Eslicarbazepine is an anticonvulsant. It works by decreasing nerve impulses that cause seizures and pain.

Eslicarbazepine is used alone or with other medications to treat partial-onset seizures in adults and children who are at least 4 years old.

Eslicarbazepine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Seek medical treatment if you have symptoms of a serious drug reaction: skin rash, fever, swollen glands, flu-like symptoms, unusual bruising or bleeding, or jaundice (yellowing of your skin or eyes).

Call your doctor right away if you have symptoms of low sodium levels in your body such as nausea, confusion, severe weakness, muscle pain, or increased seizures.

Some people have thoughts about suicide while taking seizure medicine. Stay alert to changes in your mood or symptoms. Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor.

Do not stop using eslicarbazepine suddenly.

Eslicarbazepine comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually take your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take eslicarbazepine exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

You can swallow the tablets whole or you can crush them.

Your doctor will probably start you on a low dose of eslicarbazepine and increase your dose after 1 week. Your doctor may increase your dose again at least 1 week later if necessary to control your seizures.

Eslicarbazepine may help control your seizures but will not cure your condition. Continue to take eslicarbazepine even if you feel well. Do not stop taking eslicarbazepine without talking to your doctor even if you experience serious side effects such as unusual changes in behavior or mood. If you suddenly stop taking eslicarbazepine, your seizures may happen more often or may become worse. Your doctor will probably decrease your dose gradually.

Your doctor or pharmacist will give you the manufacturer's patient information sheet (Medication Guide) when you begin treatment with eslicarbazepine and each time you refill your prescription. Read the information carefully and ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions. You can also visit the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website (http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm085729.htm) or the manufacturer's website to obtain the Medication Guide.

Eslicarbazepine is usually given once per day. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

You may take this medicine with or without food. The eslicarbazepine tablet may be crushed or swallowed whole.

Do not stop using eslicarbazepine suddenly, even if you feel fine. Stopping suddenly may cause increased seizures. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely.

This medication can cause unusual results with certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using eslicarbazepine.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

You should not use eslicarbazepine if you are allergic to eslicarbazepine or oxcarbazepine.

To make sure eslicarbazepine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• kidney disease;

• liver disease;

• a blood cell disorder; or

• mood problems or suicidal thoughts.

Some people have thoughts about suicide while taking an anticonvulsant. Your doctor will need to check your progress at regular visits while you are taking eslicarbazepine. Your family or other caregivers should also be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms.

Do not start or stop taking eslicarbazepine during pregnancy without your doctor's advice. Having a seizure during pregnancy could harm both mother and baby. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant while taking eslicarbazepine for seizures.

If you are pregnant, your name may be listed on a pregnancy registry. This is to track the outcome of the pregnancy and to evaluate any effects of eslicarbazepine on the baby.

Eslicarbazepine can make birth control pills less effective. Ask your doctor about using non hormonal birth control (condom, diaphragm with spermicide) to prevent pregnancy while taking eslicarbazepine.

Eslicarbazepine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while using this medicine.

Eslicarbazepine not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom).

Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and other people cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist or contact your local garbage/recycling department to learn about take-back programs in your community. See the FDA's Safe Disposal of Medicines website (http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p) for more information if you do not have access to a take-back program.

It is important to keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and young children can open them easily. To protect young children from poisoning, always lock safety caps and immediately place the medication in a safe location – one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach. http://www.upandaway.org

Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.

Eslicarbazepine may impair your thinking or reactions. Avoid driving or operating machinery until you know how eslicarbazepine will affect you.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction (hives, difficult breathing, swelling in your face or throat) or a severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning in your eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash that spreads and causes blistering and peeling).

Seek medical treatment if you have a serious drug reaction that can affect many parts of your body. Symptoms may include: skin rash, fever, swollen glands, flu-like symptoms, muscle aches, severe weakness, unusual bruising, or yellowing of your skin or eyes. This reaction may occur several weeks after you began using eslicarbazepine.

Eslicarbazepine can reduce the sodium in your body to dangerously low levels, which can cause a life-threatening electrolyte imbalance. Call your doctor right away if you have nausea, lack of energy, confusion, feeling tired or irritable, severe weakness, muscle pain, or increased seizures.

Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor, such as: mood or behavior changes, depression, anxiety, or if you feel agitated, hostile, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.

Also call your doctor at once if you have:

• severe dizziness or drowsiness, vision changes, thinking problems, trouble with walking or coordination;

• sudden weakness or ill feeling, fever, chills, sore throat, mouth sores; or

• liver problems--nausea, loss of appetite, upper stomach pain, dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Common side effects of eslicarbazepine may include:

• dizziness, drowsiness, headache;

• feeling tired;

• nausea, vomiting;

• coordination problems, feeling shaky; or

• double vision.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using, especially:

• all other seizure medicines you use;

• omeprazole; or

• rosuvastatin (Crestor) or simvastatin (Zocor).

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with eslicarbazepine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain lab tests to check your body's response to eslicarbazepine.

Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.

It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.