Oxcarbazapine

Few controlled studies are available to guide the clinician in treating potentially assaultive elderly individuals with psychiatric disorders. Safety concerns limit the use of benzodiazepines and antipsychotic medications in the elderly individual, making anticonvulsants an attractive alternative. This paper reviews three specific anticonvulsants for this purpose: gabapentin, oxcarbazepine and topiramate, describing safety and efficacy in elderly patients with severe agitation from psychosis or dementia. Gabapentin, renally excreted, with a half-life of 6...

As clinical experience with the pharmacokinetic properties and optimal dosing of the established antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) has increased, frequent monitoring of AED concentration in the blood may be less necessary than it was 15 to 25 years ago. Monitoring continues to be valuable at initiation of treatment, addition or removal of other interacting drugs, at the time of unexpected seizure breakthrough, or when symptoms suggest AED toxicity. Occasional determination to monitor compliance may also be appropriate...