The comparative efficacy of carbamazepine low and high serum level and lithium carbonate in the prophylaxis of affective disorders.
The prophylactic efficacy of carbamazepine slow release (CBZ) at ke different blood levels and lithium carbonate slow release (LI) was compared in a retrospective/prospective, randomized, 2-year open trial. 84 patients with a DSM-III-R diagnosis of recurrent affective disorder who had no prophylactic medication in the 2 years preceding the trial (no LI nonresponders), were randomly allocated to three treatment groups: CBZ low (15-25 mumol/l), CBZ high (28-40 mumol/l) and LI (0.6-0.8 mumol/l). Fifty-eight patients completed the full observation period of 2 years, 26 patients dropped out. There were no statistically significant differences in the efficacy of the prophylactic treatment for bipolar patients. For the unipolar patients, the group with a low CBZ serum level showed no reduction in the duration of episodes. The two other treatment groups seem to be equal in attenuation of a unipolar course of an affective disorder.
Simhandl
C
C
University Clinic of Vienna, Department of Psychiatry, Austria.
Denk
E
E
Thau
K
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016651:Lithium Carbonate / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012008:Recurrence
D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D016651:Lithium Carbonate; D002220:Carbamazepine