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Nizam

Re: Some facts about antiepileptic drugs

No it is not. Gabapentin is excreted unmetabolised through the kidneys and therefore requires baseline renal function tests. Dose adjustment (reduction) may be required if renal functions are impaired.

Lamotrigine is metabolised through the liver and therefore it is a good idea to do baseline LFTs. Lamotrigine blood levels are available but very expensive (US $100) when requested in Canada. Those are helpful in rare instances but are not required in most instances.

docosama

Re: Some facts about antiepileptic drugs

Thank you for your excellent information.

I wanted to know is it necessary to do blood levels of new epileptic drugs, like Gabapentin, Lamotrigine etc?

Nizam

Some facts about antiepileptic drugs

Did you know?

1.Topamax can cause angle closure glaucoma and renal stones.
2. Phenobarbital and barbiturates can cause dupytren's contractures.
3. Vigabatrin can cause visual field defects.
4. Carbamazepine can cause hyponatremia.
5. Felbamate can cause fatal hepatotoxicity and aplastic anemia.
6. Lamotrigine can cause Steven Johnson's syndrome.
7. Enzyme inducing antiepileptic medications (carbamazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital, mysoline) can cause osteomalacia and patients should be supplemented with Vitamin D and calcium).
8. Pregnant women on enzyme inducing AEDs should be treated with Vitamin K in the last month of their pregnancy.
9. Topamax is a helpful prophylaxis for migraines.
10.Lamotrigine and and carbamazepine can exacerbate headaches.