If you or someone in your family has epilepsy, or as we all know it, seizures, it's normal to feel a little nervous and curious when a doctor prescribes a new medication. "Will this really help?", "Will there be any side effects?" are a lot of questions that come to mind. So, today we're going to talk about the epilepsy medication Eslicarbazepine (pronounced: Es-li-kar-be-si-peen). We also know it by its brand name Aptiom.
What is Eslicarbazepine?
Simply put, Eslicarbazepine is a medicine that is used to prevent and control seizures caused by epilepsy. Sometimes the nerve cells in our brain become overactive. It's like a short circuit. That's when a seizure occurs. This medicine works by calming down those overactive nerves. Then the risk of seizures decreases.
This can be used as the main treatment for epilepsy or in combination with other medications. This will be determined by the doctor who examines your condition.
Things to tell your doctor before starting this medication
Before prescribing this medication, your doctor will ask you a few questions. It is very important that you tell them all the truth . Because that information will determine whether this medication is right for you or not, and how it should be given.
- Kidney or liver disease: If you have any kidney or liver disease, be sure to tell your doctor. This is because these organs are responsible for filtering and removing medications from the body. If their function is impaired, the dosage of the medication may need to be adjusted.
- Suicidal thoughts: This is a sensitive topic, but it needs to be discussed. If you or anyone in your family has ever felt depressed, hopeless, or had suicidal thoughts, tell your doctor. Some medications can rarely cause these thoughts.
- Allergies: Tell your doctor if you have ever had an allergy to Eslicarbazepine or a similar medicine called Oxcarbazepine. Also tell your doctor if you have any allergies to any other medicines, foods, or dyes.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding: If you are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or breastfeeding, you should definitely tell your doctor.
How exactly do you use this medicine?
The most important thing is to take the medicine exactly as prescribed by the doctor, at the prescribed time.
- Swallow this pill with a glass of water.
- It doesn't matter if you take it before or after meals.
- Get into the habit of taking your medicine at the same time every day. For example, every night after dinner. That way, you won't forget.
- Do not take more or less than the dosage prescribed by your doctor.
Very important: Do not stop taking this medication suddenly for any reason without your doctor's advice. Doing so may increase the risk of seizures suddenly or making them more frequent.
What if I take too much medicine?
If you think you have accidentally taken too much medicine, do not panic and immediately go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department (ETU) . Or call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital for advice.
What to do if you miss a dose of medication?
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the scheduled time. Never take two doses at once.
Other things that may interact with this medicine
Eslicarbazepine is a medication that can interact with some other medications. Therefore, tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking (prescribed by other doctors, over-the-counter medications, herbal remedies, vitamins).
| Type of medicine | What to know |
|---|---|
| Avoid taking these with | |
| Oxcarbazepine, Ranolazine, Rilpivirine | Taking these medications together with Eslicarbazepine is generally not recommended. |
| Tell your doctor about these as they can cause problems. | |
| Birth control pills | Eslicarbazepine may reduce the effectiveness of birth control pills. |
| Other antiepileptic drugs | Medicines like Carbamazepine, Phenobarbital, Phenytoin. |
| Clobazam, Omeprazole | Reactions may occur with these. |
| Cholesterol-lowering medications | Medicines like Rosuvastatin and Simvastatin. |
| Warfarin | A medicine that thins the blood. |
Things to keep in mind while taking the medicine
- Medical checkups: Be sure to go to the clinic on the days your doctor tells you to and have your condition checked.
- Mental health: If you experience any changes in your mental state (feeling sad, angry, anxious, or bored with life) while taking this medication, don't ignore it as a minor issue. Tell your doctor or a trusted family member immediately.
- Severe skin reactions: Very rarely, severe skin reactions may occur within a few weeks or months of starting this medicine. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience fever, body aches, red or purple skin rash, blistering, peeling skin, sores inside the mouth, swelling of the face or lips, or a rash on the neck or armpits.
- Dizziness and drowsiness: This medicine may make you feel drowsy or dizzy. Therefore, avoid activities that require alertness, such as driving or operating machinery, until you know how this medicine affects you. Be careful, especially if you are elderly, when getting up from a sitting position or getting out of bed suddenly.
- Birth control: As we mentioned earlier, birth control pills may not work as well while taking this medication. So, if you are not planning to have children, talk to your doctor about using another form of birth control (e.g. condoms).
Side effects that may occur due to medication
Like all medicines, Eslicarbazepine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
| Serious side effects that you should report to your doctor immediately | |
|---|---|
| Severe allergies | Skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, throat. |
| Low Sodium | Muscle weakness, extreme fatigue, headaches, confusion. |
| Severe skin symptoms | Red bumps, blisters, peeling skin, fever, and swollen glands. |
| Mental changes | Boredom, suicidal thoughts, depression. |
| Side effects that are usually not serious, but should be reported to the doctor if they persist | |
| Drowsiness, dizziness | Headache |
| Vision changes (double vision) | Nausea |
| Loss of balance in the body | Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or speaking. |
How do you store medicine?
Store this medicine at room temperature (between 15-30 Celsius). Keep it safe and out of reach of children and pets. Discard any expired medicine.
Take-Home Message
- Eslicarbazepine is a medication that helps control epilepsy. Do not stop taking it suddenly without your doctor's advice.
- Inform your doctor about all other medications you are taking.
- If you experience any serious side effects, such as a severe skin reaction or a significant change in mental status, seek medical advice immediately.
- This medication may cause drowsiness and dizziness, so be careful when performing tasks that require attention, such as driving.
- If you are a woman using birth control pills, talk to your doctor about using an additional method of birth control while taking this medication.
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