Influence of disulfiram on the serum concentration of carbamazepine in patients with epilepsy

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Treatment of alcoholics with phenytoin and disulfiram (DI) simultaneously is complicated and inexpedient due to marked drug interaction. Whether an interaction exists between DI and carbamazepine (CBZ) was studied. The serum levels of CBZ and the metabolite CBZ-10, 11-epoxide were measured by high-pressure liquid chromatography in 7 out-patients with epilepsy, on monotherapy with CBZ, before and during 2 wk administration of DI. Five patients completed the investigation. None were alcoholics. The changes in the serum levels were insignificant. Uncontrolled clinical experience has not indicated any interaction between DI and CBZ. The influence of DI on the metabolism of CBZ is probably negligible. CBZ is suggested when anticonvulsive therapy is needed by alcoholics in treatment with DI.