Common and/or Important Side-effects of Antiepileptic Drugs
Drug Name
Brand Name
Common and/or important adverse effects
Carbamazepine
Tegretol
Teril Carbamazepine
Sandoz
Clobazam
Frisium
Clonazepam
Rivotril
Paxam
Ethosuximide
Zarontin
Gabapentin
Gabatine, Neurontin
Nupentin, Gantin
DBL Gabapentin
Gabapentin Sandoz or
Pfizer or GA or GenRx
(Gabahexal), (Pendine)
Vimpat
Drowsiness, fatigue, dizziness, ataxia, diplopia, blurring of
vision, sedation, headache, insomnia, gastrointestinal
disturbance, tremor, weight gain, impotence, effects on
behaviour and mood, hepatic disturbance, rash and other
skin reactions, bone marrow dyscrasia, leucopenia,
hyponatraemia, water retention, endocrine effects
Sedation (common and may be severe), cognitive effects,
drowsiness, ataxia, personality and behavioural changes,
hyperactivity, restlessness, aggressiveness, psychotic
reaction, seizure exacerbations, hypersalivation, muscle
tone changes, leucopenia, withdrawal symptoms
Sedation (common and may be severe), cognitive effects,
drowsiness, ataxia, personality and behavioural changes,
hyperactivity, restlessness, aggressiveness, psychotic
reaction, seizure exacerbations, hypersalivation, muscle
tone changes, leucopenia, withdrawal symptoms
Gastrointestinal symptoms, drowsiness, ataxia, diplopia,
headache, dizziness, hiccups, sedation, behavioural
disturbances, acute psychotic reactions, extrapyramidal
symptoms, blood dyscrasia, rash, lupus-like syndrome,
severe idiosyncratic reactions
Drowsiness, dizziness, seizure exacerbation, ataxia,
headache, tremor, diplopia, nausea, vomiting, rhinitis
Lacosamide
Lamotrigine
Levetiracetam
Lamictal, Seaze
Lamogine,Lamotrust
Lamidus, Reedos
Torlemo
Lamotrigine, Aspen or
Sandoz or Generichealth
or GA or GenRx or APO
Keppra, Kepcet
Kerron, Kevtam
Levecetam
Lemitaccord
Lemitam
Vertigo, Diplopia, Blurred vision, Nausea, Vomiting,
constipation, Flatulence, Fatigue, Gait disturbance,
Asthenia, Dizziness, headache, Abnormal co-ordination,
somnolence, tremor, nystagmus, balance disorder, memory
impairment, cognitive disorder, depression, pruritus.
Rash (sometimes severe),Stevens-Johnson syndrome
headache, blood dyscrasia, ataxia, asthenia, diplopia,
nausea, vomiting, dizziness, somnolence, insomnia,
depression, psychosis, tremor, hypersensitivity reactions
Somnolence, asthenia, infection, dizziness, headache,
irritability, aggression, behavioural and mood changes,
suicidal thoughts
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Oxcarbazepine
Levetiracetam APO
Trileptal
Phenobarbitone
Phenytoin
Dilantin
Pregabalin
Lyrica
Primidone
Mysoline
Tiagabine
Gabitril
Topiramate
Topamax, Tamate
Epiramax
Topiramate APO or
Sandoz or GA or RBX
Epilim, Valpro
Sodium Valproate
Sandoz, Valprease
Valproate Winthrop EC
Valproate
Vigabatrin
Sabril
Zonisamide
Zonegran
Somnolence, headache, dizziness, diplopia, ataxia, rash,
hyponatraemia, weight gain, alopecia, nausea,
gastrointestinal disturbance
Sedation, ataxia, dizziness, insomnia, hyperkinesis
(children), mood changes (especially depression),
aggressiveness, cognitive dysfunction, impotence, reduced
libido, folate deficiency, vitamin K and vitamin D deficiency,
osteomalacia, Dupuytren contracture, frozen shoulder,
connective tissue abnormalities, rash. Risk of dependency.
Potential for abuse
Ataxia, dizziness, lethargy, sedation, headaches,
dyskinesia, acute encephalopathy (phenytoin intoxication),
hypersensitivity, rash , fever, blood dyscrasia, gingival
hyperplasia, folate deficiency, megaloblastic anaemia,
vitamin K deficiency, thyroid dysfunction, decreased
immunoglobulins, mood changes, depression, coarsened
facies, hirsutism, peripheral neuropathy, osteomalacia,
hypocalcaemia, hormonal dysfunction, loss of libido,
connective tissue alterations, pseudolymphoma, hepatitis,
vasculitis, myopathy, coagulation defects, bone marrow
hypoplasia
Somnolence, dizziness, ataxia, asthenia, weight gain,
blurred vision, diplopia, tremor
As for phenobarbital. Also dizziness and nausea on
initiation of therapy
Dizziness, tiredness, nervousness, tremor, diarrhoea,
nausea, headache, confusion, psychosis, flu-like
symptoms, ataxia, depression, word-finding difficulties,
encephalopathy, non-convulsive status epilepticus
Dizziness, ataxia, headache, paraesthesia, tremor,
somnolence, cognitive dysfunction, confusion, agitation,
amnesia, depression, emotional lability, nausea, diarrhoea,
diplopia, weight loss, kidney stones
Nausea, vomiting, hyperammonaemia and other metabolic
effects, endocrine effects, severe hepatic toxicity,
pancreatitis, drowsiness, cognitive disturbance,
aggressiveness, tremor, weakness, encephalopathy,
thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, aplastic anaemia, hair
thinning and hair loss, weight gain, polycystic ovarian
syndrome
Mood change, depression, psychosis, aggression,
confusion, weight gain, insomnia, changes in muscle tone
in children, tremor, diplopia, severe visual field constriction
Somnolence, ataxia, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, vomiting,
irritability, anorexia, impaired concentration, mental slowing,
itching, diplopia, insomnia, abdominal pain, depression,
skin rashes, hypersensitivity. Significant risk of renal
calculi. Weight loss, oligohidrosis and risk of heat stroke
Source: S D Shorvon, Handbook of Epilepsy Treatment: Forms, Causes and Therapy in Children
and Adults, 2nd edn, Blackwell, Carlton, 2005.
Brand names have been added. Source: PBS, Pharmaceutical Benefits Schedule, reviewed 25 August
2013, http://www.pbs.gov.au.
Information reviewed by Dr. Dan McLaughlin, Brisbane.
Updated August 2013
To be reviewed August 2015
Although every effort has been made to ensure
accurate and up to date information is provided,
Epilepsy Queensland and its advisors cannot accept
any liability in relation to the information provided. It
is strongly recommended that you discuss any
information with your doctor.
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