title: Valproic acid-induced carbamazepine-10,11-epoxide toxicity in children and adolescents.
abstract: The study of 14 children and adolescents shows that the addition of carbamazepine (CBZ) to a basic valproic acid (VPA) therapy can result in unexpectedly high concentrations of carbamazepine-10,11-epoxide (CE) in the serum (up to 13 micrograms/ml). These concentrations were associated with marked side effects, especially vomiting and tiredness. The concentrations of CBZ were within the therapeutic range. Very high CE concentrations can largely be avoided at the commencement of the CBZ treatment if the CBZ dose is slowly increased. But high CE concentrations (4-8 micrograms/ml) associated with side effects can also be reached in later stages during the build up of CBZ treatment and under steady state conditions. The determination of the CE concentration is important when VPA and CBZ are administered together, especially when side effects occur.
authors.affiliation: Biochemical Department, Gesellschaft für Epilepsieforschung, Bethel/Bielefeld, FRG.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rambeck
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sälke-Treumann
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: May
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Boenigk
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D002220:Carbamazepine; D014635:Valproic Acid; C012227:carbamazepine epoxide