Article date: September 2004
By: J. M. Van Opstal, R. Janknegt, J. Cilissen, W. H. V. M. L’Ortije, J. E. Nel, F. De Heer, in Volume 58, Issue 3, pages 329-331
Few published human data are available concerning the acute toxicity of the new antiepileptic drug oxcarbazepine of which the metabolite 10‐ monohydroxy derivate (MHD) is the pharmacologically effective compound. Two hours after a documented overdosage of more than 100 tablets oxcarbazepine, the serum level of the parent compound was 10‐fold higher than the therapeutic dosage (31.6 mg l−1). However, the concentration of MHD, which peaked 7 h after intake, was only twofold higher (59.0 mg l−1). No life‐threatening situations occurred and the patient fully recovered. The fact that oxcarbazepine is a prodrug and that the formation of the active MHD metabolite is a rate‐limiting process may contribute to the relative low toxicity of the drug in overdose.
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2125.2004.02129.x
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