Dr. Bob's Psychopharmacology Tips

Lithium-carbamazepine interaction

From: Burns Woodward, M.D. <WoodwardB1@aol.com>
Date: Sun, 7 Dec 1997 16:00:02 EST
Subject: Lithium-carbamazepine interaction

A number of years ago there was an article on "neurotoxicity" with the combination of lithium and carbamazepine. I have seen it several times -- cognitive disturbance and impaired motor coordination, much worse than with either drug alone. It is manageable by titrating the dose of the second drug upward very slowly and carefully.

[ Probably:

Chaudhry RP, Waters BG. Lithium and carbamazepine interaction: possible neurotoxicity. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. 44 (1): 30-1, 1983 Jan.

But see also:

Marcoux AW. Carbamazepine-lithium drug interaction [letter]. Annals of Pharmacotherapy. 30 (5): 547, 1996 May.

Khaitan, A K; Sengupta, A; Lata, H. Neurotoxicity following lithium and carbamazepine interaction: A case report. Indian Journal of Psychiatry. Vol 27 (3) 265-266, Jul 1985.

Ghose K. Interaction between lithium and carbamazepine [letter]. British Medical Journal. 280 (6222): 1122, 1980 Apr 26.

Perucca E, Richens A. Interaction between lithium and carbamazepine [letter]. British Medical Journal. 280 (6217): 863, 1980 Mar 22. ]

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