Carbamazepine (CBZ) is a drug commonly used in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia. It is an iminostibene derivative that is extensively metabolized by the liver. A medical regimen of 300㎎ of CBZ daily was started for a 74-year-old woman with diagnosis of left trigeminal neuralgia(Ⅲ). After CBZ was administered for 4 weeks, drug eruptions appeared on the skin and severe liver damage (GOT and GPT greater than 600IU/ℓ) was detected. Withdrawal of CBZ led to complete resolution of both clinical and biochemical abnormalities.Geriatric patients seem to be particularly susceptible and their hepatic function should be monitored closely when CBZ therapy is initiated.
