title: [Repetitive serum determinations of anticonvulsants in epileptic patients].
abstract: To evaluate complacence in chronic epileptic women we collected weekly 144 blood samples from 38 patients for antiepileptic drugs determination. All the patients were supposed to have uncontrolled seizures using phenobarbital, phenytoin or carbamazepine monotherapeutically. We found that 34% of the blood levels were below the standard normal range. Blood level with great weekly variations were interpreted as inadequate intake by the patient. We conclude that repetitive antiepileptic blood levels determination may elucidate if the patient has drug-resistant seizures or if the patient is not complacent to the drug therapy.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Neurologia, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (FCM/UNICAMP), Brasil.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Guerreiro
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Annes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D010672:Phenytoin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors; D016312:Treatment Refusal
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D002220:Carbamazepine; D010672:Phenytoin; D010634:Phenobarbital
vernacular_title: Dosagens séricas repetidas de anticonvulsivantes em pacientes epilépticas.