Reduced Carnitine And Antiepileptic Drugs - Cause Relationship Or Coexistence

Serum carnitine was measured longitudinally before and after therapy in 15 patients receiving valproic acid, 14 patients receiving carbamazepine and 8 patients receiving phenobarbital. The patients who received valproic acid showed a significant reduction in free (and total) serum carnitine (mean (SE) 37.6 (6.2) mu mol/l without valproic acid, 29.1 (1.6) mu mol/l with valproic acid (p < 0.001)). Such an effect was not found in patients receiving carbamazepine or phenobarbital.