title: Rapid tolerance to acute psychomotor impairment with carbamazepine in epileptic patients.
abstract: Thirteen patients with newly diagnosed epilepsy performed a battery of psychomotor function tests before and during the first 12 weeks of carbamazepine (CBZ) therapy. Movement time (P less than 0.025), total choice reaction time (P less than 0.025), finger tapping rate (P less than 0.005) and number cancellation (P less than 0.05) were all significantly impaired after 1 week's treatment, but had returned to baseline by 4 weeks. Mean (+/- s.d.) serum CBZ concentrations and those of its active metabolite CBZ 10,11 epoxide (CBZ-E) were comparable at 1 (CBZ: 8.5 +/- 2.1 mg l-1, CBZ-E: 1.1 +/- 0.68 mg l-1) and 4 weeks (CBZ: 8.1 +/- 4.4 mg l-1, CBZ-E: 0.93 +/- 0.27 mg l-1). These results suggest the rapid development of tolerance to the acute deleterious psychomotor effects of CBZ.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Western Infirmary, Glasgow.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Larkin
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: McKee
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Brodie
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D002220:Carbamazepine