II. Indications
- Adjunctive agent in Refractory Partial-Onset Seizures
- Bipolar Disorder
- Trigeminal Neuralgia
III. Contraindications
- MAO Inhibitor use within last 14 days
- Bone Marrow suppression
- Pregnancy
- Tricyclic compound sensitivity
IV. Mechanism
- Dibenzazepine Anticonvulsant with chemical structure similar to Tricyclic Antidepressants
- Primary anticonvulsant effects
- Inhibits Neuron depolarization and Glutamate release
- Sodium Channel Blocker (similar to Carbamazepine and Oxcarbazepine)
- Other effects
V. Dosing: Adults
- Normal Renal Function
- Initial: 400 mg orally once daily for 1 week
- Increase dose by 400 mg to 600 mg per week as needed
- Maintenance: 800 mg orally once daily
- Maximum dose: 1200 mg/day (doses up to 1600 mg may be used if 1200 mg is not sufficient)
- Decreased Renal Function (Creatinine Clearance <50 ml/min)
- Initial: 200 mg orally once daily for 2 weeks
- Maintenance: 400 mg orally once daily (50% of standard dose)
- Maximum dose: 600 mg/day
VI. Dosing: Children (ages 4 to 17 years old)
- Weight 11 to 21 kg
- Start 200 mg orally daily
- Increase dose by 200 mg/day per week as needed
- Maintenance: 400-600 mg orally once daily
- Weight 22 to 31 kg
- Start 300 mg orally daily
- Increase dose by 300 mg/day per week as needed
- Maintenance: 500-800 mg orally once daily
- Weight 32 to 38 kg
- Start 300 mg orally daily
- Increase dose by 300 mg/day per week as needed
- Maintenance: 600-900 mg orally once daily
- Weight >38 kg
- See Adult Dosing
- Decreased Renal Function (Creatinine Clearance <50 ml/min)
- Decrease dose by 50%
VII. Safety
- Avoid in Pregnancy
- Risk of Spina bifida, Developmental Delay
- Unknown Safety in Lactation
- Enters Breast Milk
VIII. Adverse Effects
- Common
- Serious
- Hyponatremia
- Cardiac conduction abnormality (increases A-V delay)
- Hyponatremia (SIADH)
- Occurs in up to 40% of patients
- Risk factors include older age, Diuretic use and concurrent Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) use
- Hepatotoxicity or Liver failure (very rare)
- Life-Threatening Drug-Induced Rashes
- Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS Syndrome)
- Stevens-Johnson Syndrome or Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN)
- Most common with asian descent and HLA-B 1502 Mutation (and possibly HLA-B3101)
IX. Drug Interactions
- Do not use with other similar Sodium Channel Blocker agents such as Carbamazepine and Oxcarbazepine
- Fewer Drug Interactions than with Carbamazepine
- MAO Inhibitors (potentially lethal Drug Interactions)
- Hormonal contraceptives
- Eslicarbazepine decreases the contraceptive efficacy
- Use alternative, non-hormonal agents or backup Contraception
X. Resources
- Eslicarbazepine (Medscape)
- Eslicarbazepine Tablet (DailyMed)
XI. References
- (2014) Presc Lett 21(11): 65
- Ben-Menachem (2010) Epilepsy Curr 10(1): 7–8 [PubMed]
- (2022) Presc Lett, Resource #361206, Antiseizure Medications
- Olson (2020) Clinical Pharmacology, Medmaster Miami, p. 56-7
- Hamilton (2020) Tarascon Pocket Pharmacopoeia
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