Xcopri Tablet: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Xcopri Tablet (cenobamate) is a prescription carbamate anticonvulsant taken by mouth once a day to treat partial-onset (focal) seizures in adults. It may be used alone or together with other anti-seizure medicines. Xcopri is classified as a controlled substance because it can be abused or lead to dependence.

What is Xcopri Tablet

Xcopri is a prescription medicine taken by mouth once a day to treat partial-onset (focal) seizures in adults. It is a controlled substance because it can be abused or lead to dependence.

Xcopri Tablet uses

• Treatment of partial-onset seizures in adult patients
• Can be used alone (monotherapy) or together with other anti-seizure medicines (adjunctive therapy)

Benefits of Xcopri Tablet

• Reduces partial-onset seizures
• Can be combined with other anti-seizure medications
• Taken once a day
• Supports long-term management of epilepsy
• Used for patients who have breakthrough seizures and are on other therapies
• Dosing flexibility (taken with or without food)

How Xcopri Tablet works

Doctors don't know exactly how Xcopri stops seizures, but it is thought to calm down overactive electrical signals in the brain by blocking certain sodium channels in nerve cells and boosting the activity of a calming brain chemical called GABA.

Xcopri Tablet dosage

Xcopri is taken by mouth once a day, with or without food, at any time of day. Tablets can be swallowed whole or crushed. If crushed, the tablet can be mixed with water and taken by mouth as a liquid mixture, or given through a nasogastric feeding tube.

The dose is increased slowly over several weeks on a schedule set by your doctor; this schedule should not be sped up. Do not stop taking this medicine suddenly without talking to your doctor first, since stopping suddenly can cause serious problems including seizures that will not stop. If a dose is missed, call your doctor for instructions.

Use exactly as prescribed by your doctor or pharmacist.

Available forms and strengths

• Tablets: 12.5 mg, 25 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg, 150 mg, and 200 mg

Side effects of Xcopri Tablet

Common

• Feeling sleepy and tired
• Dizziness
• Double vision
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Decreased appetite
• Problems with balance or coordination

Serious

• Serious or life-threatening allergic reactions (DRESS) affecting the liver, blood cells, or other organs
• Problems with the electrical system of the heart (QT shortening)
• Suicidal thoughts or actions
• Liver injury, including liver failure
• Severe dizziness, trouble walking, or loss of coordination
• Vision problems
• Hostility, aggression, hallucinations, or paranoia

Warnings and precautions

• This medicine can cause serious or life-threatening allergic reactions that may affect the liver, blood cells, or other organs, with or without a rash.
• This medicine can affect the heart's electrical system by shortening the QT interval, which can be dangerous for people with a genetic condition called Familial Short QT syndrome; the medicine should not be used by people with that condition.
• Like other seizure medicines, this drug may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or actions in a small number of people.
• Serious liver injury has happened in people taking this medicine, including cases requiring a liver transplant.
• Do not stop taking this medicine suddenly without talking to your doctor, because stopping suddenly can cause seizures that do not stop.
• This medicine can make hormonal birth control pills less effective, so an additional or different non-hormonal birth control method should be used.
• This medicine is a controlled substance because it can be abused or lead to dependence, and should be kept in a safe place.
• It is not known if Xcopri will harm an unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant while taking this medicine, and talk to your doctor about joining a pregnancy registry that tracks safety of seizure medicines during pregnancy.
• It is not known if this medicine passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby while taking this medicine.
• This medicine should be used carefully in people with kidney problems, and a lower dose may be considered. It is not recommended for people with very severe kidney disease who are on dialysis.
• This medicine should be used carefully in people with mild to moderate liver problems, with a lower maximum dose. It is not recommended for people with severe liver problems.
• Do not drink alcohol while taking this medicine without first talking to your healthcare provider, since it may add to sleepiness and dizziness caused by the drug.
• Do not drive, operate machinery, or do other dangerous activities until you know how this medicine affects you, since it can cause sleepiness, slowed thinking, and vision problems.

Storage

• Store XCOPRI tablets at room temperature between 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C)
• Safely throw away medicine that is out of date or no longer needed
• Keep XCOPRI and all medicines out of the reach of children

When to see a doctor

• Get medical help right away for swelling of the face, eyes, lips, or tongue; trouble swallowing or breathing; skin rash; hives; fever with swollen glands or sore throat that doesn't go away; painful sores in the mouth or around the eyes; yellowing of the skin or eyes; unusual bruising or bleeding; severe fatigue or weakness; severe muscle pain; or frequent infections that don't go away.
• Call your doctor if you have a fast heartbeat that lasts a long time or if you faint, as these could be signs of a heart rhythm problem.
• Call a healthcare provider right away if you have thoughts about suicide or dying, attempt suicide, new or worse depression or anxiety, feeling agitated or restless, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, new or worse irritability, acting aggressive or violent, acting on dangerous impulses, an extreme increase in activity and talking, or other unusual changes in mood or behavior.
• Tell your healthcare provider right away if you notice signs of liver problems such as yellowing of the skin or eyes, nausea, vomiting, unusual dark urine, or feeling tired or weak.
• If you take too much of this medicine, call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away.