Reactions 910 - 13 Jul 2002

Carbamazepine

Various toxicities: case reportA man in his forties developed a high fever associated with

blood dyscrasias and liver function abnormalities duringcarbamazepine treatment for a mood disorder.

The man had been receiving carbamazepine 200 mg/day for13 days when his dosage was increased to 400 mg/day. Hepresented 5 days later with a 2-week history of intermittentfever, headaches and severe constitutional symptoms.Examination revealed a temperature of 39.8°C and a fewpetechiae on his trunk. Laboratory investigations revealedleucopenia (2.3 × 109/L), neutropenia (0.4 × 109/L),lymphopenia (0.5 × 109/L) and thrombocytopenia (28 × 109/L).Investigations also showed γ-glutamyl transferase, ALT, ASTand alkaline phosphatase levels of 789, 285, 121 and 334 IU/L,respectively, and a bilirubin level of 24 µmol/L.

Carbamazepine was discontinued and the man’s feversettled after 4 days. His haematological and liver functionabnormalities resolved completely in the weeks followingcarbamazepine discontinuation.Anpalahan M. Carbamazepine toxicity. Australian Prescriber 25: 73-74, No. 3,2002 - Australia 800911987

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Reactions 13 Jul 2002 No. 9100114-9954/10/0910-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved