Carbamazepine dose-concentration relationship in elderly nursing home residents.

Purpose: To describe the dose-concentration relationships of carbamazepine (CBZ) in elderly nursing home residents and the effect of sex, age, and type of co-medications.

Results: This is a cross-sectional study of elderly (> or = 65 years) nursing home residents across the United States (N=92). Data collection was from 1 June 1998 to 31 December 2000.

The validity of epilepsy or seizure documentation in nursing homes.

Recent studies have reported that epilepsy and seizures are common in nursing homes. Prevalence has been reported to range from 5 to 9% and antiepileptic drug (AED) use is even more common. Most of these studies have relied on various forms of nursing home records, but the validity of this source data, while assumed, has not been verified.

Valproic acid doses, concentrations, and clearances in elderly nursing home residents.

VPA daily dose and total VPA concentrations for 146 elderly (> or =65 years) nursing home residents collected from June 1998 to December 2000 in homes located throughout the United States are presented. Average age was 78.5+/-8.

Phenytoin use in elderly nursing home residents.

Background: Phenytoin (PHT) dosing regimens are often determined based on experience in those aged <65 years rather than in those aged >or=65 years.

Objective: The goal of this study was to determine the impact of sex, age, receipt of concomitant inhibitors or inducers of PHT metabolism, and albumin levels on doses and total serum concentrations of PHT in elderly nursing home residents.

Methods: Consulting pharmacists to nursing homes located throughout the United States collected data from June 1998 to December 2000.