Diabetic peripheral neuropathy: nerve conduction studies before, during and after carbamazepine therapy.

Fifty-four patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy were treated with carbamazepine for a period of one year. Clinical assessment and nerve conduction velocity studies (NCV) were done periodically. Forty-nine patients had symptomatic relief of all sensory manifestations but NCV remained essentially unchanged. Untoward effects of the drug were frequent but transitory. It was concluded that carbamazepine is a dependable drug for the treatment of symptomatic diabetic sensory polyneuropathy.