RESUMO
A clinical study was carried out on all cases, acutely poisoned by carbamazepine [CBMZ] [26 cases] presented to [P. C. C.] during the period from January to April 1994 and compared with equal number of non exposed subjects with similar age and sex. Cases were evaluated clinically by history and examination and by laboratory investigation in the form of ECG. serum sodium levels and CBMZ serum levels at admission and when needed thereafter. It was observed that 20 cases [13 males and 7 females] were suicidal poisoning, all of them were above age of 15 years and 6 cases [4 males and 2 females] were accidental, all of them were below age of 15 years. It was also observed that grade of coma, hypotension respiratory depression, presence of convulsions, vomiting, ECG changes and dilatation of the pupils correlated well with CBMZ serum levels. On the other hand, serum sodium and pulse changes did not correlate with it. Moreover, the line of treatment needed for each case for most cases correlated well with CBMZ serum levels