Hyponatremia Linked to Trileptal
Trileptal, a commonly used bipolarity and anti convulsants drug causes Hyponatremia, commonly known as “water poisoning”. The blood plasma dilutes the salt in the blood decreasing the functions of the organ and endangering the lives of the patients using Trileptal.
Trileptal and Hyponatremia
According to a clinical trial, nearly three percent of the patients using Trileptal suffered from Hyponatremia as compared to the patients taking placebo. Though majority of the patients were asymptomatic, few experienced water poisoning that needed hospitalization. Trileptal leads to chemical reaction in the body that decreases serum sodium, diluting the salt in the blood and causing a disturbance in the electrochemical balance of the nervous system. Nausea, confusion, increased seizures, fatigue and malaise are few symptoms of Hyponatremia.
Treating Hyponatremia
If the patients using Trileptal, experiences the symptoms of Hyponatremia, they should immediately seek medical attention. Failure to get timely treatment may worsen the symptoms of Hyponatremia leading to coma, shock or death. In order to restore electrolyte and balance salt in your blood, health care professionals would put you on an intravenous (IV) drip.
Other dangerous side effects of Trileptal include extreme hypersensitivity reactions like Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) or Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS). If you believe that, you are suffering from the side effects of Trileptal than consult a doctor immediately. Thereafter, you may seek the advice of an experienced pharmaceutical lawyer who will assist you in filing a lawsuit against the manufacturer. He will tell you whether you are eligible for monetary compensation or not.
FDA Modifies Trileptal Warning Label
Trileptal, generically known as oxcarbazepine, is an effective mood stabilizer and anti-convulsants. It was introduced to the market in 2000.However in 2005, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration asked its manufacturer to change the warning of this drug highlighting the severe side effects associated it.
Novartis Pharmaceuticals manufactures and distributes Trileptal throughout the United States. FDA founded that the use of this drug increases the risk of hypersensitivity reactions in some patients. These reactions also include toxic epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) and Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS). Some of these hypersensitivity reactions were fatal leading to death in some patients. While taking Trileptal, chances of developing these symptoms increase ten times.
Patients who suffered from hypersensitivity reaction while using Carbamazepine should be aware that using Trileptal means that they are at 25 percent increased risk of developing similar reactions. Like other epilepsy medications and anti-convulsive, it is advised to withdraw these medications under the doctor’s supervision.
Although, the drug was introduced to the market as anti-convulsants to help the patents suffering from epilepsy, it is also prescribed for the treatment of schizoaffective disorder, pain related with neuropathy, depression and bipolarity and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Therefore, large no. of patients suffering from several disorders has been subjected to the severe side effects of Trileptal. However, the drug is still available in the market. Although, off – label uses of Trileptal are not approved by FDA but they are common in the United States.
If you suffer from the side effects of Trileptal than you may be entitled to receive some monetary compensation for Trileptal associated disorders.