Carbamazepine
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CARBAMAZEPINE Dana Bartlett, RN, BSN, MSN, MA, CSPI Dana Bartlett is a professional nurse and author. His clinical experience includes 16 years of ICU and ER experience and over 20 years of as a poison control center information specialist. Dana has published numerous CE and journal articles, written NCLEX material, written textbook chapters, and done editing and reviewing for publishers such as Elsevier, Lippincott, and Thieme. He has written widely on the subject of toxicology and was a contributing editor, toxicology section, for Critical Care Nurse journal. He is currently employed at the Rocky Mountain Poison Control Center. ABSTRACT Carbamazepine is an anti-seizure medication that has other uses than for the treatment of epilepsy. Patients who are treated with carbamazepine are often prescribed other medications in combination depending on the primary symptoms being treated. For this reason, monitoring anticonvulsant medications closely through laboratory testing and by patient observation is a necessary aspect of ongoing clinical care. Carbamazepine is considered effective as monotherapy and adjunctive therapy for symptom control by both neurology and psychiatry medical sections. 1 nursece4less.com nursece4less.com nursece4less.com nursece4less.com Policy Statement This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the policies of NurseCe4Less.com and the continuing nursing education requirements of the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation for registered nurses. It is the policy of NurseCe4Less.com to ensure objectivity, transparency, and best practice in clinical education for all continuing nursing education (CNE) activities. Continuing Education Credit Designation This educational activity is credited for 2.5 hours. Nurses may only claim credit commensurate with the credit awarded for completion of this course activity. Pharmacology content is 2.5 hours. Statement of Learning Need Carbamazepine is considered an effective medication for seizure control and to manage symptoms of a mood disorder, specifically for individuals diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Its use as monotherapy or adjunctive therapy depends on a patient’s symptoms and tolerance of the medication. There are significant side effects that clinicians need to monitor for and educate patients about prior to starting treatment. Course Purpose To inform health clinicians of the indications, uses, contraindications and potential side effects of carbamazepine. 2 nursece4less.com nursece4less.com nursece4less.com nursece4less.com Target Audience Advanced Practice Registered Nurses and Registered Nurses (Interdisciplinary Health Team Members, including Vocational Nurses and Medical Assistants may obtain a Certificate of Completion) Course Author & Planning Team Conflict of Interest Disclosures Dana Bartlett, RN, BSN, MSN, MA, CSPI, William S. Cook, PhD, Douglas Lawrence, MA, Susan DePasquale, MSN, FPMHNP-BC – All have no disclosures Acknowledgement of Commercial Support There is no commercial support for this course. Please take time to complete a self-assessment of knowledge, on page 4, sample questions before reading the article. Opportunity to complete a self-assessment of knowledge learned will be provided at the end of the course. 3 nursece4less.com nursece4less.com nursece4less.com nursece4less.com 1. Carbamazepine is an anticonvulsant that has a labeled use for treatment of a. critically ill patients who have neuropathic pain. b. bipolar 1 disorder. c. the neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia. d. restless legs syndrome. 2. The mechanism of action by which carbamazepine is effective for treating acute manic or mixed episodes in patients who have bipolar 1 disorder is a. not known. b. by inhibition of sodium through sodium ion channels. c. through stabilization of neuronal membranes. d. by inhibiting HMG CoA reductase. 3. The usual 24-hour total dose for carbamazepine when treating an adult with epilepsy is a. 400 mg. b. 600 mg – 800 mg. c. 200 mg. d. 800 mg – 1200 mg. 4. In geriatric patients, adult dosing of carbamazepine is appropriate but a clinician should be aware of the potential for hyponatremia, typically as part of a. trigeminal or glossopharyngeal neuralgia. b. aplastic anemia. c. agranulocytosis. d. syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH). 5. Carbamazepine use has been associated with folate and vitamin B2, B6, B12 deficiencies and these deficiencies may contribute to the development of __________________, a risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease. a. trigeminal neuralgia b. hyperhomocysteinemia c. bone marrow depression d. hyponatremia 4 nursece4less.com nursece4less.com nursece4less.com nursece4less.com Introduction Carbamazepine is a first-generation anticonvulsant that has labeled uses for the treatment of specific types of epilepsy (partial and generalized seizures), bipolar disorder, and trigeminal or glossopharyngeal neuralgia. It has also been used as a mood stabilizer and for treatment of neuropathic pain syndromes. Carbamazepine inhibits neuron depolarization and decreases glutamate release. It is also anticholinergic. Carbamazepine in toxic or overdosing is known to antagonize adenosine receptors, resulting in a proconvulsant effect and seizure activity is commonly seen in carbamazepine toxicity. Pharmacological Profile This section includes an overview of the drug qualities of carbamazepine. Basic information on the pharmacology and the clinical uses of carbamazepine, drug-drug interactions, dosing recommendations and monitoring in special populations or in patients with comorbid conditions, and a detailed discussion of issues that are of practical interest to clinicians, is presented. Category Anticonvulsant, miscellaneous Mechanism of Action Carbamazepine stabilizes neuronal membranes by inhibition of the movement of sodium through sodium ion channels, and this prevents repetitive discharges from seizure foci and transmission of these impulses. Carbamazepine also has anticholinergic, antineuralgic, antidiuretic, muscle relaxant, antimanic, antidepressive, and antiarrhythmic properties.1 The mechanism of action by which carbamazepine is effective for treating 5 nursece4less.com nursece4less.com nursece4less.com nursece4less.com acute manic or mixed episodes in patients who have bipolar disorder is not known.2 Drug Uses Bipolar Disorder: Equetro is a brand name for a form of extended release carbamazepine. Equetro is the only form of carbamazepine that has a labeled use for treating acute manic or mixed episodes in patients who have bipolar disorder. Epilepsy: Carbamazepine has a labeled use for treating partial seizures with complex symptomatology (psychomotor, temporal lobe), generalized tonic-clonic seizures (grand mal), or mixed seizure patterns.1-3 Trigeminal or Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia: Oral carbamazepine is used for the treatment of pain associated with trigeminal or glossopharyngeal neuralgia.1-3 This is a labeled use. Carbamazepine has been used off-label to treat critically ill patients who have neuropathic pain, the neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia, and restless legs syndrome.1 Dosing: Adult1 Bipolar Disorder: 6 nursece4less.com nursece4less.com nursece4less.com nursece4less.com A dose of 400 mg a day of Equetro in divided doses is given for bipolar disorder. Clinicians may increase the dose by 200 mg a day to a maximum daily dose of 1600 mg. Epilepsy: Begin with 400 mg a day in divided doses (two or four doses, tablets and suspension, respectively). Increase the dose once a week by 200 mg (again, twice a day with oral tablets, three-four times a day for the suspension). Increase the dose until the desired effect and therapeutic level have been achieved. The usual 24-hour total dose is 800 mg – 1200 mg; the maximum 24-hour total dose is 1600 mg. The suspension will produce a higher peak serum level than an equal dose in oral tablet form, so smaller, more frequent doses are recommended for this form of the drug.3 Intravenous (IV) carbamazepine is used as a short-term replacement for oral carbamazepine. The IV formulation should not be used for > 7 days and the conversion to oral form should be done as soon as possible. The 24-hour daily dose of IV carbamazepine should be 70% of the oral dose, divided into 4 doses, one every 6 hours, and infused in over 30 minutes. Trigeminal or Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia: For trigeminal or glossopharyngeal neuralgia, begin with 200 mg a day in a single dose (extended-release capsule), two divided doses (tablet forms) or four doses (suspension). Increase the dose in increments of 200 mg a day, as needed. The extended-release capsule should be given in two divided doses if the 24-hour total dose exceeds 200 mg. The maintenance dose is usually 400 mg – 800 mg a day, two doses if using tablets and four doses if using the suspension. The 24-hour maximum dose is 1200 mg. 7 nursece4less.com nursece4less.com nursece4less.com nursece4less.com Dosing: Geriatric For geriatric patients, use the adult dosing but be aware of the potential for syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) or hyponatremia.1,2 Signs and symptoms of SIADH can include confusion, coma, seizures, and weakness. Carbamazepine may activate latent psychosis, confusion, or agitation in elderly patients.1 Dosing Adjustment: Hepatic Impairment There are no specific dosing recommendations for patients who have hepatic impairment but carbamazepine is primarily metabolized by the liver, and it would be prudent to use carbamazepine at a