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Abstract
When evaluating a patient who is taking an antiepileptic medication, it is important
for the emergency physician to correlate the clinical presentation with the antiepileptic
drug level. Therapeutic ranges have been suggested for most antiepileptic medications,
but these must be interpreted in light of clinical efficacy and patient tolerance.
When considering the efficacy of antiepileptic medications, it is necessary to consider
the patient's unique metabolism, side-effect tolerance, and overall response to therapy.
Suggested therapeutic ranges should be the first reference for the emergency physician.
The purpose of this report is to discuss the laboratory values of commonly prescribed
antiepileptic medications. Therapeutic ranges, side-effects, and common medication
interactions are discussed concerning phenytoin, phenobarbital, carbamezapine, and
valproic acid.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
February 26,
1996
Received in revised form:
February 5,
1996
Received:
October 26,
1994
Footnotes
☆Clinical Laboratory is coordinated by Jonathan S. Olshaker, md, of the University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland.
Identification
Copyright
© 1996 Published by Elsevier Inc.
