Abstract

Carbamazepine is one of the most frequently prescribed antiepileptic drugs and influence of genetic differences, sex, age and race on the plasma levels of carbamazepine and its metabolites is well known. The objective of this study was to assess and compare the compliance, safety and toxicity in different age and gender groups of Chinese epileptic patients on the basis of therapeutic drug monitoring results of carbamazepine, since Han-Chinese are at higher risk of developing serious and fatal adverse effects when exposed to carbamazepine. The therapeutic drug monitoring results of carbamazepine in epileptic patients, obtained with validated methods were complied, evaluated and compared for compliance, safety and toxicity in different age and gender groups of Chinese epileptic patients. The therapeutic drug monitoring results of males and females were separately compiled and thereafter each gender group was further divided into children, adults and elderly as different age group. All age groups in both gender groups were evaluated for therapeutic, sub-therapeutic and toxic ranges. It was found that 45% of samples of total samples had sub-therapeutic levels and 55% of all samples had carbamazepine levels in therapeutic range, and none of gender and age group found in toxic range. Compared to males, female samples were more in number of sub-therapeutic levels. Populations of children males and children females were having more samples in sub-therapeutic levels as compared to adult and elderly males and females, respectively. However, it needs further evaluation. The findings of present study revealed that majority of patients were in sub- therapeutic levels. It is suggested that regularly therapeutic drug monitoring of carbamazepine should be performed and dose of carbamazepine in epileptic patients should be adjusted only after therapeutic drug monitoring results in order to assess the compliance, optimize the efficacy, safety and minimize the toxicity.