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Abstract: Objective: To investigate whether measurement of plasma levels can predict tolerance to oxcarbazepine (OXC). Methods: We reviewed medical records to identify all inpatients consecutively treated by OXC at the University Department of Psychiatry in Bordeaux. Adverse effects were rated before treatment onset, at day 3, then every week and at discharge or at discontinuation. Residual hydroxy-OXC concentrations were measured on blood samples at the same periods. Results: OXC was prescribed to 20 patients with bipolar (n =18) or schizoaffective bipolar-type disorder (n =2). Reported side effects were transient and occurred mostly at the beginning of the treatment. Three patients stopped OXC because of severe cutaneous side effects. Residual hydroxy-OXC plasma levels were similar in patients with or without occurrence of side effects at all times of assessment. Conclusion: Our data suggest that the occurrence of severe side-effects is relatively high with OXC. Measurement of plasma OXC levels does not appear to be of interest in clinical practice since plasma concentrations are not predictive of the occurrence of side effects. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]