Abstract
Side effects in the central nervous system such as drowsiness and diplopia are often observed in carbamazepine (CBZ) therapy. Reports suggested the involvement of not only CBZ but also carbamazepine-10, 11-epoxide (CBZE) in the development of these side effects. Therefore, to examine the association between the side effects in the central nervous system and CBZE, we measured time courses of CBZ and CBZE levels in awake, freely moving rats by means of brain and blood microdialysis. The time course of CBZE levels was similar in the blood and the striatum. The elimination half life of CBZE in the striatum was significantly longer than that of CBZ. Because the CBZE level in the blood reflects that in the brain of patients receiving CBZ, measurement of CBZE levels may be important in preventing and reducting the side effects in the central nervous system.
