Trileptal (try-LEP-tal) is the brand name for the seizure medicine oxcarbazepine (ox-car-BAZ-eh-peen). Trileptal is available in many countries, including the United States, Canada, the UK, Australia, and the countries of the European Union.

Although Trileptal has been used in the United States just since 2000, it has been used in other countries since 1990 and has been studied in thousands of patients around the world.

Forms
Trileptal is marketed in the United States by Novartis Pharmaceuticals. The name or appearance may differ in various countries, but the dose (measured in milligrams, abbreviated "mg") will usually be the same. These descriptions apply to the U.S. versions:

Tablets
Trileptal tablets are available in three sizes:

Suspension
300 mg/5 mL suspension: off-white to slightly brown or slightly red liquid.

Trileptal is available in generic (non-brand name) form in the United States and some other countries, which is called oxcarbazepine.

How to take and store Trileptal
Follow your doctor's directions. Call if you have any questions. Usually, your doctor will tell you to start by taking one tablet – either 150 or 300 milligrams – two times each day. After a while, the doctor may gradually increase the dosage to get better control of your seizures. Because Trileptal (oxcarbazepine) is generally taken twice a day, many people help themselves to remember by taking it with breakfast and dinner. It's OK to take it either with food or without food. Ask the doctor what to do if you forget to take a dose.

To use the suspension, start by shaking the bottle well. Then immediately measure the prescribed amount, taking it from the bottle using the "dosing syringe" that was supplied with the medicine. This medicine can be swallowed directly from the syringe, or you can mix it in a small glass of water. After each use, close the bottle, rinse the syringe with warm water, and allow it to dry thoroughly.

Be careful if the doctor writes a new prescription using a different kind of pill. For example, if you've been using 150-mg tablets and the new prescription is for 300-mg tablets, be careful to use the correct number. Don't automatically continue to use the same number of pills as before. This kind of mistake may be especially easy to make with Trileptal, since all the tablets are the same color and shape. Make sure you know what size tablet has been prescribed.

All forms of Trileptal should be stored at room temperature, away from light and humidity. (Don't keep the pills in the bathroom if it's damp there.) Of course, keep all Trileptal out of the reach of children.

Keep the liquid suspension in its original container. Use it within 7 weeks of first opening the bottle.

Don't take more than the doctor prescribes. If you think you've taken one or two extra tablets, call your doctor for advice. For a larger overdose, call your local poison control center or emergency room right away, unless you have special directions from the doctor.

Don't stop taking Trileptal or change the amount you take without talking to your doctor first. Stopping any seizure medicine all at once can cause serious problems.

What if I forget?
If you forget a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, delay that dose for a few hours instead of taking two doses very close together. Then go back to the regular schedule. . If you're not sure about what to do, call the doctor's office for more advice.

Do your best to follow the doctor's directions. If you forget doses often, it may be a good idea to get a special pillbox or watch with an alarm to remind you.

Taking the right amount of seizure medicine on time every single day is the most important step in preventing seizures!