Anti-Epileptic Medication Adverse Effects - 2000

Drug, Systemic Adverse Effects, Neurotoxic Adverse Effects

Carbamazepine (Tegretol)

• Systemic Adverse Effects - Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, hyponatremia, pruritus, fluid retention, risk of rash in approximately 10% of patients
• Neurotoxic Adverse Effects - Drowsiness, dizziness, blurred or double vision, lethargy, headache
• Rare Adverse Effects - Agranulocytosis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, aplastic anemia, hepatic failure, dermatitis/rash, serum sickness, pancreatitis

Ethosuximide (Zarontin)

• Systemic Adverse Effects - Nausea, vomiting
• Neurotoxic Adverse Effects - Sleep disturbance, drowsiness, hyperactivity
• Rare Adverse Effects - Agranulocytosis, Stevens­Johnson syndrome, aplastic anemia, dermatitis/rash, serum sickness

Felbamate (Felbatol)

• Systemic Adverse Effects - Nausea, vomiting, anorexia, Insomnia, dizziness, headache, weight loss
• Neurotoxic Adverse Effects - Insomnia, dizziness, headache, ataxia
• Rare Adverse Effects - Aplastic anemia, hepatic failure

Gabapentin (Nerontin)

• Systemic Adverse Effects - associated with rash in approximately 2% of patients
• Neurotoxic Adverse Effects - Somnolence, dizziness, ataxia
• Rare Adverse Effects - None reported

Lamotrigine (Lamictal)

• Systemic Adverse Effects - Rash in approximately 10% of patients, nausea
• Neurotoxic Adverse Effects - Dizziness, somnolence
• Rare Adverse Effects - Stevens-Johnson syndrome, hypersensitivity syndrome

Phenobarbital (Luminal), primidone (Mysoline)

• Systemic Adverse Effects - Nausea, associated with rash in approximately 2% of patients
• Neurotoxic Adverse Effects - Alteration of sleep cycles, sedation, lethargy, ataxia, behavioral changes, hyperactivity, tolerance, dependence
• Rare Adverse Effects - Agranulocytosis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, hepatic failure, dermatitis/rash, serum sickness

Phenytoin (Dilantin)

• Systemic Adverse Effects - Gingival hypertrophy, body hair increase, lymphadenopathy, risk of rash in approximately 10% of patients
• Neurotoxic Adverse Effects - Confusion, slurred speech, double vision, ataxia, neuropathy (with long­term use)
• Rare Adverse Effects - Agranulocytosis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, hepatic failure, dermatitis/rash, serum sickness

Valproic acid (Depakote)

• Systemic Adverse Effects - Drowsiness, fatigue, dizziness, headache, rash in approximately 2% of patients
• Neurotoxic Adverse Effects - Tremor
• Rare Adverse Effects - Agranulocytosis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, aplastic anemia, hepatic failure, dermatitis/rash, serum sickness, pancreatitis

Return to The Intern in the Middle of the Night Home Page

Return to LSUHSC-S Family Medicine Home Page

Return to the LSUHSC-S Home Page.