Abstract:
Previous studies have shown that physicians use high doses of Carbamazepine (CBZ) and Valproate (VPA) to
control of epileptic attacks, while these drugs incur of many side effects include of gastrointestinal,
hematologic, psychiatric, cardiac and other side effects. The aim of this study was to determine the minimum
therapeutic dose with and an acceptable blood level of these drugs.
This semi-experimental study was done in 56 epileptic patients in during of one year. At the first demographic
data including of age, sex, weight and the period of drug taking was recorded. Then the drug CBZ and VPA
were prescribed to adults (more than 12 years old) 9-11 mg/kg and 12-14 mg/kg respectively, and in children
(less than 12 years old) 12-14 and 12-15 mg/kg respectively. Serum levels of CBZ and VPA were measured
monthly by gas chromatography method that is separation technique, is mostly employed in chemical analysis.
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 the period of
assessment.
These findings showed that with a much lower dosage of the drugs, which is suggested in texts can lead to an
appropriate blood level of CBZ and VPA for controlling the epileptic seizures
