Safety of carbamazepine extended-release capsules in bipolar disorder polypharmacy.

Background: This analysis is a retrospective chart review evaluating the safety of carbamazepine (CBZ) extended-release capsules (CBZ-ERC) (Shire, Wayne, PA, USA) when used in combination with other agents as part of a polypharmacy regimen in the treatment of patients with bipolar disorder. The safety of CBZ-ERC was determined by comparing the adverse event profiles of patients on monotherapy versus those of patients on polytherapy.

Methods: The medical records of 300 adult patients (aged 18-70) treated in a private practice setting with CBZ (monotherapy or polytherapy) who met the DSM-IV criteria for bipolar disorder were examined.

Results: We found that patients taking CBZ-ERC together with other agents (antipsychotics, antiepileptics, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and other antidepressants, anxiolytics, lithium, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder medications) were no more likely to report gastrointestinal, nervous system, or cutaneous adverse events than patients on CBZ-ERC monotherapy.

Conclusions: These real-world data suggest that the occurrence of adverse events may not differ significantly between patients on CBZ-ERC monotherapy and those on polytherapy with multiple other agents.