Two medicines, side by side
Lacosamide vs oxcarbazepine
Lacosamide and oxcarbazepine are both labeled for seizures and epilepsy. Drugs@FDA records approvals of lacosamide since 2008 and of oxcarbazepine since 2000. Pharmacies paid $0.174 per lacosamide 100 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 lacosamide FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 12, 2026); the oxcarbazepine FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 16, 2025).
Highlights of the lacosamide record
Lacosamide (Vimpat) · label of May 12, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsVIMPAT is indicated for: Treatment of partial-onset seizures in patients 1 month of age and older ( 1.1 ) Adjunctive therapy in the treatment of primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures in patients 4 years of age and older ( 1.2 ) 1.1 Partial-Onset Seizures VIMPAT is indicated for the treatment of partial-onset seizures in patients 1 month of age and older. 1.2 Primary Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizures VIMPAT is indicated as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures in patients 4 years of age and older. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- October 28, 2008
- Generic labelers
- 57 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.174 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 8
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 (Lacosamide label of May 12, 2026, Oxcarbazepine label of December 16, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do lacosamide and oxcarbazepine differ on the record?
How each works, in its label's words: Lacosamide, “The precise mechanism by which VIMPAT exerts its antiepileptic effects in humans remains to be fully elucidated.”; 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: Lacosamide, “The maximum lacosamide plasma concentrations occur approximately 1-to-4-hour post-dose after oral dosing, and …”; 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: lacosamide since 2022; oxcarbazepine since 2007 (Drugs@FDA).
DEA schedule: lacosamide CV; oxcarbazepine none.
| Lacosamide | Oxcarbazepine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Seizures and epilepsy | Seizures and epilepsy |
| Pharmacologic class | n/a | Anti-epileptic Agent |
| How it works (label) | The precise mechanism by which VIMPAT exerts its antiepileptic effects in humans remains to be fully elucidated. | 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 maximum lacosamide plasma concentrations occur approximately 1-to-4-hour post-dose after oral dosing, and elimination half-life is approximately 13 hours. | 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) | October 28, 2008 | January 14, 2000 |
| First generic approved | March 17, 2022 | October 9, 2007 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 57 labelers | 43 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.174 per tablet (Lacosamide 100 mg tablet) | $0.167 per tablet (Oxcarbazepine 300 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -15% | -4% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 8 | 6 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 36,995 | 31,342 |
| DEA schedule | CV | 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)
What next?
- Alternatives to lacosamide
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions