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. 2020 Oct;61(10):875-879.
doi: 10.3349/ymj.2020.61.10.875.

Analysis of Adverse Drug Reactions with Carbamazepine and Oxcarbazepine at a Tertiary Care Hospital

Jung Eun Lee  1 , Kang Ryul Min  2 , Soo Hyun Kim  3 , Alec Hyungtack Kim  4 , Seong Taek Kim  5
Affiliations

Analysis of Adverse Drug Reactions with Carbamazepine and Oxcarbazepine at a Tertiary Care Hospital

Jung Eun Lee et al. Yonsei Med J. 2020 Oct.

Abstract

Purpose: To describe adverse drug reactions (ADRs) to carbamazepine (CBZ) and oxcarbazepine (OXC), including severe cutaneous ADRs, at a tertiary care hospital over a 10-year period.

Materials and methods: The frequency and clinical features of ADRs caused by CBZ and OXC were analyzed using the pharmacovigilance database and spontaneous ADR reporting data of Yonsei University Severance Hospital & Dental Hospital (Seoul, Korea) from January 1, 2010 to January 31, 2020.

Results: Among 10419 cases prescribed CBZ and OXC, 204 ADR cases were reported. The incidences of ADRs were 1.8% and 2.2% for CBZ and OXC respectively, with no significant difference (p=0.169). The most common clinical presentations were skin disorders. Female patients had relatively more frequent ADRs than male patients. Although mild skin ADRs were more frequent with OXC, nervous system disorders, general disorders, and hepatobiliary disorders occurred more often with CBZ. There were six reports of severe cutaneous adverse reactions to CBZ, while OXC had none. Both CBZ and OXC caused ADRs at daily doses lower than the recommended initial dose.

Conclusion: Due to lower incidence of severe ADRs with OXC than CBZ, we suggest OXC as a first-line prescription.

Keywords: Carbamazepine; anticonvulsants; drug related adverse reactions; oxcarbazepine.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no potential conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. The ratio of clinical features of ADRs to CBZ (A) and OXC (B). SCARs, severe cutaneous adverse reactions; ADR, adverse drug reaction; CBZ, carbamazepine; OXC, oxcarbazepine.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2. Incidence of ADRs to CBZ (A) and OXC (B) according to initial daily dose. ADR, adverse drug reaction; CBZ, carbamazepine; IR, immediate-release; CR, controlled-release; OXC, oxcarbazepine.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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