-06-25 13:28:21
Answer/Reply:
I really do not know if the trileptal affects vision but I will say that my son started it when he was 8 and needed glasses by the time that he was 12. I did not wear glasses then and did not need them but my all family wears glasses and I was the only one that did not. My son also plays alot of video games and computer time so that could contribute also. But now that you ask that question it makes me wonder. I will look in the drug guide at work and let you know take care stacey
37 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-06-04 20:02:57
You may post comments for the benefit of other patients or post questions other patients might be able to answer. Comments are submitted for possible publication on the condition that they may be edited. Only your age and gender will be published with your comment, although your other user details will be securely recorded for verification purposes.
Comments may be either questions or answers to previously posted questions. Any iGuard.org user may post questions and reply.
45
Patient Comments about
Trileptal