Abstract
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.
Full text
PDF




Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- ALEXANDER E. J. Withdrawal effects of sodium amytal. Dis Nerv Syst. 1951 Mar;12(3):77–82. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- ANDERSEN H., KRISTIANSEN E. S. Tofranil-treatment of endogenous depressions. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 1959;34:387–397. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1959.tb07529.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Ashton H. Benzodiazepine withdrawal: an unfinished story. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1984 Apr 14;288(6424):1135–1140. doi: 10.1136/bmj.288.6424.1135. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Ayd F. J., Jr Benzodiazepines: dependence and withdrawal. JAMA. 1979 Sep 28;242(13):1401–1402. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Björkqvist S. E., Isohanni M., Mäkelä R., Malinen L. Ambulant treatment of alcohol withdrawal symptoms with carbamazepine: a formal multicentre doubl-blind comparison with placebo. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 1976 May;53(5):333–342. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1976.tb00081.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Covi L., Lipman R. S., Pattison J. H., Derogatis L. R., Uhlenhuth E. H. Length of treatment with anxiolytic sedatives and response to their sudden withdrawal. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 1973;49(1):51–64. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1973.tb04398.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Demers-Desrosiers L. A., Nestoros J. N., Vaillancourt P. Acute psychosis precipitated by withdrawal of anticonvulsant medication. Am J Psychiatry. 1978 Aug;135(8):981–982. doi: 10.1176/ajp.135.8.981. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Dilsaver S. C., Greden J. F. Antidepressant withdrawal phenomena. Biol Psychiatry. 1984 Feb;19(2):237–256. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Dilsaver S. C., Greden J. F. Antidepressant withdrawal-induced activation (hypomania and mania): mechanism and theoretical significance. Brain Res. 1984 Mar;319(1):29–48. doi: 10.1016/0165-0173(84)90028-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Drake M. E., Jr Recurrent spontaneous myoclonus in alcohol withdrawal. South Med J. 1983 Aug;76(8):1040–1042. doi: 10.1097/00007611-198308000-00028. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- FRASER H. F., WIKLER A., ESSIG C. F., ISBELL H. Degree of physical dependence induced by secobarbital or pentobarbital. J Am Med Assoc. 1958 Jan 11;166(2):126–129. doi: 10.1001/jama.1958.02990020014002. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Flygenring J., Hansen J., Holst B., Petersen E., Sørensen A. Treatment of alcohol withdrawal symptoms in hospitalized patients. A randomized, double-blind comparison of carbamazepine (Tegretol) and barbital (Diemal). Acta Psychiatr Scand. 1984 May;69(5):398–408. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1984.tb02511.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Fontaine R., Chouinard G., Annable L. Rebound anxiety in anxious patients after abrupt withdrawal of benzodiazepine treatment. Am J Psychiatry. 1984 Jul;141(7):848–852. doi: 10.1176/ajp.141.7.848. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Gardner A. J. Withdrawal fits in barbiturate addicts. Lancet. 1967 Aug 12;2(7511):337–338. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(67)90174-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Gualtieri C. T., Staye J. Withdrawal symptoms after abrupt cessation of amitriptyline in an eight-year-old boy. Am J Psychiatry. 1979 Apr;136(4A):457–458. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- HOLLISTER L. E., MOTZENBECKER F. P., DEGAN R. O. Withdrawal reactions from chlordiazepoxide ("Librium"). Psychopharmacologia. 1961 Feb 20;2:63–68. doi: 10.1007/BF00429621. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Higgitt A. C., Lader M. H., Fonagy P. Clinical management of benzodiazepine dependence. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1985 Sep 14;291(6497):688–690. doi: 10.1136/bmj.291.6497.688. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- ISBELL H., ALTSCHUL S., KORNETSKY C. H., EISENMAN A. J., FLANARY H. G., FRASER H. F. Chronic barbiturate intoxication; an experimental study. Arch Neurol Psychiatry. 1950 Jul;64(1):1–28. doi: 10.1001/archneurpsyc.1950.02310250007001. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- ISBELL H., FRASER H. F., WIKLER A., BELLEVILLE R. E., EISENMAN A. J. An experimental study of the etiology of rum fits and delirium tremens. Q J Stud Alcohol. 1955 Mar;16(1):1–33. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- KRAMER J. C., KLEIN D. F., FINK M. Withdrawal symptoms following dicontinuation of imipramine therapy. Am J Psychiatry. 1961 Dec;118:549–550. doi: 10.1176/ajp.118.6.549. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Khantzian E. J., McKenna G. J. Acute toxic and withdrawal reactions associated with drug use and abuse. Ann Intern Med. 1979 Mar;90(3):361–372. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-90-3-361. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Klein E., Uhde T. W., Post R. M. Preliminary evidence for the utility of carbamazepine in alprazolam withdrawal. Am J Psychiatry. 1986 Feb;143(2):235–236. doi: 10.1176/ajp.143.2.235. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Klett C. J., Hollister L. E., Caffey E. M., Jr, Kaim S. C. Evaluating changes in symptoms during acute alcohol withdrawal. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1971 Feb;24(2):174–178. doi: 10.1001/archpsyc.1971.01750080078013. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Means L. W., Gray S. L., Medlin C. W. Prenatal ethanol exposure fails to affect stimulus reactivity in the rat. Alcohol. 1986 Jan-Feb;3(1):1–4. doi: 10.1016/0741-8329(86)90062-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Patterson J. F. Psychosis after discontinuation of nortriptyline. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 1984 Apr;4(2):117–118. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Petursson H., Lader M. H. Withdrawal from long-term benzodiazepine treatment. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1981 Sep 5;283(6292):643–645. doi: 10.1136/bmj.283.6292.643. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Power K. G., Jerrom D. W., Simpson R. J., Mitchell M. Controlled study of withdrawal symptoms and rebound anxiety after six week course of diazepam for generalised anxiety. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1985 Apr 27;290(6477):1246–1248. doi: 10.1136/bmj.290.6477.1246. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Rickels K. Are benzodiazepines overused and abused? Br J Clin Pharmacol. 1981;11 (Suppl 1):71S–83S. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2125.1981.tb01842.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Rosenblum J. A. Diphenylhydantoin sodium (Dilantin) withdrawal in non-epileptics. Curr Ther Res Clin Exp. 1971 Jun;13(6):369–373. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Rosenblum J. A., Shafer N. Effects of diphenylhydantoin (Dilantin) withdrawal on non-epileptics: preliminary report. Curr Ther Res Clin Exp. 1970 Jan;12(1):31–33. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Santos A. B., Jr, Mccurdy L. Delirium after abrupt withdrawal from doxepin: case report. Am J Psychiatry. 1980 Feb;137(2):239–240. doi: 10.1176/ajp.137.2.239. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Schöpf J. Withdrawal phenomena after long-term administration of benzodiazepines. A review of recent investigations. Pharmacopsychiatria. 1983 Jan;16(1):1–8. doi: 10.1055/s-2007-1017439. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Stern S. L., Mendels J. Withdrawal symptoms during the course of imipramine therapy. J Clin Psychiatry. 1980 Feb;41(2):66–67. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Swartz C. M., Dunbar E. Postictal prolactin elevations in rats. Neuropsychobiology. 1983;10(1):1–6. doi: 10.1159/000117976. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Thompson W. L. Management of alcohol withdrawal syndromes. Arch Intern Med. 1978 Feb;138(2):278–283. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Tyrer P., Owen R., Dawling S. Gradual withdrawal of diazepam after long-term therapy. Lancet. 1983 Jun 25;1(8339):1402–1406. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(83)92355-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Tyrer P., Rutherford D., Huggett T. Benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms and propranolol. Lancet. 1981 Mar 7;1(8219):520–522. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(81)92861-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Winokur A., Rickels K., Greenblatt D. J., Snyder P. J., Schatz N. J. Withdrawal reaction from long-term, low-dosage administration of diazepam. A double-blind, placebo-controlled case study. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1980 Jan;37(1):101–105. doi: 10.1001/archpsyc.1980.01780140103012. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]