[Durgical](https://durgical.com/en/) › [DurgiPedia](https://durgical.com/en/durgipedia/) › [Pharmacology](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/) › [Antiseizure medicines](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/classes/antiseizure-medicines/) › Eslicarbazepine

# Eslicarbazepine

## Antiseizure medicines?

Antiseizure medicines

A carbamazepine-family prodrug for focal seizures. It becomes S-licarbazepine, which blocks sodium channels, and is taken once a day.

Updated Nov 1, 2026

Also called: Eslicarbazepine acetate

## Quick facts

**Group**
[Antiseizure medicines](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/classes/antiseizure-medicines/)

**Target**
Voltage-gated sodium channel (Nav)

**Used for**
Focal

**Key effects**
Dizziness · Double or blurred vision and nystagmus

**Monitor**
Blood sodium · Skin and mucous membranes

**ATC**
N03AF04

No doses: the clinician sets them by the current guideline.

On this page

- The basics Mechanism of action
- Indications
- Adverse effects
- Pharmacokinetics
- Memory aid

- Safety Contraindications
- Key interactions
- What is monitored
- Administration and safety
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Nursing care

- Study Test yourself

- Connections Connections

## Mechanism of action

⇅**Voltage-gated sodium channel (Nav)**Eslicarbazepine

ⓘ The figure shows carbamazepine, a close relative that occupies the same site, bound to human Nav1.7 (SCN9A); there is no structure with eslicarbazepine or its active metabolite.

**Target in 3D:** Voltage-gated sodium channel (Nav). PDB structure 8S9C (RCSB PDB, public domain). [View the structure at RCSB PDB](https://www.rcsb.org/structure/8S9C) · Drag to rotate · pinch to zoom

Eslicarbazepine acetate is a prodrug converted to S-licarbazepine, the same active metabolite that oxcarbazepine produces, but more quickly. S-licarbazepine competitively inhibits fast voltage-gated sodium channels and stabilizes their inactivated state, which reduces sustained firing and sodium-dependent transmitter release.

- The prodrug becomes S-licarbazepine
- S-licarbazepine binds inactivated Na⁺ channels
- Sustained repetitive firing is limited
- Fewer focal seizures

## Indications

- Focal (partial-onset) seizures, alone or as add-on treatment [Epilepsy and seizures →](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/epilepsy-and-seizures/)

## Adverse effects

### Common

- Dizziness, drowsiness and poor balance
- Double or blurred vision and nystagmus
- Headache, nausea and vomiting
- Tremor, slowed thinking and memory problems

### Serious (rare, important)

- Serious skin reactions and DRESS (fever, blisters, swollen glands, mouth sores)
- Low sodium (confusion, headache, muscle weakness, more seizures)
- Angioedema
- Liver injury and blood disorders

## Contraindications

- Hypersensitivity to eslicarbazepine acetate or oxcarbazepine

## Key interactions

**Hormonal contraceptives**
They may not work well; another method is needed

**Alcohol and other sedatives**
More drowsiness

## What is monitored

- Blood sodium
- Skin and mucous membranes
- Kidney function for dosing
- Mood and suicidal thoughts

## Administration and safety

- Oral tablet, once a day; it can be swallowed whole or crushed
- Raised after the first week if needed
- Tapered, not stopped suddenly

## Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Its safety in pregnancy is not established, and it can make hormonal contraceptives fail; family planning is discussed with the treating team.

## Nursing care

- Teach the signs of low sodium: headache, confusion, weakness, more seizures
- Check for rash and mouth sores, especially early
- Advise non-hormonal contraception
- Ask about kidney and liver disease

## Pharmacokinetics

**Metabolism**
Rapidly converted to S-licarbazepine

**Elimination**
As a glucuronide in the urine; the dose is lowered in kidney disease

**Half-life**
Similar to carbamazepine

## Memory aid

«ESLIcarbazepine is the ESpress LIne to S-licarbazepine»: same active metabolite as oxcarbazepine, faster and once a day.

## Test yourself

Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.

## What is the active metabolite of eslicarbazepine acetate?

S-licarbazepine, the same as that of oxcarbazepine.

## Which electrolyte disorder is watched for with eslicarbazepine?

Hyponatraemia (low blood sodium).

## On which ion channel does eslicarbazepine act?

Voltage-gated sodium channels, stabilizing their inactivated state.

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[More Pharmacology questions →](https://durgical.com/en/practice/?f=pharmacology)

## Connections

## Related drugs 3

- [Oxcarbazepine](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/oxcarbazepine/)
- [Carbamazepine](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/carbamazepine/)
- [Lacosamide](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/lacosamide/)

## Related conditions 1

- [Epilepsy and seizures](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/epilepsy-and-seizures/)

[← Back to the class: Antiseizure medicines](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/classes/antiseizure-medicines/)

Educational content on how drugs work; not a prescribing guide and no substitute for a health professional's advice. No doses are given.

Sources: [Eslicarbazepine: MedlinePlus Drug Information](https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a614032.html) (MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine), 2026); [DailyMed - ESLICARBAZEPINE ACETATE tablet](https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=999b341f-fe13-4dd9-bb95-9b0d6a817c4c) (DailyMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine), 2026); [RCSB PDB - 8S9C: Cryo-EM structure of Nav1.7 with CBZ](https://www.rcsb.org/structure/8S9C) (RCSB Protein Data Bank, 2026).

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Representative model, for educational purposes only.

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