Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal) was approved by the FDA in 2000 and is the keto analog of carbamazepine; both drugs share the same therapeutic effects and use (Hwang, 2022). Oxcarbazepine has been approved for the use of treating focal seizures in adults and children with epilepsy (Metcalf et al., 2023). Trileptal is a drug of choice for focal seizures in adults and children due to better tolerability and pharmacokinetics (Zhu et al., 2022). Off-label use for oxcarbazepine include treatment of psychiatric illnesses, pain syndromes, and withdrawal activity (Hwang, 2022). According to Zhu et al. (2022), patients living with epilepsy experience comorbidities such as depression, anxiety, and other mental conditions. Oxcarbazepine is effective in treating adults who are newly diagnosed with focal epilepsy and improve quality of life and overall mental health.
