Carbamazepine in manic-depressive illness: a new treatment.

Abstract

The authors evaluated carbamazepine (Tegretol), a drug of choice for treatment of temporal lobe epilepsy, in a double-blind placebo-controlled trial in patients with manic-depressive illness. Seven of 9 manic patients had a partial to marked response; several also showed relapses when placebo was substituted and improvement when carbamazepine was reinstituted. Five of 13 depressed patients showed significant improvement in depression ratings; 3 additional patients experienced partial relapse when placebo was substituted. Carbamazepine might also have prophylactic as well as acute efficacy in patients with both phases of manic-depressive illness, including some patients who do not respond to lithium. Therapeutic effects were achieved with 600-1600 mg/day at blood levels of 8-12 microgram/ml with relatively few side effects. Carbamazepine may prove to be a useful additional treatment for affective illness.

• Authors: J C Ballenger, R M Post
• Journal: The American journal of psychiatry (Am J Psychiatry) Vol. 137 Issue 7 Pg. 782-90 (Jul 1980) ISSN: 0002-953X [Print] United States
• PMID: 7386656 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Controlled Clinical Trial, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Carbamazepine
• Lithium

Topics

• Adult
• Bipolar Disorder (drug therapy, psychology)
• Carbamazepine (blood, therapeutic use)
• Female
• Humans
• Lithium (therapeutic use)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
• Sleep (drug effects)