Carbamazepine
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Reactions 469 - 18 Sep 1993 Carbamazepine Blood dyscrasias: case report An increased reticulocyte count from 0.6 to 2.1% occurred in a 51-year-old woman after 1-2 weeks’ therapy with carbamazepine 200 mg/day. She was started on carbamazepine following a suicide attempt 2 weeks earlier. At the time of the increased reticulocyte count there were no significant changes in any other haematological values, although the serum carbamazepine concentration had increased from 3.0 to 5.3 µg/ml. After another 3 weeks, the serum carbamazepine concentration had decreased from 0.6 µg/ml and the woman admitted to noncompliance. At this stage, the reticulocyte count had also decreased to 0.5%. A further 3 weeks of regular carbamazepine treatment produced a serum carbamazepine concentration reaching 6.6 µg/ml with her reticulocyte count only increasing to 0.7%. Author comment: ‘It can not be elucidated whether the first increase of reticulocytes was induced by carbamazepine . . . In any case, this report suggests that even if one observes such an increase the first time a patient is taking the drug, it may make sense to rechallenge the patient since it may not occur a second time.’ Terao T. Reticulocyte increase and carbamazepine. American Journal of Psychiatry 150: 1271-1272, Aug 1993 - Japan 800209830 1 Reactions 18 Sep 1993 No. 469 0114-9954/10/0469-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved
Transcript of Carbamazepine
Reactions 469 - 18 Sep 1993
Carbamazepine
Blood dyscrasias: case reportAn increased reticulocyte count from 0.6 to 2.1% occurred
in a 51-year-old woman after 1-2 weeks’ therapy withcarbamazepine 200 mg/day. She was started oncarbamazepine following a suicide attempt 2 weeks earlier.
At the time of the increased reticulocyte count there were nosignificant changes in any other haematological values,although the serum carbamazepine concentration hadincreased from 3.0 to 5.3 µg/ml.
After another 3 weeks, the serum carbamazepineconcentration had decreased from 0.6 µg/ml and the womanadmitted to noncompliance. At this stage, the reticulocytecount had also decreased to 0.5%.
A further 3 weeks of regular carbamazepine treatmentproduced a serum carbamazepine concentration reaching6.6 µg/ml with her reticulocyte count only increasing to 0.7%.
Author comment: ‘It can not be elucidated whether the firstincrease of reticulocytes was induced by carbamazepine . . . Inany case, this report suggests that even if one observes such anincrease the first time a patient is taking the drug, it may makesense to rechallenge the patient since it may not occur a secondtime.’Terao T. Reticulocyte increase and carbamazepine. American Journal of Psychiatry150: 1271-1272, Aug 1993 - Japan 800209830
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Reactions 18 Sep 1993 No. 4690114-9954/10/0469-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved
