Does Trileptal cause weight gain?
Trileptal (oxcarbazepine) can cause weight gain in patient with partial onset-seizures. During clinical development, 2 percent of adults treated with Trileptal 1200 mg or 2400 mg a day reported an increase in their weight compared with 1 percent of patients taking Trileptal 600 mg a day or placebo.
Significant weight gain has also been observed in children with epilepsy treated with oxcarbazepine in one small study. The study enrolled children aged from 3.7 to 15.9 years of age. A total of 26 children in the study were treated with oxcarbazepine. When the children were followed-up after 8 months’ treatment, significant increases in body weight and body mass index (BMI) were observed.
The recommended dose of Trileptal in children is based on their body weight, so any changes in body weight may require dosage adjustment.
Other side effects of Trileptal include increased appetite, leg edema (swelling) and digestive changes such as constipation, which can all affect body weight. Trileptal has also been reported to cause weight loss or decrease in some patients.
References
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Trileptal Product Label [Accessed October 2, 2022]. Available from: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2019/021014s043lbl.pdf.
- Garoufi A, Vartzelis G, Tsentidis C, et al. Weight gain in children on oxcarbazepine monotherapy. Epilepsy Res. 2016;122:110-113. doi:10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2016.03.004.
Read next
How long does Trileptal withdrawal last?
Trileptal (oxcarbazepine) is an anticonvulsant medication used to treat partial-onset seizures. It is also used off-label as a mood stabilizer for the treatment of bipolar disorder. Withdrawal from Trileptal may take weeks or months and should be done following the advice of your healthcare provider. Continue reading
How long does it take for Trileptal to work?
Trileptal works to stop partial-onset seizures and it may take days, weeks or even months to see if Trileptal is working for you to reduce the frequency of your seizures. The length of time patients were treated with Trileptal in clinical studies varied from days to almost 6 months.
If you are taking Trileptal off-label to treat bipolar disorder it may also take several weeks to tell if it is working for you. Continue reading
Is Oxtellar XR the same as Trileptal?
Oxtellar XR and Trileptal are two prescription medications that both contain the same active ingredient called oxcarbazepine. Both medications are taken by mouth and used in the treatment of partial-onset seizures, but they are made by different companies and come in different forms. Continue reading
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Drug information
- Trileptal Information for Consumers
- Trileptal prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side Effects of Trileptal (detailed)
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