Monitoring of carbamazepine

Monitoring of carbamazepine

Monitoring: Assessment of haematological, renal, electrolyte and hepatic function before commencing carbamazepine could prove a useful baseline; however, there is no consensus on the value of subsequent routine haematological and biochemical monitoring. For further information on monitoring,

There is no evidence for the utility of designated therapeutic plasma concentrations when carbamazepine is used to treat bipolar disorder. Although antiepileptic plasma concentration ranges (20 to 50 micromol/L or 5 to 12 mg/L) are used as a guideline, dose increases should be titrated against the appearance of adverse effects and clinical response. In general terms, concentrations of at least the order of the published antiepileptic range are required to achieve efficacy in bipolar disorder. At concentrations above the antiepileptic range the risk of toxicity is high.