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

Special Warning(s) with Trileptal:

Trileptal can cause low levels of sodium in the blood. Signs of low levels of blood sodium include nausea, extreme drowsiness and discomfort, headache, confusion, or dullness, which can be dangerous. Tell your health care 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. If you have had an allergic reaction to other anti-seizure medicines, especially carbamazepine (Tegretol®), tell your health care provider.

Talk to your health care provider before stopping Trileptal or any other seizure medicine. Stopping a seizure medicine all at once can cause status epilepticus, a serious problem.

General Precautions with Trileptal:

Some people taking Trileptal can get serious reactions, including:

• Dizziness
• Drowsiness
• Depression or 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 health care provider?

Because certain other medications can interact with Trileptal, review all medications that you are taking with your health care 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 health care 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 health care 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

For more detailed information about Trileptal, ask your health care provider.

Posted: 12/12/00
Updated: 6/18/01