Oxcarbazepine in Mood Disorders

Abstract

Patients with bipolar illness or schizoaffective disorder–manic type can present with a variety of symptoms and have mixed responses to treatment. This is especially true for patients who have rapid cycling or mixed bipolar illness. The following cases describe the use of oxcarbazepine in patients with either bipolar illness or schizoaffective disorder. This agent, an analogue of carbamazepine, has fewer drug–drug interactions and side effects and thus may prove to be a better tolerated agent in the treatment of these very serious illnesses. A discussion of the properties of oxcarbazepine is also included.