Clinical Information

Oxcarbazepine (OCBZ) is approved as monotherapy and adjunctive therapy for partial seizures with and without secondary generalized seizures in adults and as adjunctive therapy for partial seizures in children. In humans, OCBZ is a prodrug that is almost immediately and completely metabolized to 10-hydroxy-10,11-dihydrocarbamazepine, known as monohydroxy carbamazepine (MHDC), an active metabolite that is responsible for OCBZ's therapeutic effect. The elimination half-life is approximately 2 hours for OCBZ and 7 to 11 hours for MHC. The therapeutic range (10-35 mcg/mL) is based on concentrations of the metabolite, not the parent drug; this assay measures the metabolite only.

In clinical practice, the OCBZ dosage should be individually adjusted for each patient to achieve the desired therapeutic response. Toxicity associated with OCBZ includes hyponatremia, dizziness, somnolence, diplopia, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, ataxia, abnormal vision, abdominal pain, tremor, dyspepsia, and abnormal gait. These toxicities may be observed when blood concentrations are in the therapeutic range.