What is Trileptal used for?

Trileptal is a medicine to treat partial seizures in adults. It is taken alone or with other seizure medicines. Trileptal is also used to help treat partial seizures in children 2-16 years old when added to other seizure medicines, or in children 4-16 years old when used alone.

Special Warning(s) with Trileptal:

Trileptal can cause low levels of sodium in the blood. Signs of low levels of blood sodium, which can be dangerous, include nausea, extreme drowsiness, extreme fatigue, discomfort, headache, confusion, increase in seizure frequency or severity, or dullness. Tell your healthcare provider if you are taking any other medications that may lower the level of sodium in your blood. Medications that lower sodium include:

• carbamazepine (Tegretol)
• chlorpropamide (Diabinese)
• cyclophosphamide
• diuretics (water pills)
• octreotide
• vincristine

Trileptal can cause allergic reactions. These can include skin reactions that, in rare cases, can be serious. You should immediately contact your physician if you develop a new skin rash.  If you have had an allergic reaction to other anti-seizure medicines, especially carbamazepine (Tegretol), tell your healthcare provider.

Rare cases of a serious drug reaction, called multi-organ sensitivity, have been reported.  These usually, but not always, start with a rash and/or fever.  They may also be associated with other symptoms that may include one or more (or none) of the following: lymph node enlargement (swollen glands), joint pain, itching, fatigue, feeling sick, yellow skin and/or yellow eyes, bruising, increased infections, and decreased urination.

Talk to your healthcare provider before stopping Trileptal or any other seizure medicine. Stopping a seizure medicine all at once can cause status epilepticus, a very serious problem of severe continuous seizures.

General Precautions with Trileptal:

Some people taking Trileptal can get serious reactions, including:

• Dizziness
• Drowsiness
• Abnormal thinking
• Difficulty concentrating
• Speech or language problems
• Difficulty with coordination and walking

Trileptal can cause drowsiness. Do not drive a car or operate complex machinery until you know how Trileptal affects you.

Do not drink alcohol while you are taking Trileptal. Alcohol can increase the side effects of Trileptal.

What should I tell my doctor or healthcare provider?

Because certain other medications can interact with Trileptal, review all medications that you are taking with your healthcare provider, including those that you take without a prescription. Trileptal may reduce the effectiveness of:

• some medications used to lower blood pressure (e.g., calcium channel blockers)
• birth control pills
• other anti-seizure medications

Trileptal may cause birth defects. Tell your doctor or healthcare provider right away if you are pregnant, or plan to become pregnant. Before taking Trileptal, tell your doctor if you are nursing or planning to nurse your baby.

What are some possible side effects of Trileptal? (This is NOT a complete list of side effects reported with Trileptal. Your healthcare provider can discuss with you a more complete list of side effects.)  

Common side effects include:

• Dizziness or vertigo
• Drowsiness
• Double vision or other vision problems
• Feeling tired
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Coordination problems
• Stomach pain
• Tremor
• Upset stomach
• Headache
• Problems with balance or walking

Date created: December 12, 2000; Updated: March 16, 2007