Lithium-carbamazepine versus lithium-neuroleptic prophylaxis in bipolar illness.

Fourteen DSM-III diagnosed patients with lithium-resistant bipolar affective disorder treated with a combination of lithium and carbamazepine were followed in a lithium clinic for one year to study the prophylactic benefit and side effects of this drug regimen. Comparison data for the previous year on lithium and neuroleptics showed that for the 9 patients who completed the study, the lithium-carbamazepine regimen was superior to lithium-neuroleptics in decreasing the number of affective episodes and side effects. Carbamazepine blood levels appeared to be a possible contributing factor in the development of side effects.