Hostname: page-component-77c89778f8-swr86 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-17T16:45:30.231Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Pharmacokinetic Interactions of Antiepileptic Drugs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2015

Penny S. Albright
Affiliation:
Division of Neurology, University of Toronto and the Wellesley Hospital, Toronto
J. Bruni*
Affiliation:
Division of Neurology, University of Toronto and the Wellesley Hospital, Toronto
*
Room 318, E.K. Jones Bldg., Wellesley Hospital, 160 Wellesley Street East, Toronto, Ontario M4Y 1J3
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract:

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

The problem of antiepileptic drug interactions is significant in that many epileptic patients are treated with multiple drug therapy. Moreover, patients may also be receiving additional medication for other concurrent disorders. Most drug interactions are pharmacokinetic, involving changes in absorption, protein binding, metabolism, or excretion. As a result, plasma levels of the antiepileptic drug may decrease leading to exacerbation of seizures. Alternatively, plasma levels may rise resulting in toxic side effects. Similar changes may also occur with drugs given for other disorders. In this paper, possible mechanisms of drug interactions are discussed. This is followed by a description of clinically significant interactions involving phenytoin, carbamazepine, barbiturates, valproic acid, benzodiazepines, and succinimides. Potentially serious drug interactions may be minimized by using as few medications as possible and by regularly monitoring plasma levels of antiepileptic drugs.

Type
Special Features
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Neurological Sciences Federation 1984

References

Benetello, P.Furlanut, M., Testa, G., Santi, R. (1977) Effect of benzodiazepines on serum levels of phenobarbital and diphenylhydantoin. Riv. Farmacol. 8: 109112.Google Scholar
Bowdle, TA.Levy, RH., Cutler, RE. (1979) Effects of carbamazepine on valproic acid in normal man. Clin. Pharmacol. Ther., 26: 629634.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brennan, RW.Dehejia, H., Kutt, H., Verebly, K., McDowell, F. (1970) Diphenylhydantoin intoxication attendant to slow activation of isoniazid. Neurology: 20, 687693.Google Scholar
Bruni, J. (1981) Valproic acid and plasma levels of primidone and derived phenobarbital. Can. J. Neurol. Sci., 8: 9192.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bruni, J.Gallo, JM., Lee, CS., Perchalski, RJ., Wilder, BJ. (1980a) Interactions of valproic acid with phenytoin. Neurology, 30: 12331236.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bruni, J.Wilder, BJ., Perchalski, RJ., Hammond, EJ., Villarreal, HJ. (1980b) Valproic acid and plasma levels of phenobarbital. Neurology, 30: 9497.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bruni, J.Wilder, BJ., Willmore, LJ. (1979) Valproic acid and plasma levels of phenytoin. Neurology, 29: 904905.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Burstein, S.Klaiber, EL. (1965) Phenobarbital-induced increase in 6-betahydroxycortisol excretion: clue to its significance in human urine. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., 25: 293296.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Christiansen, J.Dam, M. (1973) Influence of phenobarbital and diphenylhydantoin on plasma carbamazepine levels in patients with epilepsy. Acta. Neurol. Scand., 49: 543546.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cucinell, SA.Conney, AH., Sansur, MS., Burns, JJ. (1965) Drug interactions in man. I. Lowering effect of phenobarbital on plasma levels of bishydroxycoumarin (Dicoumarol) and diphenylhydantoin (Dilantin). Clin. Pharmacol. Ther., 6: 420429.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dam, M.Christensen, JM., Brandt, J., Hansen, BS., Huidberg, EF., Angelo, H., Lous, P. (1976) Antiepileptic drugs: interactions with dextropropoxyphene. In: Antiepileptic Therapy: Advances in Drug Monitoring, edited by Johannessen, SI., Morselli, PL., Pippenger, CE., Richens, A., Schmidt, , Meinardi, H.Raven Press: New York, 299304.Google Scholar
Dam, M.Jensen, A., Christiansen, J. (1975) Plasma levels and effect of carbamazepine in grand mal and psychomotor epilepsy. Acta Neurol. Scand. (Supp.), 60: 3338.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Data, JL.Wilkinson, GR., Nies, AS. (1976) Interaction of quinidine with anticonvulsant drugs. New Eng. J. Med. 294: 699702.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Eichelbaum, M.Ekbom, K., Bertilsson, L., Lung, L., Palmer, L., Sjövist, F. (1976) Plasma levels of carbamazepine and carbamazepine -10, 11-epoxide during treatment of epilepsy. Eur. J. Clin. Pharamacol., 9:417421.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fincham, RW.Schottelius, DD., Sahs, A. (1974) The influence of diphenylhydantoin on primidone metabolism. Arch. Neurol., 30: 259262.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Flachs, H.Wurtz-Jorgensen, A., Gram, L., Wulff, K. (1977) Sodium di-n-propylacetate — its interaction with other antiepileptic drugs. In: Antiepileptic Drug Monitoring, edited by Gardner-Thorpe, C., Janz, D., Meinardi, H., Pippenger, CE.Pitman Medical: Kent, 165171.Google Scholar
Fleitman, JS.Bruni, J., Perrin, JH., Wilder, BJ. (1980). Albumin binding interaction of sodium valproate. J. Clin. Pharamacol., 20: 514517.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Garnett, WR.Carter, BL., Pellock, JM. (1979) Bioavailability of phenytoin administered with antacids. Ther. Drug Monit., 1: 435436.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gillette, JR. (1973) Overview of drug-protein binding. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 179: 4366.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hansen, JM.Kristensen, M., Skovsted, L., Christensen, LK. (1966) Dicoumarol-induced diphenylhydantoin intoxication. Lancet, 2: 265266.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hansen, JM.Siersbaek-Nielsen, K., Kristensen, M., Skovsted, L., Christensen, LK. (1971) Effect of diphenylhydantoin on the metabolism of dicoumarol in man. Acta. Med. Scand., 189: 1519.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hempel, E.Klinger, W. (1976) Drug stimulated biotransformation of hormonal steroid contraceptives: Clinical implications. Drugs, 12: 442448.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Houghton, GW.Richens, A. (1974) Inhibition of phenytoin metabolism by sulthiame in epileptic patients. Br. J. Clin. Pharmacol., I: 5966.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hunter, J. (1976) Effects of enzyme induction on vitamin D3 metabolism in man. In: Anticonvulsant Drugs and Enzyme Induction, edited by Richens, A. and Woodford, FP.Elsevier: New York, 7784.Google Scholar
Jeavons, PM.Clark, JE. (1974) Sodium valproate in treatment of epilepsy. Br. Med. J., 2: 584586.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Johannessen, SI.Henriksen, O. (1980) Pharmacokinetic observations of sodium valproate in healthy subjects and patients with epilepsy. In: Antiepileptic Therapy: Advances in Drug Monitoring, edited by Johannessen, SI., Morselli, PL., Pippenger, CE., Richens, A., Schmidt, D. and Meinardi, H.Raven Press: New York, 131137.Google Scholar
Kapetanovic, IM.Kupferberg, HJ., Porter, RJ., Theodore, W., Schulman, E., Penry, JK. (1981) Mechanism of valproate-phenobarbital interaction in epileptic patients. Clin. Pharmacol. Ther., 29: 480486.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kater, RMH.Roggin, G., Tobon, F., Zieve, P., Iber, FL. (1969) Increased rate of clearance of drugs from the circulation of alcoholics. Am. J. Med. Sci., 258: 3539.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Klotz, U.Anttila, V-J., Reimann, I. (1979) Cimetidine/diazepam interaction. Lancet: 2, 699.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Koup, JR.Gibaldi, M., McNamara, P., Hilligoss, DM., Colburn, WA., Bruck, E. (1978) Interaction of chloramphenicol with phenytoin and phenobarbital. Clin. Pharmacol. Ther., 24: 571575.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kutt, H.Winters, W., McDowell, F. (1966) Depression of parahydroxylation of diphenylhydantoin by antituberculosis chemotherapy. Neurology (Minneap.), 16: 594602.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kutt, H. (1975) Interactions of antiepileptic drugs. Epilepsia, 16:393402.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kutt, H.Fouts, J. (1971) Diphenylhydantoin metabolism by rat liver microsomes and some of the effects of drug or chemical pretreatment on diphenylhydantoin metabolism by rat liver microsomal preparations. J. Pharamacol. Exp. Ther., 176: 1126.Google ScholarPubMed
Kutt, H.Haynes, J., Verebely, K., McDowell, F. (1969) The effect of phenobarbital on plasma diphenylhydantoin level and metabolism in man and rat liver microsomes. Neurology, 19: 611616.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kutt, H.Paris-Kutt, H. (1982) Phénobarbital: Interactions with other drugs. In: Antiepileptic Drugs (2nd ed.), edited by Woodbury, DM., Penry, JK. and Pippenger, JK.Raven Press: New York, 329340.Google Scholar
Lai, AA.Levy, RH., Cutler, RE. (1978) Time course of interaction between carbamazepine and clonazepam in normal man. Clin. Pharmacol. Ther., 24: 316323.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lander, CM.Eadie, MJ., Tyrer, JH. (1975) Interactions between anticonvulsants. Proc. Aust. Assoc. Neurol., 12: 111116.Google ScholarPubMed
Levy, RH.Pitlick, WH. (1982) Carbamazepine: Interactions with other drugs. In: Antiepileptic Drugs (2nd ed.), edited by Woodbury, DM., Penry, JK. and Pippenger, CE.Raven Press: New York, 497505.Google Scholar
Linarelli, LG.Hengstenberg, FH., Drash, A. (1973) Effect of phenobarbital on hyperlipemia in patients with intrahepatic and extrahepatic cholestasis. J. Pediatr., 83: 291293.Google ScholarPubMed
Loga, S.Curry, S., Lader, M. (1975) Interactions of orphenadrine and phenobarbitone with chlorpromazine: Plasma concentrations and effects in man. Br. J. Clin. Pharamcol., 2: 197208.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
MacDonald, MG.Robinson, DS. (1968) Clinical observations of possible barbiturate interference with anticoagulation. J. A.M.A., 204:97100.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
MacLeod, SM.Sellers, EM., Giles, HG., Billings, BJ., Martin, PR., Greenblatt, DJ., Marshman, JA. (1978) Interaction of disulfiram with benzodiazepines. Clin. Pharmacol. Ther., 24: 583589.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
McLelland, J.Jack, W. (1978) Phenytoin-dexamethasone interaction: A clinical problem, Lancet, 1: 10961097.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mattson, RH.Cramer, JA. (1980) Valproic acid and ethosuximide interaction. Ann. Neurol., 7: 583584.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mattson, GF.Mattson, RH., Cramer, JA. (1982) Interaction between valproic acid and carbamazepine: An in vitro study of protein binding. Ther. Drug Monit., 4: 181184.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Meikle, AW.Jubiz, W., Matsakura, S., West, CD., Tyler, FH. (1969) Effect of diphenylhydantoin on the metabolism of rnetapyrone and release of ACTH in man. J. Clin. Endocrinol., 29: 15531558.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nanda, RN.Johnson, RH., Keogh, HJ., Lambie, DG., Melville, ID. (1977) Treatment of epilepsy with clonazepam and its effect on other anticonvulsants. J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiat., 40: 538543.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Olesen, OV. (1967) The influence of disulfiram and calcium carbimide on the serum diphenylhydantoin. Arch. Neurol., 16: 642644.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Patsalos, PM.Lascelles, PT. (1977) In vitro hydroxylation of diphenylhydantoin and its inhibition by other commonly used anticonvulsant drugs. Biochem. Pharmacol., 26: 19291933.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rambek, B. (1979) Pharmacological interactions of methsuximide with phenobarbital and phenytoin in hospitalized epileptic patients. Epilepsia, 20: 147156.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reunanen, MI.Luoma, P., Myllyla, VV., Hokkanen, E. (1980) Low serum valproic acid concentrations in epileptic patients on combination therapy. Curr. Ther. Res., 28: 455462.Google Scholar
Schneider, H. (1975) Carbamazepine: The influence of other antiepileptic drugs on its serum level. In: Clinical Pharmacology of Anti-epileptic drugs, edited by Schneider, H., Janz, D., Gardner-Thorpe, C., Meinardi, H. and Sherwin, AL.Springer Verlag: Berlin, 189196.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schobben, F.Vree, TB., Van Der Kleijn, E. (1977) Pharmacokinetics, metabolism and distribution of 2-N-propyl pentanoate (sodium valproate) and the influence of salicylate comedication. In: Advances in Epileptology, edited by Meinardi, H. and Rowan, AJ.Sivets and Zeitlinger: Amsterdam, 271277.Google Scholar
Shand, DG.Mitchell, JR., Oates, JA. (1975) Pharmacokinetic Drug Interactions. In: Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology, Vol. 28, edited by Gillette, JR. and Mitchell, JR.Springer-Verlag: New York, 272314.Google Scholar
Sjö, , Hvidberg, EF., Naestoft, J.Lund, M. (1975) Pharmacokinetics and side effects of clonazepam and its 7-amino-metabolite in man. Eur. J. Clin. Pharmacol., 8: 249254.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Thompson, RHP.Eddleston, ALWF., Williams, R. (1969) Low plasmabilirubin in epileptics on phenobarbitone. Lancet, 1: 2122.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Viswanathan, CT.Levy, RH. (1981) Plasma protein binding interactions between valproic acid and salicylic acid in rhesus monkey. J. Pharm. Sci., 70: 12791281.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Warren, JW., Benmaman, JD., Wannamaker, BB., Levy, RH. (1980) Kinetics of a carbamazepine-ethosuximide interaction. Clin. Pharmacol. Ther., 28:646651.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Windorfer, A Jr, Sauer, W. (1977) Drug interactions during anticonvulsant therapy in childhood: diphenylhydantoin, primidone, phenobarbitone, clonazepam, nitrazepam, carbamazepine, and dipropylacetate. Neuropediatric, 8: 2941.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Zimmerman, CL.Patel, IH., Levy, RH., Edwards, D., Nelson, SD., Hutchison, M. (1981) Protein binding of valproic acid in the presence of elevated free fatty acids in patient and normal human serum. Epilepsia, 22: 1117.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed