The effect of oxcarbazepine on corticomotor excitability: correlation with plasma levels of the parent drug and metabolites

Background Despite the extensive clinical use of oxcarbazepine for indications such as epilepsy, neuropathic pain and bipolar disorders, its' effects on corticomotor excitabilility have not been investigated in detail. We have recently shown that the main neurophysiological effect of the drug is an elevation of corticomotor threshold (Exp Brian Res). Whether this effect is mediated by the parent drug or its' metabolites is currently unknown.