Eslicarbazepine, Oral

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KEY POINTS

• This medicine is taken by mouth to treat partial-onset seizures. Take it exactly as directed.
• Keep all appointments for tests to see how this medicine affects you.
• This medicine may increase suicidal thoughts or actions in some people.
• This medicine may cause unwanted side effects. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that are serious, continue, or get worse.
• Tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Carry some form of ID stating that you have seizures and are taking antiseizure medicine.

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What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: antiseizure

Generic and brand names: eslicarbazepine, oral; Aptiom

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is taken by mouth to treat partial-onset seizures. This medicine is usually taken with other seizure medicines.

This medicine may be used to treat other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before you take this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• An allergic reaction to any medicine
• Depression or thoughts of suicide
• Low levels of sodium in your blood
• Kidney or liver problems

This medicine may make birth control pills less effective. If you need birth control, talk to your healthcare provider about methods that are effective while you are taking this medicine.

Females of childbearing age: Talk with your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Contact your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant while taking this medicine. You and your healthcare provider should decide if you should continue taking this medicine while you are pregnant. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I use it?

Read the Medication Guide that comes in the medicine package when you start taking this medicine and each time you get a refill.

Check the label on the medicine for directions about your specific dose. Take this medicine exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes. Your healthcare provider may increase your dosage, depending on your response and any side effects you may have. Be sure you know exactly how much to take each day and when to take each dose. Do not stop taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval. Your seizures may get worse if you suddenly stop taking this medicine. You may have to reduce your dosage gradually.

Check with your healthcare provider before using this medicine in children under age 18.

You may crush the tablets or swallow them whole. You may take the medicine with or without food.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.

What if I overdose?

If you or anyone else has intentionally taken too much of this medicine, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. If you pass out, have seizures, weakness or confusion, or have trouble breathing, call 911. If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, call the poison control center. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. The poison control center number is 800-222-1222.

Symptoms of an acute overdose may include: dizziness, drowsiness, trouble walking, lack of coordination, double vision, nausea, vomiting, numbness or tingling in the mouth.

What should I watch out for?

Antiseizure medicines may increase suicidal thoughts or actions in some people. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have new or worsening depression, any unusual changes in mood or behavior, or new or increased thoughts of suicide.

Rarely, this medicine may cause serious skin reactions. Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you develop any kind of rash or skin problem while taking this medicine.

This medicine may cause serious side effects that can affect your liver or kidneys. Contact your healthcare provider right away if you have a fever or rash, yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, severe stomach pain, loss of appetite, unusual tiredness, unusual bruising or bleeding, or trouble urinating.

This medicine may cause the sodium level in your blood to be low. You need to have blood tests regularly to see how this medicine affects you. Keep all appointments for these tests.

This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Drinking alcohol may make it worse. Do not drink alcohol unless your healthcare provider approves. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert.

This medicine may increase the effects of alcohol and other drugs that slow down your nervous system. Do not drink alcohol or take other medicines unless your healthcare provider approves.

If you need emergency care, surgery, lab tests, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine. Carry an ID card or a Medic Alert bracelet. If you become unconscious, the ID tells emergency healthcare providers that you may need special care.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help.): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (Report these to your healthcare provider right away.): Depression or thoughts of suicide; unusual changes in mood or behavior; trouble concentrating; trouble walking or talking; unusual bruising or bleeding; loss of appetite; yellowing of skin or eyes; dark urine; severe nausea or vomiting; trouble urinating; increased seizures; rash, blistering or peeling skin, or any skin problem; swollen lymph nodes; unexplained fever, cough, or sore throat; extreme tiredness, dizziness, drowsiness, or confusion; vision changes; muscle weakness or spasms; muscle or joint pain.

Other: Headache; mild dizziness, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, or tiredness; shakiness.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• Alpha blockers such as alfuzosin (Uroxatral), doxazosin (Cardura), and silodosin (Rapaflo)
• Antianxiety medicines such as alprazolam (Xanax) and diazepam (Valium)
• Antibiotics such as bedaquiline (Sirturo), clarithromycin (Biaxin), erythromycin (E.E.S., Ery-Tab, Erythrocin), and telithromycin (Ketek)
• Antidepressants such as amitriptyline, citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), imipramine (Tofranil), trazodone, trimipramine (Surmontil), vilazodone (Viibryd), and vortioxetine (Trintellix)
• Antifungal medicines such as isavuconazonium (Cresemba), itraconazole (Sporanox), ketoconazole (Nizoral), and voriconazole (Vfend)
• Antihistamines such as chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton), diphenhydramine (Benadryl), and hydroxyzine (Vistaril)
• Antipsychotic medicines such as aripiprazole (Abilify), haloperidol (Haldol), lurasidone (Latuda), pimozide (Orap), and quetiapine (Seroquel)
• Antiseizure medicines such as carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Epitol, Equetro, Tegretol), clobazam (Onfi), ethosuximide (Zarontin), felbamate (Felbatol), fosphenytoin (Cerebyx), gabapentin (Neurontin), lamotrigine (Lamictal), methsuximide (Celontin), oxcarbazepine (Trileptal), phenobarbital, phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek), primidone (Mysoline), rufinamide (Banzel), topiramate (Qudexy, Topamax, Trokendi), valproic acid (Depacon, Depakene, Depakote), vigabatrin (Sabril), and zonisamide (Zonegran)
• Antiviral medicines such as daclatasvir (Daklinza), elbasvir/grazoprevir (Zepatier), ledipasvir/sofosbuvir (Harvoni), ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir (Technivie), ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir/dasabuvir (Viekira), simeprevir (Olysio), and sofosbuvir (Sovaldi)
• Barbiturates such as butabarbital (Butisol), pentobarbital (Nembutal), phenobarbital, and secobarbital (Seconal)
• Calcium channel blockers such as amlodipine (Norvasc), amlodipine/atorvastatin (Caduet), diltiazem (Cardizem, Cartia, Tiazac), felodipine, isradipine (DynaCirc), nicardipine (Cardene), nifedipine (Adalat CC, Procardia), nisoldipine (Sular), and verapamil (Calan, Covera, Verelan)
• Cancer medicines such as axitinib (Inlyta), bosutinib (Bosulif), enzalutamide (Xtandi), erlotinib (Tarceva), gefitinib (Iressa), ibrutinib (Imbruvica), ifosfamide (Ifex), nilutamide (Nilandron), olaparib (Lynparza), palbociclib (Ibrance), and pazopanib (Votrient)
• Cholesterol-lowering medicines such as atorvastatin (Lipitor), lomitapide (Juxtapid), lovastatin (Altoprev), rosuvastatin (Crestor), and simvastatin (Zocor)
• Dexamethasone
• Diabetes medicines such as nateglinide (Starlix), repaglinide (Prandin), and saxagliptin (Onglyza)
• Exemestane (Aromasin)
• Flibanserin (Addyi)
• Heart medicines such as amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), disopyramide (Norpace), dronedarone (Multaq), eplerenone (Inspra), isosorbide (Dilatrate, Isordil, Monoket), ivabradine (Corlanor), quinidine, and ranolazine (Ranexa)
• HIV medicines such as atazanavir (Reyataz), darunavir (Prezista), delavirdine (Rescriptor), elvitegravir/cobicistat/emtricitabine/tenofovir (Stribild), fosamprenavir (Lexiva), indinavir (Crixivan), lopinavir/ritonavir (Kaletra), maraviroc (Selzentry), nelfinavir (Viracept), rilpivirine (Edurant), ritonavir (Norvir), and saquinavir (Invirase)
• Hormonal birth control pills, implants, shots, patches, vaginal rings, and IUDs, and hormones such as conjugated estrogens (Premarin), estradiol (Climara, Estrace, Estraderm, Vivelle), medroxyprogesterone (Depo-Provera, Provera), and norethindrone (Aygestin, Micronor)
• Immunosuppressants such as cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune), sirolimus (Rapamune), and tacrolimus (Astagraf, Prograf, Protopic)
• Ivacaftor (Kalydeco)
• Macitentan (Opsumit)
• Malaria medicines such as artemether/lumefantrine (Coartem), chloroquine, mefloquine, primaquine, and quinine
• MAO inhibitors such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), and tranylcypromine (Parnate) (Do not take this medicine and an MAO inhibitor within 14 days of each other.)
• Medicines to treat breathing or lung problems such as roflumilast (Daliresp) and theophylline
• Medicines to treat low sodium levels such as conivaptan (Vaprisol) and tolvaptan (Samsca)
• Medicines to treat or prevent blood clots such as apixaban (Eliquis), clopidogrel (Plavix), rivaroxaban (Xarelto), ticagrelor (Brilinta), and warfarin (Coumadin)
• Mifepristone (Korlym, Mifeprex)
• Muscle relaxants such as baclofen (Gablofen, Lioresal), carisoprodol (Soma), cyclobenzaprine (Amrix), methocarbamol (Robaxin), and tizanidine (Zanaflex)
• Natural remedies such as evening primrose oil, ginkgo, gotu kola, kava, St. John's wort, and valerian
• Nausea medicines such as aprepitant (Emend), ondansetron (Zofran), prochlorperazine (Compro), and promethazine
• Omeprazole (Prilosec)
• Pain medicines such as buprenorphine (Buprenex, Butrans), fentanyl (Abstral, Actiq, Duragesic, Fentora, Sublimaze), hydrocodone (Hysingla, Zohydro), methadone (Dolophine, Methadose), oxycodone (OxyContin, Roxicodone), tapentadol (Nucynta), and tramadol (ConZip, Ultram)
• Sleeping pills such as butabarbital (Butisol), eszopiclone (Lunesta), flurazepam, suvorexant (Belsomra), temazepam (Restoril), triazolam (Halcion), zaleplon (Sonata), and zolpidem (Ambien, Edluar, Intermezzo)
• Stimulants such as armodafinil (Nuvigil) and modafinil (Provigil)
• Tofacitinib (Xeljanz)

Do not drink alcohol while you are taking this medicine.

If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

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This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.