Serum phenytoin, phenobarbital, carbamazepine, albumin; and plasma estradiol, progesterone concentrations during the menstrual cycle in women with epilepsy

Abstract

Menstrual cycles (6) and three 1 mo. periods were studied in 7 patients with epilepsy. The patients all had had anti-epileptic treatment for a long time. In each case, the dosages had been constant for at least 1 mo. prior to the start of the investigation. Blood samples were taken every 2nd day. Phenytoin, phenobarbital, carbamazepine, estradiol and pregesterone were analyzed. The serum levels of the anti-epileptic drugs were correlated to the plasma hormone concentrations. No correlations were obtained between the plasma hormone concentrations and the serum levels of the anti-epileptic drugs. There is, no evidence that the relationship between the seizure frequency and plasma hormone concentrations, shown by Backstrom (1976) was related to a change in serum levels of the anti-epileptic drugs.