lacosamide vs oxcarbazepine
Side-by-side comparison of lacosamide and oxcarbazepine Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Vimpat
Trileptal
Lacosamide is a medicine that can help control seizures. It is used to treat partial-onset seizures and primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures in people 4 years and older.
Oxcarbazepine is a medicine used to treat seizures. It helps to control seizures in adults and children.
Lacosamide is used to treat partial-onset seizures in patients 4 years of age and older. It is also used with other medicines to treat primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures in patients 4 years of age and older. Seizures are caused by unusual electrical activity in the brain.
Oxcarbazepine is used to treat partial-onset seizures. These seizures start in one part of the brain. It can be used alone or with other seizure medicines.
Lacosamide is an anticonvulsant. It is thought to work by slowing down the electrical signals in the brain that cause seizures. This helps to reduce how often seizures happen.
Oxcarbazepine works by reducing the electrical activity in the brain. This helps to prevent seizures. It stabilizes overexcited nerve cells.
- • Double vision
- • Headache
- • Dizziness
- • Feeling sick to your stomach
- • Sleepiness
- • Dizziness
- • Sleepiness
- • Double vision
- • Feeling tired
- • Nausea
- Seizure 6,507
- Medicine not working 3,936
- Using medicine for unapproved purpose 3,757
- Feeling dizzy 1,611
- Sleepiness 1,404
- Medicine not working 2,868
- Seizure 2,805
- Using medicine for unapproved purpose 1,618
- Tiredness 1,607
- Feeling dizzy 1,519
Lacosamide and other anti-seizure medicines may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or actions. Tell your doctor right away if you have any new or worsening symptoms of depression, suicidal thoughts, or unusual changes in mood or behavior. Lacosamide can also cause heart rhythm problems. Get an ECG before starting and during treatment.
This medicine can cause low sodium levels in your blood. Your doctor should check your sodium levels, especially if you take other medicines that can also lower sodium. This medicine may cause suicidal thoughts or actions. Contact your doctor right away if you have any sudden changes in mood, thoughts, or feelings.
Lacosamide may harm an unborn baby. If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking lacosamide. There is a pregnancy registry for women who take anti-epileptic drugs like lacosamide.
Oxcarbazepine may harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. There is a pregnancy registry for women who take this medicine during pregnancy. You can enroll by calling 1-888-233-2334.
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How to Read This lacosamide vs oxcarbazepine Comparison
lacosamide is classified in the Anticonvulsant drug class, while oxcarbazepine sits within the Anticonvulsant class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory — but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, lacosamide has 17,215 submissions while oxcarbazepine has 10,417. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between lacosamide and oxcarbazepine — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.