How do you say oxcarbazepine? (Pronunciation Series Episode 55)

Welcome to the 55th episode in my drug pronunciations series. In the episode, I divide oxcarbazepine and Trileptal into syllables, tell you which syllables to emphasize, and share my sources. We don’t cover pharmacology in this series. Just pronunciations. Today’s drug name was chosen from Davis’s Drug Guide for Nurses, Seventh Edition. 

 

Written pronunciations are helpful! They are below and in the show notes on https://www.thepharmacistsvoice.com/podcast.

 

oxcarbazepine = OX-kar-BAZ-e-peen

• The first two syllables sound like “box-car.” (Drop the “B.”)
• Baz, like basketball
• e, which is a short “e” sound, like the “E” in the middle of the word Elephant
• Peen, like a ball peen hammer
• Emphasize OX and BAZ. BAZ gets the most emphasis.
• Sources: USP Dictionary Online and MedlinePlus.gov

 

Trileptal = tri-LEP-tal

• Try, like you’re trying to say this drug name
• Lep, as in epiLEPsy
• Tal, like the last syllable in the word, “accidental”
• Emphasize the middle syllable, LEP. 
• Source: The medication guide for Trileptal on the FDA’s website 

 

If you know someone who would like to learn how to say oxcarbazepine or Trileptal, please share this episode with them. Subscribe for all future episodes. This podcast is on all major podcast players and YouTube. Popular links are below. ⬇️

 

Apple Podcasts   https://apple.co/42yqXOG 

Spotify  https://spoti.fi/3qAk3uY 

Amazon/Audible  https://adbl.co/43tM45P

YouTube https://bit.ly/43Rnrjt

 

Recommend a drug name for this series via email: [e-mail] or leave a message through the contact tab on my website https://www.thepharmacistsvoice.com.

 

⭐️ Sign up for The Pharmacist’s Voice ® monthly email newsletter! https://bit.ly/3AHJIaF

 

Host Background: Kim Newlove has been an Ohio pharmacist since 2001 (BS Pharm, Chem Minor). Her experience includes hospital, retail, compounding, and behavioral health. She is also an author, voice actor (medical narrator and audiobook narrator), podcast host, and consultant (audio production and podcasting). 

 

Links from this episode 

• Way Public Library (Perrysburg, OH - my local library) https://www.waylibrary.info/ 
• Davis’s Drug Guide for Nurses, Seventh Edition www.drugguide.com 
• Oxcarbazepine on MedlinePlus (accessed 5-14-25) https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a601245.html 
• Trileptal Medication Guide on the FDA’s website (accessed 5-14-25) https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2017/021014s036lbl.pdf 
• drugs.com - check out the “click and listen” feature
• USP Dictionary Online (Subscription-based resource) 
• USP Dictionary’s pronunciation guide (Free resource, American Medical Association’s website) 

The Pharmac