Journal of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences

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  Assessment of minimal therapeutically dosage of Carbamazepine and Valproate in control of Epileptic attacks

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  A. Samaei ¹* MD , M. Nobahar ² MSc , A.A. Vafaei ³ Ph.D

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  1- Assistant Professor of Neurology, Fatemiah Hospital, Semnan University of Medical Sciences

  2- Academic Member, Nursing, Semnan University of Medical Sciences

  3- Assistant Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences

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  Background: Previous studies have shown that physicians use a very high dosage of carbamazepine (CBZ) and Valproate (VPA) to control epileptic attacks, while these drugs incur of many side effects include of gastrointestinal, hematology, psychology, cardiology and…). The aim of this study was to reach the least therapeutically dose while keeping an acceptable blood level.

  Material and Methods: This is a semi experimental study that done on 56 epileptic patients in during of one year. At the first time we record of demographic data include of age, sex, weight and period of drug usage. Then we prescript of drug (CBZ and VPA in adult were 9-11 and 12-14 mg/kg and in children were 9-12 and 12-15 mg/kg respectively). Then we measurement of serum levels of CBZ and VPA monthly by gaschromatography methods.

  Results: The results indicated that serum levels of CBZ and VPA in adult were 7.4 and 74.7 and serum levels of drugs in children were 8.2 and 66.8 respectively. Also patients have not epilepsy attack in during of assessment.

  Conclusion: T hese findings show that with the much lower dosage of the drugs we can reach an appropriate blood level for controlling epileptic seizures.

  Key words: Epilepsy, Carbamazepine, Valproate

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  * Corresponding author, tel: (231) 3322335

  M. Mirzaei [1] , F. Habilzadeh [2]

  Received: 18/02/2010 Sent for Revision: 09/08/2010 Received Revised Manuscript: 21/12/2010 Accepted: 01/01/2011

  Background and Objectives : Osteoarthritis is the most common arthicular disease of human. Medical managements of this disorder are mostly limited to relieving pain usually by NSAIDs. However, due to many
side effects of these medications, especially on elderly patients, long-term therapy with these drugs is of major concern. In this study, the analgesic effect of carbamazepine on knee osteoarthritis was compared with diclofenac as a NSAID and placebo.

  Materials and Methods: In this double-blind randomised clinical trial study, 60 patients diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis were investigated for 12 months. The patients were then categorised into three groups carbamazepine, diclofenac, and placebo groups. After two weeks of treatment, the pain relief rate was re-evaluated for each patient using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) . The data was then analysed using Chi-Square test.

  Results: Patients categorised as carbamazepine and diclofenac groups showed a marked pain relief after treatment period compared to the placebo group (p<0.05 vsp= 0.12 respectively). However, the analgesic effect of carbamazepine was not significant compared to diclofenac.

  Conclusion: Carbamazepine has a same analgesic effect on knee osteoarthritis as NSAIDs. So, it may be a favorite alternative to NSAIDs in patients who are not able to tolerate the detrimental effects of these drugs.

  Key words: Knee osteoarthritis, Carbamazepine, Diclofenac

  Funding: This research was funded by a grant from the research Council of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences.

  Conflict of interest : None declared.

  Ethical approval: The Ethics Committee of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences approved the study.

  How to cite this article : Mirzaei M, Habilzadeh F . Survey on Comparison of the Analgesic Effects of Carbamazepine and Diclofenac on Knee Osteoarthritis . J Rafsanjan Univ Med Sci 2011 10(3): 175-82. [Farsi]

  1- Assistant Prof., Dept. of Internal Medicine, Medicine Faculty, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran

  (Corresponding Author) Tel: (0391) 8220016, Fax: (0391) 8220022, E-mail: Mirzaei.dr@Gmail.com

  2- General Physician, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran