Biomaterial Database

Drug therapy reviews: clinical pharmacology of antiepileptic drugs. 1978

T R Browne

The absorption, distribution, biotransformation, excretion and clinical pharmacokinetics of antiepileptic drugs are reviewed. Six guidelines for the therapeutic use of these drugs are given: (1) when therapy with an antiepileptic drug is initiated or when dosage is raised or lowered, the new steady-state drug serum concentration and the full effect of the dosage change will not occur for five elimination half-lives; (2) a loading dose is usually necessary to immediately achieve a steady-state serum drug concentration equal to the usual maintenance steady-state serum drug concentration; (3) the choice of dosage intervals for antiepileptic drugs is determined in part by the range of fluctuation in drug concentration between doses that is acceptable; (4) addition of a drug to an existing antiepileptic regimen may raise or lower the serum concentration of prior drugs by inhibition or induction of their metabolism; (5) if possible, make only one change at a time in an antiepileptic drug regimen; and (6) antiepileptic drugs should not be given by the i.m. route in emergency situations.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007273	Injections, Intramuscular	Forceful administration into a muscle of liquid medication, nutrient, or other fluid through a hollow needle piercing the muscle and any tissue covering it.	Intramuscular Injections,Injection, Intramuscular,Intramuscular Injection
D007674	Kidney Diseases	Pathological processes of the KIDNEY or its component tissues.	Disease, Kidney,Diseases, Kidney,Kidney Disease
D007700	Kinetics	The rate dynamics in chemical or physical systems.
D008107	Liver Diseases	Pathological processes of the LIVER.	Liver Dysfunction,Disease, Liver,Diseases, Liver,Dysfunction, Liver,Dysfunctions, Liver,Liver Disease,Liver Dysfunctions
D008954	Models, Biological	Theoretical representations that simulate the behavior or activity of biological processes or diseases. For disease models in living animals, DISEASE MODELS, ANIMAL is available. Biological models include the use of mathematical equations, computers, and other electronic equipment.	Biological Model,Biological Models,Model, Biological,Models, Biologic,Biologic Model,Biologic Models,Model, Biologic
D011485	Protein Binding	The process in which substances, either endogenous or exogenous, bind to proteins, peptides, enzymes, protein precursors, or allied compounds. Specific protein-binding measures are often used as assays in diagnostic assessments.	Plasma Protein Binding Capacity,Binding, Protein
D004334	Drug Administration Schedule	Time schedule for administration of a drug in order to achieve optimum effectiveness and convenience.	Administration Schedule, Drug,Administration Schedules, Drug,Drug Administration Schedules,Schedule, Drug Administration,Schedules, Drug Administration
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000042	Absorption	The physical or physiological processes by which substances, tissue, cells, etc. take up or take in other substances or energy.
D000284	Administration, Oral	The giving of drugs, chemicals, or other substances by mouth.	Drug Administration, Oral,Administration, Oral Drug,Oral Administration,Oral Drug Administration,Administrations, Oral,Administrations, Oral Drug,Drug Administrations, Oral,Oral Administrations,Oral Drug Administrations