Tegretol vs. Trileptal

• Are Tegretol and Trileptal the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Tegretol? (Side effects)
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Trileptal? (Side effects)
• What is Tegretol? (Uses)
• What is Trileptal? (Uses)
• What Drugs Interact with Tegretol? (Interactions)
• What Drugs Interact with Trileptal? (Interactions)
• How Should Tegretol Be Taken? (Dosage)
• How Should Trileptal Be Taken? (Dosage)

Tegretol (carbamazepine) and Trileptal (oxcarbazepine) are anticonvulsants used to treat seizures.

Tegretol is also used to treat nerve pain such as trigeminal neuralgia and diabetic neuropathy, and to treat bipolar disorder.

Common side effects of Tegretol include:

• nausea,
• vomiting,
• dizziness,
• drowsiness,
• dry mouth,
• swollen tongue,
• loss of balance or coordination, or
• unsteadiness.

Common side effects of Trileptal include:

• dizziness,
• drowsiness,
• tired feeling,
• fatigue,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• upset stomach,
• diarrhea,
• headache,
• mental slowness,
• trouble concentrating,
• trouble sleeping,
• shaking,
• acne,
• skin rash,
• blurred or double vision,
• dry mouth,
• constipation, and
• problems with speech, balance, or walking.

Tell your doctor if you have serious side effects of Trileptal including:

• changes in vision,
• involuntary eye movements,
• difficulty speaking,
• difficulty concentrating,
• loss of coordination,
• trouble walking (abnormal gait),
• uncontrolled muscle movements (tremor),
• dulled sense of touch,
• easy bleeding or bruising,
• chest pain,
• persistent sore throat,
• stomach or abdominal pain,
• bloody stool,
• dark urine,
• change in amount of urine, or
• yellowing of eyes or skin.

Tegretol (carbamazepine) is an anticonvulsant used to treat seizures and nerve pain such as trigeminal neuralgia and diabetic neuropathy. Tegretol is also used to treat bipolar disorder. Tegretol is available in generic form.

Trileptal (oxcarbazepine) is an anticonvulsant, or antiepileptic drug, used to treat partial seizures in adults and children who are at least 2 years old. Trileptal is available in generic form.

Tegretol may interact with other seizure medications, HIV or AIDS medications, antibiotics, antidepressants, medications to treat mental illness, or blood thinners.

Tegretol may also interact with theophylline, birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy, drugs to treat tuberculosis, antifungal medications, cancer medicines, heart or blood pressure medications, medicines to prevent organ transplant rejection, steroids, or thyroid replacement medications.

You may have increased seizures or unpleasant withdrawal symptoms if you stop using Tegretol suddenly.

Trileptal may interact with other seizure medications, medicines to prevent organ transplant rejection, and heart or blood pressure medications.

The starting dose of Tegretol to treat epilepsy in adults and children over 12 years of age is 200 mg twice daily for tablets and XR tablets, or 1 tsp 4 times daily for suspension (400 mg/day). Usual maintenance dose is 800-1200 mg daily. The starting dose to treat trigeminal neuralgia is 100 mg twice daily for tablets or XR tablets, or ½ tsp 4 times daily for suspension, for a total daily dose of 200 mg. Control of pain is maintained in most patients with 400-800 mg daily. Consult your doctor for pediatric doses.

Treatment with Trileptal starts at a dose of 600 mg/day, twice daily. If needed, the dose may be increased by a maximum of 600 mg/day at approximately weekly intervals; the recommended daily dose is 1200 mg/day.