title: Circadian carbamazepine toxicity.
abstract: Owing to marked fluctuations in plasma concentrations, circadian CNS toxicity (maximum in the early afternoon) occurred in a 69-year-old female patient being treated with an instant-release formulation of carbamazepine (CBZ). The neurologic syndrome was reversible after administration of the same daily dose as sustained-release formulation. This case illustrates the importance of correct timing of blood sampling to detect drug-induced toxicity and of use of sustained-release formulations in antiepileptic therapy with CBZ.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Haefeli
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: T F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Lüscher
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D002220:Carbamazepine