Oxcarbazepine

Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal) is an anticonvulsant chemically related to carbamazepine that works by stabilizing sodium channels in nerve cells, reducing abnormal electrical activity in the brain. It is FDA-approved for the treatment of partial seizures in adults and children, either as monotherapy or adjunctive therapy, and is also used off-label for bipolar disorder and neuropathic pain. Oxcarbazepine can cause hyponatremia (low sodium), particularly in elderly patients, and carries a risk of serious skin reactions such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome, especially in patients with certain genetic predispositions.