Is carbamazepine an alternative maintenance therapy for neonatal seizures?

The absorption and elimination of a hospital pharmacy preparation of carbamazepine suspension have been investigated in a group of 6 new-born and 2 older infants. The results indicate that carbamazepine is adequately absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and that blood carbamazepine levels which are therapeutic in older children or adults are maintained with doses of 5-8 mg/kg twice daily. Elimination half-lives in this group of infants, who were each receiving other anti-epileptic drugs, varied from 7.2 to 15.2 h. Carbamazepine may provide a useful alternative to phenytoin and phenobarbitone as maintenance oral therapy in the management of neonatal seizures. Further investigation of efficacy and safety in this age group is required.