Long-term therapy with carbamazepine: effects on nerve conduction velocity.
Peripheral nerve function was evaluated in 30 epileptic patients on chronic therapy with carbamazepine (CBZ) and 20 healthy controls. The electrophysiological data indicated a mild progressive reduction of both motor and sensory conduction velocity in the patients on long-term treatment with the drug. The impairment of nerve function paralleled the duration of therapy (i.e. 1 through 3 years). CBZ plasma levels were constantly within the therapeutic range. Folic acid levels were below normal in about 50% of the subjects. In the absence of other evidence, the hypothesis cannot be excluded that folate deficiency may have played some role in the development of the peripheral nerve dysfunction.
D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000187:drug effects; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000187:drug effects; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000187:drug effects
D002220:Carbamazepine