Carbamazepine analog — voltage-gated Na+ channel blocker. Active 10-MHD metabolite. Less CYP induction than carbamazepine + no auto-induction → cleaner DDI profile. Hyponatremia in 2.5% (more than carbamazepine).
Half-Life (t½)
PO: 9h
Dosing Guidelines
PO: Typical 1200 mg (Range: 300–2400 mg)
Target Organ Systems
nervous
Interactions
Hormonal contraceptives (caution): CYP3A4 induction. Fattore 1999 (PMID:10368079) verbatim: "AUC(0-24h, geometric means) decreased by 47% for both EE (from 1,677 to 886 pg.h/ml; p < 0.01) and LN (from 137 to 73 ng.h/ml; p < 0.01), during OCBZ treatment". 22 healthy women (16 completers), randomized double-blind crossover, oxcarbazepine 1200 mg/d × 26d + 50 µg EE / 250 µg LN × 21d. AUC ratio 0.53 → induction_factor 1.89. Contraceptive failure risk; both EE and LN equally affected.
Felodipine (caution): CYP3A4 induction. Zaccara 1993 (PMID:8451779) verbatim: "Repeated coadministration of OXC significantly reduced the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC0-24) of FEL by 28% and the FEL maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) by 34%". 8 healthy male volunteers, open-label within-subject, felodipine 10 mg qd × 13d + OXC 600 mg single → 450 mg bid × 7d. AUC ratio 0.72 → induction_factor 1.39.