Lovax 150mg Tablet 10'S

INTRODUCTION

LOVAX 150MG 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 LOVAX 150MG 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 LOVAX 150MG 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 LOVAX 150MG TABLET may have thoughts of harming or killing themselves. If at any time you have these thoughts, immediately consult your doctor.

LOVAX 150MG 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.

LOVAX 150MG 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.  LOVAX 150MG 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 LOVAX 150MG 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 LOVAX 150MG 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 LOVAX 150MG TABLET WORKS

LOVAX 150MG 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 LOVAX 150MG 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 LOVAX 150MG TABLET unless your doctor advises you to stop.

SIDE EFFECTS OF LOVAX 150MG 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

PREGNANCY

LOVAX 150MG TABLET should be used with caution in pregnant women as there may be a risk to the unborn baby. It will be given to you only if clearly necessary. Do not stop taking LOVAX 150MG TABLET during pregnancy without doctors’ advice. Women of childbearing age should use other effective contraceptives because it affects the work of hormonal contraceptives, increasing the risk of getting pregnant. Consult your doctor before taking LOVAX 150MG TABLET.

BREASTFEEDING

LOVAX 150MG TABLET should be used with caution in breastfeeding women only if considered clearly necessary as it passes through the breast milk and can cause side effects in breastfed infants such as excessive sleepiness or poor weight gain. Consult your doctor before taking LOVAX 150MG TABLET.

DRIVING AND USING MACHINES

Do not drive or operate any machines after taking LOVAX 150MG TABLET if you experience dizziness, drowsiness, balance or co-ordination problems, eye problems like double or blurred vision, low blood levels of sodium causing muscle weakness or decreased consciousness, especially when starting the treatment or increasing the dose.

ALCOHOL

Avoid consumption of alcohol while taking LOVAX 150MG TABLET as it might make you feel very drowsy.

KIDNEY

LOVAX 150MG TABLET should be used with caution in patients with kidney problems (especially associated with low sodium levels in the blood). Your doctor may initiate the treatment with the lowest effective dose and may gradually increase the dose of this medicine. Your doctor will examine your blood before treatment and at regular intervals during treatment with this medicine. Consult your doctor before taking LOVAX 150MG TABLET.

LIVER

LOVAX 150MG TABLET should be used with caution in patients with liver problems or who develop liver problems during treatment and in serious liver problems your doctor may adjust the dose. Consult your doctor before taking LOVAX 150MG TABLET.

ALLERGY

Do not take LOVAX 150MG TABLET if you are allergic to Oxcarbazepine, eslicarbazepine or any other ingredients of this medicine.

HEART DISEASE

LOVAX 150MG TABLET should be used with caution in patients with heart failure (signs include breathlessness, swelling of the feet or legs due to fluid build-up) or heart rhythm disorder. Consult your doctor before taking LOVAX 150MG TABLET.

INTERACTIONS

A. Drug - Drug interactions:

Before taking LOVAX 150MG 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 LOVAX 150MG TABLET, consult your doctor immediately or visit the nearby hospital. Overdosage symptoms of LOVAX 150MG 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.

SYNOPSIS

MORE INFORMATION

• Keep LOVAX 150MG TABLET out of reach of children
• Store LOVAX 150MG TABLET below 30°C

FAQs ABOUT LOVAX 150MG TABLET

Can I continue taking my oral contraceptive pill with LOVAX 150MG TABLET?

No, LOVAX 150MG TABLET may stop hormonal contraceptives from working properly. Your doctor may advise you to use a different or extra (non-hormonal) method of contraception while taking LOVAX 150MG TABLET. Consult your doctor immediately if you experience irregular vaginal bleeding or spotting.

What if I forget to take a dose of LOVAX 150MG TABLET?

If you forget to take a dose of LOVAX 150MG TABLET, take it as soon as you remember. However, omit the missed dose if it is almost time for the next dose. Do not take LOVAX 150MG TABLET twice to make up for the forgotten dose.

Can LOVAX 150MG TABLET be used in breastfeeding women?

LOVAX 150MG TABLET should be used with caution in breastfeeding women only if clearly advised by the doctor as it passes through the breast milk and can cause side effects in breastfed infants such as excessive sleepiness or poor weight gain. Consult your doctor before taking LOVAX 150MG TABLET.

Does LOVAX 150MG TABLET affect my ability to drive or perform any activities?

Do not drive or operate any machines after taking LOVAX 150MG TABLET if you experience dizziness, drowsiness, balance or co-ordination problems, eye problems like double or blurred vision, low blood levels of sodium causing muscle weakness or decreased consciousness, especially when starting the treatment or increasing the dose. You can resume your activities once if you are normal again. Consult your doctor for advice.

Is LOVAX 150MG TABLET safe to use in patients with liver problems?

LOVAX 150MG TABLET should be used with caution in patients with liver problems or who develop liver problems during treatment with this medicine and in serious liver problems your doctor may adjust the dose. Consult your doctor before taking LOVAX 150MG TABLET.

REFERENCES

1. Barbara G. Wells, Joseph T. DiPiro, Terry L. Shwinghammer, Cecily V. DiPiro. Epilepsy. Pharmacotherapy Handbook. Ninth edition. 2015. Page-518.

2. S M Grant, D Faulds. Oxcarbazepine. A review of its pharmacology and therapeutic potential in epilepsy, trigeminal neuralgia and affective disorders. NIH. National Center for Biotechnology Information.Pubmed.gov. June 1992. [Accessed on 4th June 2022] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1379159/  

3. Charles V. Preuss, Gagandeep Randhawa, Tom Joshua P. Wy, Abdolreza Saadabadi. Oxcarbazepine. NIH. National Library of Medicine. National Center for Biotechnology Information. May 2022. [Accessed on 4th June 2022] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482313/#:~:text=Mechanism%20of%20Action,Oxcarbazepine%20binds%20to&text=Oxcarbazepine%20also%20inhibits%20the%20release,(monohydroxy%20metabolite%2C%20MHD)

4. Gerard Laboratories. Electronic Medicines Compendium (EMC). [Revised in August 2022] [Accessed on 4th June 2022] https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.8483.pdf

5. Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Oleptal OD (Oxcarbazepine). [Revised in July 2019] [Accessed on 4th June 2022] https://www.torrentian.com/pisheet/Upload/PI_Sheet/1221.pdf

6. Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO). Oxcarbazepine. [Accessed on 4th June 2022] https://cdscoonline.gov.in/CDSCO/Drugs

USEFUL DIAGNOSTIC TESTS

• Electroencephalogram (EEG)
• Thyroid function test
• Kidney function test
• Liver function test

AUTHOR DETAILS

Written By Dr. R. Dinesh John Rajkumar, Pharm.D
Last updated on 27 Sep 2022 | 09:38 AM(IST)