Two medicines, side by side
Oxcarbazepine vs pregabalin
Oxcarbazepine and pregabalin are both labeled for seizures and epilepsy. Drugs@FDA records approvals of oxcarbazepine since 2000 and of pregabalin since 2004. Pharmacies paid $0.167 per oxcarbazepine 300 mg tablet and $0.0571 per pregabalin 100 mg capsule (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like.
Check it at the source: the oxcarbazepine FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 16, 2025); the pregabalin FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 15, 2025).
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
Highlights of the pregabalin record
Pregabalin (Lyrica) · label of April 15, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsLYRICA is indicated for: • Management of neuropathic pain associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy • Management of postherpetic neuralgia • Adjunctive therapy for the treatment of partial‑onset seizures in patients 1 month of age and older • Management of fibromyalgia • Management of neuropathic pain associated with spinal cord injury LYRICA is indicated for: • Neuropathic pain associated with diabetic […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 30, 2004
- Generic labelers
- 52 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0571 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 5
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Oxcarbazepine label of December 16, 2025, Pregabalin label of April 15, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do oxcarbazepine and pregabalin differ on the record?
How each works, in its label's words: Oxcarbazepine, “The pharmacological activity of TRILEPTAL is primarily exerted through the 10-monohydroxy metabolite (MHD) of oxcarbazepine [ see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ].”; Pregabalin, “LYRICA (pregabalin) binds with high affinity to the alpha 2 -delta site (an auxiliary subunit of voltage-gated calcium channels) in central nervous system tissues.”
Half-life, in each label's words: 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 …”; Pregabalin, “12.3 Pharmacokinetics Pregabalin is well absorbed after oral administration, is eliminated largely by renal excretion …”
Generics: oxcarbazepine since 2007; pregabalin since 2019 (Drugs@FDA).
DEA schedule: oxcarbazepine none; pregabalin CV.
| Oxcarbazepine | Pregabalin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Seizures and epilepsy | Nerve pain and fibromyalgia, Seizures and epilepsy |
| Pharmacologic class | Anti-epileptic Agent | n/a |
| How it works (label) | The pharmacological activity of TRILEPTAL is primarily exerted through the 10-monohydroxy metabolite (MHD) of oxcarbazepine [ see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ]. | LYRICA (pregabalin) binds with high affinity to the alpha 2 -delta site (an auxiliary subunit of voltage-gated calcium channels) in central nervous system tissues. |
| Half-life (label) | 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. | 12.3 Pharmacokinetics Pregabalin is well absorbed after oral administration, is eliminated largely by renal excretion, and has an elimination half-life of about 6 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | January 14, 2000 | December 30, 2004 |
| First generic approved | October 9, 2007 | July 19, 2019 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 43 labelers | 52 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.167 per tablet (Oxcarbazepine 300 mg tablet) | $0.0571 per capsule (Pregabalin 100 mg capsule) |
| 12-month price change | -4% | -15% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 6 | 5 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 31,342 | 270,624 |
| DEA schedule | none | CV |
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 oxcarbazepine
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions