Study population
ideation, arteriovenous malformation)Impaired pre‐stroke, cerebral tumor, intracerebral hemorrhage, seizure, seizures, stroke, aneurysmatic, intracerebral hemorrhagic stroke, alcoholism, occurrence)Time of stroke, antiseizure, Stroke, cerebral cortical stroke, atherosclerosis, hypersensitivity, acute ischemic stroke
ATRIOVENTRICULAR BLOCK, INTRACEREBRAL HEMORRHAGE, STROKE, STROKE, EVENT, DELIRIUM TREMENS, ACUTE ISCHEMIC STROKE, ATHEROSCLEROSIS, HYPERSENSITIVITY, CORTEX
The study population comprises adult stroke patients at high risk for an unprovoked seizure after acute intracerebral hemorrhage or acute ischemic stroke. See Table Key inclusion and exclusion criteria.Informed consent (from patient or patient's legal representative)Contraindication to ESLMen and women aged ≥18 yKnown Han Chinese or Thai ancestry
Confirmation of one of the following, by MRI or CT:
Acute ischemic stroke or intracerebral hemorrhagic stroke An acute symptomatic seizure until 120 h post‐stroke Cerebral cortex involvement
Acute ischemic stroke NIHSS ≥11 Cerebral cortex involvement Large‐artery atherosclerosis 
Acute ischemic stroke NIHSS 4–10 Cerebral cortex involvement Large‐artery atherosclerosis Territory of MCA
Acute intracerebral hemorrhagic stroke Cerebral cortex involvement Volume of intracerebral hemorrhage >10 mLUse of oxcarbazepine or ESL (except in this trial)History of ASM use within previous 2 yHistory of unprovoked seizures prior to index stroke eventHistory of previous clinical cerebral cortical stroke (other than index stroke event) within 2 y prior to V1a
Sinus venous thrombosisSpontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (e.g., due to aneurysmatic or arteriovenous malformation)Impaired pre‐stroke level of function (i.e., mRS score >3 prior to first stroke occurrence)Time of stroke occurrence known and V1b planned within 120 h since known time of stroke, or since last time seen wellSevere hepatic impairmenteGFR <30 mL/min/1.73mBrain scan analysis reliably excluded structural brain lesions mimicking stroke (e.g., cerebral tumor, brain abscess)Known or suspected acute or chronic alcoholism, delirium tremens, or toxic psychosisHistory of suicidal ideation or suicide attempt within previous 3 y
Female patients without childbearing potential are eligiblePresence of any other significant or progressive/unstable medical condition that would compromise trial participation, safety, or compliance (investigator's opinion)
Abbreviations: ASM, antiseizure medication; CT, computed tomography; eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate; ESL, eslicarbazepine acetate; MCA, middle cerebral artery; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; mRS, modified Rankin Scale; NIHSS, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale; V, visit.Known hypersensitivity to ingredients of ESL formulation or other carboxamide derivatives (e.g., oxcarbazepine and carbamazepine), or second or third atrioventricular block.