Practical aspects of oxcarbazepine treatment

In patients with refractory seizures, substitution of oxcarbazepine (OCBZ) for carbamazepine (CBZ) may be associated with reduced seizure frequency and an improved mental state. The recommended dosage of OCBZ as monotherapy for adults with epilepsy is 600-1,200 mg orally per day but may be higher in patients with refractory seizures and in patients requiring combination therapy. When OCBZ is substituted for ongoing CBZ therapy, it is possible to change the dosage immediately so that the patient finishes treatment with CBZ on one day and starts with a full dosage of OCBZ on the next day, even when the full dosage is 50% greater in milligrams than the corresponding CBZ dosage. Allergic skin reactions are rare, and crossreactivity is seen in about 25% of patients hypersensitive to CBZ. Hyponatremia after the use of OCBZ is usually benign, as long as the acute water intoxication is effectively treated. Because of its pharmacokinetic advantages and efficacy, we believe OCBZ is better than CBZ. We therefore consider OCBZ as the drug of first choice for conditions in which CBZ is currently indicated.