These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: Improved CNS tolerability following conversion from immediate- to extended-release carbamazepine.
    Author: Miller AD, Krauss GL, Hamzeh FM.
    Journal: Acta Neurol Scand; 2004 Jun; 109(6):374-7. PubMed ID: 15147458.
    Abstract:
    OBJECTIVES: Tolerability of 'narrow therapeutic ratio' (NTR) antiepileptic drugs may improve with uniform drug delivery. We determined whether conversion from immediate-release carbamazepine (IR-CBZ) to extended-release carbamazepine (ER-CBZ) decreased the incidence of CNS side-effects associated with drug concentration oscillations. METHODS: We compared CNS side effects and seizure frequency for patients with partial-onset seizures (n = 61) treated with IR-CBZ for > or =1 year with conversion to ER-CBZ for > or =1 year. We compared tolerability findings with absorption variability of the formulations. RESULTS: Incidence of CNS side-effects decreased from 49% during IR-CBZ treatment to 20% following conversion to ER-CBZ. Patients also had improved tolerability of high doses (> or =1200 mg/day) during ER-CBZ treatment. Pharmacokinetic analysis showed absorption and drug concentration were much more variable for the immediate-release formulation. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that ER-CBZ formulations, with smoother drug delivery and less variable absorption, provide improved CNS tolerability compared with immediate-release formulations.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]