Oxcarbazepine



Oxcarbazepine





(oks car baz’ e peen)

Apo–Oxcarbazepine (CAN), Oxtellar-XRDNC, Trileptal

PREGNANCY CATEGORY C


Drug Class

Antiepileptic


Therapeutic Actions

Mechanism of action not understood; antiepileptic activity may be related to its ability to block voltage-sensitive sodium channels, increase potassium conductance, and affect high-voltage activated calcium channels, leading to enhanced membrane stability.


Indications



  • As monotherapy or adjunct therapy in the treatment of partial seizures in adults and children 4 yr and older


  • Adjunct therapy for children 2 yr and older with epilepsy


  • Unlabeled uses: Alternative treatment of bipolar disorder, diabetic neuropathy, alcohol withdrawal



Available Forms

Tablets—150, 300, 600 mg; suspension—60 mg/mL; ER tabletsDNC—150, 300, 600 mg


Dosages

Adults



  • Adjunctive therapy: 300 mg PO bid, may be increased to a total of 600 mg PO bid if clinically needed. ER tablets: Initiate at 600 mg/day PO; increase at weekly intervals in 600-mg/day increments. Target dose, 2,400 mg PO once a day.


  • Conversion to monotherapy: 300 mg PO bid started while reducing the dose of other antiepileptics; other drugs should be reduced over 3–6 wk while increasing oxcarbazepine over 2–4 wk to maximum of 2,400 mg/day (in divided doses).


  • Starting as monotherapy: Start with 300 mg PO bid and increase by 300 mg/day every third day until the desired dose of 1,200 mg/day is reached. Some patients may benefit from doses as high as 2,400 mg/day but should be carefully monitored.

Pediatric patients 2–16 yr

Jul 21, 2016 | Posted by in NURSING | Comments Off on Oxcarbazepine

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