CARBAMAZEPINE:
Why Carbamazepine Test ?
CLINICAL INFORMATION
Carbamazepine test helpsto measure the level of the drug carbamazepine (tegretol) in blood. It is primarily used to treat mainly certain seizure disorders (epilepsy). It is also prescribed to stabilize other non-epileptic conditions such as the moods of people with bipolar disorders, schizophrenia, to ease alcohol withdrawal symptoms, and to alleviate certain types of nerve pain – neuropathic pain. In normal physiological conditions, 70 – 80% of carbamazepine is protein-bound and the rest 20 – 30 % circulates in free form. This free drug diffuses into the interstitial space in the brain where the pharmacological effect occurs, hence this drug's pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics are important in patients consuming these drugs. Carbamazepine test measures and monitors the therapeutic levels of carbamazepine in blood for evaluation, management, and prevention of carbamazepine toxicity eg hypersensitive reactions, pancytopenia, drug-induced interactions, antidepressant toxicity, encephalitis, anticholinergic toxicity, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, rhabdomyolysis, etc. Symptoms like double vision, dizziness, nystagmus, ataxia, nausea, and vomiting can be improved in some cases with a slight reduction of drug dosage. Most anti-epileptic medications have an altered level of mental status and in certain cases with risk of suicidality and hence CNS evaluation is constantly required. Moreover, in chronic cases, an anti-epileptic drug requires periodic hepatic and renal function monitoring to assess the patient’s organ function to prevent drug-induced disorders.
General Instructions:
Sample Requirement: Specimen - Sample specimen as suggested by physician or Pathologist. Test Preparation: None.
NOTE - Sample for specimen collections may vary based on the patient’s condition/cases according to the patient’s presenting complaints/signs or symptoms:
SPECIMEN REQUIREMENT (Special or Rare Cases) - As instructed and guided by Physician / Clinician / Pathologist / as per Laboratory’s requirements, according to procedures and protocols.
Sample Requirement: Sample specimen as suggested by physician or Pathologist.
Test Preparation: None
This Multi-Specialty Clinical Referral Laboratory RT DIAGNOSTICS provides precise and accurate tests with an extensive range of testing services to the medical centers to help in the diagnosis and identification of pathology in the test specimens for infectious diseases and also to evaluate the function of organ systems of the patient. It prevents further complications and helps to stabilize and restore health to near normalcy at the earliest without delay.
