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A Textbook of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics

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Case history<br />

A 24-year-old woman whose secondary generalized<br />

tonic–clonic seizures have been well controlled with carbamazepine<br />

for the previous four years develops confusion,<br />

somnolence, ataxia, vertigo <strong>and</strong> nausea. Her concurrent<br />

medication includes the oral contraceptive, Loestrin 20<br />

(which contains norethisterone 1 mg <strong>and</strong> ethinylestradiol<br />

20 μg) <strong>and</strong> erythromycin, which was started one week earlier<br />

for sinusitis. She has no history <strong>of</strong> drug allergy.<br />

Question 1<br />

What is the likely cause <strong>of</strong> her symptoms?<br />

Question 2<br />

Is the oral contraceptive preparation appropriate?<br />

Answer 1<br />

Erythromycin inhibits the metabolism <strong>of</strong> carbamazepine,<br />

<strong>and</strong> the symptoms described are attributable to a raised<br />

plasma concentration <strong>of</strong> carbamazepine.<br />

Answer 2<br />

This patient is not adequately protected against conception<br />

with the low-dose oestrogen pill, since carbamazepine<br />

induces the metabolism <strong>of</strong> oestrogen.<br />

FURTHER READING<br />

FEBRILE CONVULSIONS 141<br />

Anon. When <strong>and</strong> how to stop antiepileptic drugs in adults. Drugs <strong>and</strong><br />

<strong>Therapeutics</strong> Bulletin 2003; 41: 41–43.<br />

Duncan JS, S<strong>and</strong>er JW, Sisodiya SM, Walker ML. Adult epilepsy.<br />

Lancet 2006; 367: 1087–100.

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