Vinlep 450 Tablet (Oxcarbazepine 450mg)

INTRODUCTION

VINLEP 450MG TABLET contains Oxcarbazepine which belongs to the group of medicines called Anti-epileptics. It is used alone or in combination with other anti-epileptic medicines in children (aged 6 years and above) and adults to treat partial seizures with or without secondarily generalised tonic-clonic seizures. Seizure occurs due to a temporary fault in the brain’s electrical activity. Partial seizures involve a limited area of the brain but may spread to the whole brain and may cause a generalised tonic-clonic seizure.

Prior to treatment with VINLEP 450MG TABLET, your doctor may want you to take several blood tests to understand your existing condition and to safely use the drug and to decide the appropriate dose of this medicine.

Before taking VINLEP 450MG TABLET, inform your doctor if you have liver, kidney (associated with low sodium levels in the blood) or heart problems (such as heart failure or heart rhythm disorder) or intolerance to certain sugars (such as lactose).

Patients taking VINLEP 450MG TABLET may have thoughts of harming or killing themselves. If at any time you have these thoughts, immediately consult your doctor.

VINLEP 450MG TABLET should be used with caution in pregnant women as there may be a risk to the unborn baby, it is advised to be taken only if clearly advised by the doctor. It is used with caution in breastfeeding women only if clearly advised by the doctor due to risk of side effects in breastfed infants.

VINLEP 450MG TABLET can be used in children above 6 years of age and your child’s doctor may monitor the thyroid function of the child before and during treatment with this medicine.  VINLEP 450MG TABLET should be used with caution in elderly patients (aged 65 years and above), especially in patients with kidney impairment.

The most common side effects of taking VINLEP 450MG TABLET are dizziness, nausea, vomiting, headaches, diarrhoea, constipation, stomach pain and skin rash. Consult your doctor if any of the side effects worsen.

USES OF VINLEP 450MG TABLET

Used alone or in combination with other anti-epileptic medicines:

• To treat partial seizures with or without secondarily generalized tonic-clonic seizures (in adults and children aged 6 years and above)

HOW VINLEP 450MG TABLET WORKS

VINLEP 450MG TABLET helps to control electrical activity in the brain (by binding to sodium channels) which is out of control in epileptic patients. Thus, reducing the chances of having seizures.

DIRECTIONS FOR USE

Take VINLEP 450MG TABLET as advised by your physician. Swallow the medicine with a glass of water. Do not crush or chew the medicine. Your doctor will decide the correct dose and duration for you depending upon your age, body weight and disease condition. Do not stop taking VINLEP 450MG TABLET unless your doctor advises you to stop.

SIDE EFFECTS OF VINLEP 450MG TABLET

HOW TO MANAGE SIDE EFFECTS

Nausea or vomiting:

Stick to simple meals while taking this medicine. Avoid eating oily rich, fried or spicy foods. Do not lie down or sleep immediately after eating. Consult your doctor if the symptom does not improve.

Headache:

Drink ample amount of water and avoid skipping meals. Get adequate rest. Try to be relaxed and stress-free. Apply pain relieving balm on your forehead if necessary. Consult your doctor if the symptom does not improve.

Dizziness:

Lie down until the dizziness is gone, then get up slowly. Move slowly and carefully, do not hurry. Get adequate rest. Drink plenty of water and other fluids. Avoid coffee, cigarettes, alcohol and drugs. Consult your doctor if the symptom gets worse.

Constipation:

Eat plenty of fibre-rich foods such as fresh fruits, vegetables and cereals and drink plenty of water. Exercise more regularly (such as daily walking). Consult your doctor if the symptom does not improve.

Diarrhoea:

Drink lot of fluids, such as water to keep yourself hydrated. Avoid eating high-fat or spicy foods. Try to avoid taking any medicine on your own to treat diarrhoea and consult your doctor if the symptom gets worse.

Stomach pain:

Try to rest and relax. Eat and drink slowly or try to have smaller meals more frequently. Keep a heating pad on your stomach. If the symptom does not improve, consult your doctor.

WARNING & PRECAUTIONS

INTERACTIONS

A. Drug – Drug interactions:

Before taking VINLEP 450MG TABLET, inform your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:

• Other medicines used to treat fits (Ex. phenobarbital, phenytoin, carbamazepine, lamotrigine and valproic acid)
• Medicines used to prevent pregnancy (Ex. ethinyl estradiol, desogestrel)
• Medicines to treat mental illness (Ex. lithium, phenelzine and moclobemide)
• Medicines used to treat fluid retention (Ex. furosemide, spironolactone)
• Desmopressin (used to treat water diabetes)
• Medicines used to relieve pain and inflammation (Ex. indomethacin, ibuprofen)
• Medicines used to control the immune system to prevent organ rejection after transplantation (Ex. ciclosporin, tacrolimus)
• Rifampicin (used to treat infections)

Overdosage:

If you or anyone else accidentally takes too much of VINLEP 450 MG TABLET, consult your doctor immediately or visit the nearby hospital. Overdosage symptoms of VINLEP 450MG TABLET are low blood levels of sodium, anger, agitation, confusion, drowsiness or sleepiness, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, tiredness, fast or irregular heartbeat, shaking, fits, headache, coma, loss of consciousness, uncontrolled twitching or jerking, double or blurred vision, narrowing of the pupil, low blood pressure, breathlessness, an unusual degree of muscular or bodily activity, lack of coordination of movements and uncontrolled eye movements.