An antiepileptic medicine for focal seizures
Eslicarbazepine
An antiepileptic medicine taken by mouth to help control focal seizures.
What is Eslicarbazepine?
Eslicarbazepine is an antiepileptic medicine taken once a day by mouth to help control focal seizures, a type of seizure that starts in one part of the brain. It works by calming overactive electrical signals in the brain. Important safety points are that it can lower the body's sodium level (hyponatraemia), it can rarely cause serious skin reactions including a condition called DRESS, and it commonly causes dizziness and double vision. It also interacts with several medicines. It is started and adjusted by a specialist and should not be stopped suddenly.
Education and reference only. This is a plain-language guide to Eslicarbazepine — it deliberately contains no doses. Doses depend on the person, the brand and the reason for treatment, and belong with your prescriber. Always check the BNF, the product labelling (SmPC) and follow medical advice.
What it is
Eslicarbazepine is a medicine used to help control epilepsy, specifically focal (also called partial) seizures, which begin in one area of the brain. It is taken by mouth, usually once a day, often added to other epilepsy treatment or used on its own. It works by steadying the electrical activity in the brain that drives seizures. It is started and adjusted by a specialist, with the level built up gradually, and it is taken regularly over the long term to keep seizures under control rather than to treat a seizure as it happens.
How it works
Seizures happen when brain cells fire off bursts of abnormal, excessive electrical activity. Eslicarbazepine acts on sodium channels, the tiny gateways that nerve cells use to send these electrical signals, helping to dampen the rapid, repeated firing that triggers a focal seizure. By calming this overactivity, it makes seizures less likely. Because it works steadily in the background, it is taken every day, and the level is built up slowly so the body can adjust. Stopping it suddenly can trigger seizures, so any change is made gradually under specialist guidance.
Company & origin
Originated / developed by: Specialist manufacturer.
A medicine used in the UK to help control focal seizures, a type of epileptic seizure that starts in one part of the brain.
What it treats
Conditions Eslicarbazepine is used for
Practical use
How to take Eslicarbazepine
General, dose-free guidance — always follow your prescriber's and the leaflet's specific instructions.
- Take it by mouth as your specialist directs, usually once a day, at about the same time.
- Build up and change the dose only as advised, and do not stop it suddenly, as this can trigger seizures.
- Report symptoms such as feeling sick, headache, confusion or worsening seizures, which can be signs of a low sodium level.
- Report any new rash urgently, especially with fever or feeling unwell, as serious skin reactions can rarely occur.
- Tell your team about all your medicines, including contraception, as eslicarbazepine interacts with several of them.
Weighing it up
Advantages & disadvantages of Eslicarbazepine
Advantages
- Can help control focal seizures, taken conveniently once a day.
- Can be used on its own or added to other epilepsy treatment.
- Works steadily in the background to make seizures less likely.
Disadvantages
- Can lower the body's sodium level, sometimes causing symptoms and needing checks.
- Can rarely cause serious skin reactions, including a severe reaction called DRESS.
- Commonly causes dizziness and double vision, and interacts with several medicines.
Practical use
Good to know
There are several important things to know with eslicarbazepine. It can lower the level of sodium in the blood (hyponatraemia), which may cause symptoms such as feeling sick, headache, confusion or worsening seizures, so sodium may be checked and these signs reported. It can, rarely, cause serious skin reactions, including a severe reaction called DRESS, so any new rash, especially with fever or feeling unwell, should be reported urgently. More commonly it causes dizziness, drowsiness and double or blurred vision, especially early on, which can affect driving and daily tasks. It also interacts with several medicines, including some other epilepsy treatments and hormonal contraception, which may be made less reliable. It must not be stopped suddenly, as this can bring on seizures.
Who should not take it / use with caution
- People who have had a serious allergic reaction to eslicarbazepine or related medicines should not take it.
- It is used with caution in people with certain heart-rhythm conduction problems.
- It is used with care in pregnancy and is started and supervised by a specialist, with monitoring.
Monitoring
- Checking sodium levels, particularly early in treatment or if symptoms suggest a low level.
- Watching for any new rash that could signal a serious skin reaction.
- Reviewing seizure control, side effects and interactions over time.
Side effects
- Dizziness, drowsiness and double or blurred vision, especially early in treatment.
- Feeling sick, headache or unsteadiness.
- Less commonly but importantly, a low sodium level, or rarely serious skin reactions such as DRESS, which need prompt attention.
Key interactions
- It can make hormonal contraception less reliable, so additional or alternative contraception may be needed.
- It interacts with several other epilepsy medicines, so doses may need adjusting.
- Other medicines that lower sodium, such as some water tablets, can add to the risk of a low sodium level.
Available as: Tablets taken by mouth, and a liquid for those who need it.
Answers
Eslicarbazepine: frequently asked questions
What is eslicarbazepine used for?
It is an antiepileptic medicine used to help control focal seizures, a type of epileptic seizure that starts in one part of the brain.
Why might my sodium level be checked?
Eslicarbazepine can lower the body's sodium level, which may cause symptoms such as feeling sick, headache or confusion, so sodium may be monitored.
What skin reactions should I watch for?
Report any new rash urgently, especially with fever or feeling unwell, as serious skin reactions including a condition called DRESS can rarely occur.
Does it affect my contraception?
It can make hormonal contraception less reliable, so tell your team, who may advise additional or alternative contraception.
Can I stop it if I feel well?
No. Stopping it suddenly can trigger seizures, so any change must be made gradually under specialist guidance.
Authoritative sources
- BNF
- NICE CKS
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