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Henn Kutt, MD; J. Kiffin Penry, MD

Arch Neurol. 1974;31(5):283-288.

Abstract
Monitoring the blood levels of anti-epileptic drugs has increased the efficiency and safety of drug therapy in epilepsy. It facilitates individualization of dosage regimen, reveals irregular drug intake, and identifies the responsible agent In intoxicated patients on multiple drug therapy. Blood levels should not be adjusted arbitrarily, however, but used as information in formulating the clinical judgment for each patient. Effective and toxic blood level ranges, as well as the range of levels expected with a given dose (applicable to the majority of patients), are given for the major antiepileptic drugs. These include diphenylhydantoin, phenobarbital, primidone, ethosuximide, and carbamazepine. Indications for ordering blood level determinations are outlined.

Author Affiliations
From the Department of Neurology, Cornell University Medical College, New York (Dr. Kutt), and the Section on Epilepsy, Applied Neurologic Research Branch, Collaborative and Field Research, National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md (Dr. Penry).

Footnotes
Accepted for publication May 13, 1974.

Reprint requests to Department of Neurology, Cornell University Medical College, 1300 York Ave, New York, NY 10021 (Dr. Kutt).

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