Eslicarbazepine

Eslicarbazepine is an anticonvulsant. It works by reducing nerve signals that lead to seizures and pain.

Eslicarbazepine can be used by itself or with other medicines to treat partial-onset seizures in adults and children who are at least 4 years old.

Eslicarbazepine may also be used for reasons not mentioned in this medication guide.

Eslicarbazepine is usually taken once a day. Follow all instructions on your prescription label. Your doctor may change your dose from time to time. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than what is recommended.

You can take this medicine with or without food. The eslicarbazepine tablet can be crushed or swallowed whole.

Do not stop using eslicarbazepine suddenly, even if you feel well. Stopping suddenly may lead to increased seizures. Make sure to get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely.

This medication may cause unusual results in some medical tests. Inform any doctor who treats you that you are using eslicarbazepine.

Store at room temperature, away from moisture and heat.

Seek medical treatment if you have symptoms of a serious drug reaction: skin rash, fever, swollen glands, flu-like symptoms, unusual bruising or bleeding, or jaundice (yellowing of your skin or eyes).

Call your doctor right away if you have symptoms of low sodium levels in your body such as nausea, confusion, severe weakness, muscle pain, or increased seizures.

Some people have thoughts about suicide while taking seizure medicine. Stay alert to changes in your mood or symptoms. Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor.

Do not stop using eslicarbazepine suddenly.

You should not use eslicarbazepine if you are allergic to eslicarbazepine or oxcarbazepine.

To make sure eslicarbazepine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• kidney disease;
• liver disease;
• a blood cell disorder; or
• mood problems or suicidal thoughts.

Some people have thoughts about suicide while taking an anticonvulsant. Your doctor will need to check your progress at regular visits while you are taking eslicarbazepine. Your family or other caregivers should also be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms.

Do not start or stop taking eslicarbazepine during pregnancy without your doctor's advice. Having a seizure during pregnancy could harm both mother and baby. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant while taking eslicarbazepine for seizures.

If you are pregnant, your name may be listed on a pregnancy registry. This is to track the outcome of the pregnancy and to evaluate any effects of eslicarbazepine on the baby.

Eslicarbazepine can make birth control pills less effective. Ask your doctor about using non-hormonal birth control (condom, diaphragm with spermicide) to prevent pregnancy while taking eslicarbazepine.

Eslicarbazepine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while using this medicine.

Eslicarbazepine is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.

Get emergency medical help if you notice any signs of an allergic reaction, such as hives, trouble breathing, or swelling in your face or throat, or if you experience a severe skin reaction, which may include fever, sore throat, burning eyes, skin pain, or a red or purple skin rash that spreads and causes blistering and peeling.

Seek medical treatment if you have a serious drug reaction that may affect many parts of your body. Symptoms can include skin rash, fever, swollen glands, flu-like symptoms, muscle aches, severe weakness, unusual bruising, or yellowing of your skin or eyes. This reaction might happen weeks after you start using eslicarbazepine.

Eslicarbazepine can lower the sodium levels in your body to dangerously low levels, leading to a life-threatening electrolyte imbalance. Call your doctor immediately if you experience nausea, lack of energy, confusion, feeling tired or irritable, severe weakness, muscle pain, or increased seizures.

Inform your doctor about any new or worsening symptoms, such as mood or behavior changes, depression, anxiety, or feelings of agitation, hostility, restlessness, hyperactivity (mentally or physically), or thoughts of suicide or self-harm.

Also, contact your doctor right away if you have:

• severe dizziness or drowsiness, changes in vision, trouble thinking, or issues with walking or coordination;
• sudden weakness or feeling unwell, fever, chills, sore throat, or mouth sores; or
• liver problems, which may include nausea, loss of appetite, upper stomach pain, dark urine, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Common side effects of eslicarbazepine can include:

• dizziness, drowsiness, headache;
• feeling tired;
• nausea, vomiting;
• coordination problems, feeling shaky; or
• double vision.

This is not a complete list of side effects, and others may occur. Contact your doctor for medical advice regarding side effects. You can report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Eslicarbazepine may affect your thinking or reactions. Do not drive or operate machinery until you understand how eslicarbazepine will affect you.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you are currently taking and any that you start or stop using, especially:

• all other seizure medicines you use;
• omeprazole; or
• rosuvastatin (Crestor) or simvastatin (Zocor).

This list does not include everything. Other drugs may interact with eslicarbazepine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are included in this medication guide.