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Epilepsy Newfoundland and Labrador
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| Drug Alert Notices | |
Skin Problems with Trileptal (Oxcarbazepine)
The epilepsy drug Trileptal has a new warning about life-threatening skin reactions reported by patients who took the medicine, the company recently announced.
"Such serious skin reactions may be life-threatening, and some patients have required hospitalization with very rare reports of fatal outcome," Novartis, the company which makes the drug, said in a letter to physicians.
The problems, reported in both adults and children, included two serious skin disorders called toxic epidermal necrolysis and Stevens-Johnson syndrome.
The reported rate of those conditions among Trileptal patients was three to 10 times higher than what would be expected in the general population, the Novartis letter said.
"Therefore, if a patient develops a skin reaction while taking Trileptal, consideration should be given to discontinuing Trileptal use and prescribing another anti-epileptic medication," the company said.
Trileptal is approved for treating partial seizures in adults and children ages 4 to 16 with epilepsy.
A "limited number" of other life-threatening reactions involving multiple organs also have been reported following the start of Trileptal therapy, Novartis said. Symptoms varied but included fever, rash and liver and kidney inflammation.
Reuters, April 19, 2005
Disclaimer
The materials contained on the Epilepsy Newfoundland and Labrador website are to provide general information about epilepsy to the public. The information presented is not intended as medical or legal advice. Epilepsy Newfoundland and Labrador, its employees, board members, medical advisors, volunteers, agents and sponsors do not assume responsibility for inaccuracies or omissions or for the consequences from the use of the information obtained over this site or any links accessed through this site. Epilepsy Newfoundland and Labrador is not liable for any outcome or damages resulting from information in either a direct or indirect form. We recognize that each individual's experience of epilepsy is different. Consult your physician and/or neurologist with any questions you have.
People with epilepsy should never discontinue anti-epileptic medications or make changes in activities unless specifically advised to do so by an attending physician.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others and use this medication only for the condition prescribed.
