Electrolytes changes during carbamazepine therapy

ABSTRACT

Sixty patients receiving tegretol [Carbamazepine] were studied to determine the disturbances in sodium and potassium levels, The results were compared with 61 age matched controls. There was a significant difference between the mean [ +/- S.E.] serum sodium levels of the subjects [138.8 +/- 0.6 mEq/L] and the controls [141.7 +/- 04.mEq/L]. Thirteen of the subjects [21.7%], but none of the controls, had sodium levels of <135 mEq/L. The mean values of potassium [4.3 +/- 0.02 mEq/L] were not significantly changed as compared to controls. The risk of hyponatremia increased with age. The prevalence of hyponatremia was four times higher among subjects aged 30 years or more as compare to those below 30 years