Anticonvulsant Therapy and Its Possible Consequences on Peripheral Nervous System: A Neurographic Study

Abstract
Epileptic patients (80) receiving antiepileptic drugs in mono- or polytherapy were studied. For every patient, peroneal and median nerve motor conduction velocities and median nerve sensory conduction velocity were calculated. The average conduction velocity values were remarkably slower than those of a group of 55 normal subjects. At least 1 abnormal conduction velocity value was found in patients treated with carbamazepine (CBZ), phenobarbital and phenytoin. There was no specific prevalence of 1 of these drugs. No noticeable relationship between conduction velocity slowing and daily dosage for CBZ only was found. There was no relationship between conduction velocity slowing and drug blood levels or duration of treatment.