RESUMO
The percentage protein binding of antiepileptic drugs was investigated in epileptic patients (n = 90) undergoing treatment with phenobarbitone, phenytoin and carbamazepine either as a single drug therapy or in different combinations. When administered individually, the percentage (mean +/- SEM) protein binding of phenobarbitone, phenytoin and carbamazepine were 50.84 +/- 7.03, 87.23 +/- 2.98 and 76.80 +/- 6.30 respectively. Combination of phenobarbitone and phenytoin resulted in percentage (mean +/- SEM) protein binding of 51.94 +/- 6.09 for phenobarbitone and 83.54 +/- 7.01 for phenytoin, while the combination of phenobarbitone and carbamazepine resulted in percentage (mean +/- SEM) protein binding of 49.60 +/- 2.59 for phenobarbitone and 79.10 +/- 3.31 for carbamazepine. When phenytoin was given with carbamazepine percentage (mean +/- SEM) protein binding was 87.22 +/- 4.48 for phenytoin and 72.50 +/- 5.92 for carbamazepine.