Proper Use

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. To do so may increase the chance of side effects.

This medicine comes with a Medication Guide. Read and follow the instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.

Take the oral liquid or regular tablet with or without food. Take the extended-release tablet on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal.

Swallow the extended-release tablet whole. Do not crush, break, or chew it.

For the oral liquid:

  • Shake the bottle well before measuring the dose.
  • Use the oral dosing syringe supplied in the package to measure each dose accurately.
  • The dose of medicine can be mixed in a small glass of water just before taking it or you may swallow it directly from the syringe.
  • After each use, close the bottle and rinse the syringe with warm water and allow it to dry completely before the next use.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

  • For oral dosage form (extended-release tablets):
    • For seizures:
      • For patients taking oxcarbazepine alone or together with other medicines:
        • Adults—At first, 600 milligrams (mg) once a day for 1 week. Your doctor may adjust your dose in the following weeks as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 2400 mg per day.
        • Older adults—At first, 300 or 450 mg once a day. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed.
        • Children 6 to 16 years of age—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The starting dose is 8 to 10 milligrams (mg) per kilogram (kg) of body weight per day as a single dose. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 1800 mg per day.
        • Children younger than 6 years of age—Use is not recommended.
  • For oral dosage forms (suspension and tablets):
    • For seizures:
      • For patients taking oxcarbazepine together with other medicines:
        • Adults and children 17 years of age and older—At first, 300 milligrams (mg) 2 times a day. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 1200 mg per day.
        • Children 4 to 16 years of age—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The starting dose is 8 to 10 milligrams (mg) per kilogram (kg) of body weight per day, divided into 2 doses. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 600 mg per day, divided into 2 equal doses.
        • Children 2 to 4 years of age—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The starting dose is 8 to 10 mg per kg of body weight per day, divided into 2 doses. For patients weighing less than 20 kg, the starting dose is 16 to 20 mg per kg of body weight per day, divided in 2 doses. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 600 mg per day, divided into 2 equal doses.
        • Children younger than 2 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
      • For patients switching from another medicine to oxcarbazepine:
        • Adults and children 17 years of age and older—At first, 300 milligrams (mg) 2 times a day. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 2400 mg per day.
        • Children 4 to 16 years of age—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The starting dose is 8 to 10 milligrams (mg) per kilogram (kg) of body weight per day, divided into 2 doses. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed.
        • Children younger than 4 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
      • For patients who are not taking any seizure medicine:
        • Adults and children 17 years of age and older—At first, 300 milligrams (mg) 2 times a day. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 1200 mg per day.
        • Children 4 to 16 years of age—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The starting dose is 8 to 10 milligrams (mg) per kilogram (kg) of body weight per day, divided into 2 doses. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed.
        • Children younger than 4 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Store the oral liquid in the original container. Use the liquid within 7 weeks after opening the bottle for the first time. Throw away any unused liquid.

From Mayo Clinic to your inbox

Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. Click here for an email preview.

To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail.