This Article  • References  • Full text PDF  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in JAMA  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

Case Studies and Clinical Significance

Bruno A. Wroblewski, MS; William D. Singer, MD; John Whyte, MD, PhD

JAMA. 1986;255(9):1165-1167.

Abstract
Because of significant and seemingly haphazard fluctuations in serum carbamazepine concentrations, we decided to investigate the possible link between erythromycin administration and potential changes in serum carbamazepine concentration. We studied four cases involving this combination. In every case, serum carbamazepine concentrations either rose dramatically (doubled or tripled previous steady-state concentrations) or dropped precipitously once erythromycin therapy was discontinued. In all cases, we report serum carbamazepine concentrations obtained before, during, and after concurrent erythromycin administration. We conclude that the combination of erythromycin and carbamazepine represents a clinically significant drug interaction and should be avoided where possible.

(JAMA 1986;255:1165-1167)

Author Affiliations
From the Departments of Clinical Pharmacy (Mr Wroblewski), Pediatrics (Neurology) (Dr Singer), and Rehabilitation Medicine (Dr Whyte), Greenery Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center, Boston; the Department of Pediatrics, Cambridge (Mass) and Mount Auburn Hospitals (Dr Singer); the Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston (Dr Singer); and New England Medical Center Hospitals and Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston (Dr Whyte).

Footnotes
Reprint requests to Greenery Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center, 99 Chestnut Hill Ave, Boston, MA 02135 (Mr Wroblewski).

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter     What's this?

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Pharmacogenetics and enzyme induction/inhibition properties of antiepileptic drugs
Anderson
Neurology 2004;63:S3-S8.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Erythromycin-Induced Carbamazepine Toxicity: A Continuing Problem
Stafstrom et al.
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 1995;149:99-101.
ABSTRACT  

Erythromycin and Valproate Interaction
Redington et al.
ANN INTERN MED 1992;116:877-878.
ABSTRACT  

Erythromycin-induced Drug Interactions: An Illustrative Case and Review of the Literature
Zitelli et al.
CLIN PEDIATR 1987;26:117-119.
ABSTRACT