Drug description:

Oxcarbazepine belongs to antiepileptic medications.
Oxcarbazepine is indicated for use as monotherapy or adjunctive therapy in the treatment of partial seizures in adults and as monotherapy in the treatment of partial seizures in pediatric patients aged 4 years and above with epilepsy, and as adjunctive therapy in pediatric patients aged 2 years and above with partial seizures.
It is formulated as an oral extended-release tablet, immediate-release tablet, suspension.

Mechanism of action:

The pharmacological activity is primarily exerted through the 10-monohydroxy metabolite (MHD) of Oxcarbazepine. Oxcarbazepine and MHD produce blockade of voltage-sensitive sodium channels, resulting in stabilization of hyper excited neural membranes, inhibition of repetitive neuronal firing, and diminution of propagation of synaptic impulses. These actions are important in the prevention of seizure spread in the intact brain. In addition, increased potassium conductance and modulation of high-voltage activated calcium channels may contribute to the anticonvulsant effects of the drug. No significant interactions of oxcarbazepine or MHD with brain neurotransmitter or modulator receptor sites have been demonstrated.