Serum antiepileptic drugs monitoring

ABSTRACT

A total of 25 patients with grand mal epilepsy were included in the present study. Blood samples collected and assayed for phenytoin and carbamazepine by modified HPLC method. The total number of samples assayed for phenytoin were 14 samples and for carbamazepine 16 samples [6 samples contain both drugs]. In phenylion 4 patients show subtherapeutic level and one patient showed toxic level. For carbamazepine 3 patients have subtherapeutic level and 3 patients had toxic level. The dose range for both drugs were in the lower recommended limit, and 52% of the patients were on multiple drug therapy. It is concluded that treatment with phenytion and carbamazepine should be started with monotherapy accompanied by serum level monitoring and the dose gradually increased until we reach the upper therapeutic range, if no response is obtained another drug can be added