title: A comparison of carbamazepine divitabs with carbamazepine normal formulation in psychiatric and oligophrenic patients. Preliminary pharmacokinetic results.
abstract: In an open, randomized, two-centre, cross-over study 20 patients formerly adjusted to a stable oral twice daily 200-600 mg carbamazepine dose, used ordinary tablets and divitabs (a new sustained-release formulation) for periods of three weeks, whereafter the serum level courses of carbamazepine and its metabolite carbamazepine-10,11-epoxide were measured. The mean peak/mean trough carbamazepine-serum concentration ratio was slightly lower after the intake of divitabs in comparison to normal formulation: 1.14 +/- 0.447 versus 1.23 +/- 0.545 (mean +/- SD). The mean trough levels of carbamazepine and its metabolite were 9% and 16% lower in the case of divitabs. In patients with peak/trough carbamazepine-serum level ratios of at least 1.30 after the intake of normal formulation, divitabs had a significant advantage.
authors.affiliation: Psychiatrische Instituten van de Godshuizen, GB Vught, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Loonen
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Toll
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Nijdam
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D002220:Carbamazepine