title: Therapeutic safety monitoring: what to look for and when to look for it.
abstract: This review focuses on the safety problems associated with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) as revealed by laboratory testing and clinical examination. There are two classes of side effects: (a) common and mild and (b) rare and severe. Allergic reactions to AEDs are common and usually mild. However, on rare occasions, they can progress to more severe cutaneous disorders, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis. Severe allergic reactions to AEDs range from immune responses with fever to multiorgan dysfunction. Allergic rashes may be genetically or immunologically determined. Laboratory abnormalities produced by AEDs are common and mild, and include hepatic enzyme elevation associated with phenytoin and mild elevation in ammonia associated with valproate. Serious, although rare, idiosyncratic side effects, such as aplastic anemia, hepatotoxicity, and thrombocytopenia, have also occurred with AEDs. These reactions are largely confined to the "classic" AEDs. With the exception of felbamate, AEDs approved in the past decade have not been plagued by severe idiosyncratic reactions. Subtle endocrine abnormalities, including variations in thyroid function tests and bone metabolism, and the often subclinical effects on peripheral nerve conduction produced by phenytoin and carbamazepine, are also examined.
authors.affiliation: Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Weill Cornell Campus of New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York 10021, USA.
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Harden
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000588:Amines; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D005632:Fructose / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077206:Gabapentin; D006801:Humans; D000077213:Lamotrigine; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010672:Phenytoin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D000077236:Topiramate; D014227:Triazines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020888:Vigabatrin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; D000588:Amines; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D014227:Triazines; D000077236:Topiramate; D005632:Fructose; D002220:Carbamazepine; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D014635:Valproic Acid; D010672:Phenytoin; D000077206:Gabapentin; D020888:Vigabatrin; D000077213:Lamotrigine; D010634:Phenobarbital