Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, 1988, Vol 51, 924-928
Withdrawal symptoms from phenytoin, carbamazepine and sodium valproate
JS Duncan, SD Shorvon and MR Trimble
Institute of Neurology, National Hospital, London, UK.
A prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled investigation of possible
withdrawal symptoms from phenytoin, carbamazepine and sodium valproate is
reported in patients with active epilepsy, on combination therapy. There
was an increase in seizures on reduction and withdrawal of carbamazepine,
but there was no convincing evidence of withdrawal symptoms from any of
these drugs.