Two medicines, side by side
Eslicarbazepine vs oxcarbazepine
Eslicarbazepine and oxcarbazepine are both labeled for seizures and epilepsy. Drugs@FDA records approvals of eslicarbazepine since 2013 and of oxcarbazepine since 2000. Pharmacies paid $1.68 per eslicarbazepine 200 mg tablet and $0.167 per oxcarbazepine 300 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like.
Check it at the source: the eslicarbazepine FDA label on DailyMed (effective November 10, 2023); the oxcarbazepine FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 16, 2025).
Highlights of the eslicarbazepine record
Eslicarbazepine (Aptiom) · label of November 10, 2023
Used for
From the label: indicationsAPTIOM is indicated for the treatment of partial-onset seizures in patients 4 years of age and older. APTIOM is indicated for the treatment of partial-onset seizures in patients 4 years of age and older.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- November 8, 2013
- Generic labelers
- 9 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $1.68 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 0
Highlights of the oxcarbazepine record
Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal) · label of December 16, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsTRILEPTAL is indicated for use as monotherapy or adjunctive therapy in the treatment of partial-onset seizures in adults and as monotherapy in the treatment of partial-onset seizures in pediatric patients aged 4 years and above, and as adjunctive therapy in pediatric patients aged 2 years and above with partial-onset seizures. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- January 14, 2000
- Generic labelers
- 43 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.167 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 6
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Eslicarbazepine label of November 10, 2023, Oxcarbazepine label of December 16, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do eslicarbazepine and oxcarbazepine differ on the record?
How each works, in its label's words: Eslicarbazepine, “APTIOM is extensively converted to eslicarbazepine, which is considered to be responsible for therapeutic effects in humans.”; Oxcarbazepine, “The pharmacological activity of TRILEPTAL is primarily exerted through the 10-monohydroxy metabolite (MHD) of oxcarbazepine [ see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ].”
Half-life, in each label's words: Eslicarbazepine, “The apparent half-life of eslicarbazepine in plasma was 13-20 hours in adult epilepsy patients.”; Oxcarbazepine, “The half-life of the parent is about 2 hours, while the half-life of MHD is about 9 hours, so that MHD is responsible …”
Generics: eslicarbazepine since 2021; oxcarbazepine since 2007 (Drugs@FDA).
| Eslicarbazepine | Oxcarbazepine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Seizures and epilepsy | Seizures and epilepsy |
| Pharmacologic class | n/a | Anti-epileptic Agent |
| How it works (label) | APTIOM is extensively converted to eslicarbazepine, which is considered to be responsible for therapeutic effects in humans. | The pharmacological activity of TRILEPTAL is primarily exerted through the 10-monohydroxy metabolite (MHD) of oxcarbazepine [ see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ]. |
| Half-life (label) | The apparent half-life of eslicarbazepine in plasma was 13-20 hours in adult epilepsy patients. | The half-life of the parent is about 2 hours, while the half-life of MHD is about 9 hours, so that MHD is responsible for most antiepileptic activity. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | November 8, 2013 | January 14, 2000 |
| First generic approved | June 29, 2021 | October 9, 2007 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 9 labelers | 43 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $1.68 per tablet (Eslicarbazepine 200 mg tablet) | $0.167 per tablet (Oxcarbazepine 300 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -52% | -4% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 0 | 6 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 3,247 | 31,342 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
Do their labels mention each other?
Eslicarbazepine label, contraindicationsCONTRAINDICATIONS APTIOM is contraindicated in patients with a hypersensitivity to eslicarbazepine acetate or oxcarbazepine [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 , 5.3 , and 5.4 )]. Hypersensitivity to eslicarbazepine acetate or oxcarbazepine.
Eslicarbazepine label, warnings and precautionsPatients with a prior dermatologic reaction with oxcarbazepine, carbamazepine, or APTIOM should ordinarily not be treated with APTIOM [see Contraindications ( 4 )].
Oxcarbazepine label, contraindicationsCONTRAINDICATIONS TRILEPTAL is contraindicated in patients with a known hypersensitivity to oxcarbazepine or to any of its components, or to eslicarbazepine acetate [ see Warnings and Precautions (5.2, 5.3) ].
Oxcarbazepine label, contraindicationsCONTRAINDICATIONS Oxtellar XR is contraindicated in patients with a known hypersensitivity to oxcarbazepine, to any of the components of Oxtellar XR, or to eslicarbazepine acetate.
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to eslicarbazepine
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions