Carbamazepine- or oxcarbazepine-induced hyponatraemia or leucopenia, or both, in residents with a developmental disability

Carbamazepine- or oxcarbazepine-induced hyponatraemia and leucopenia are known side effects, risks of which increase in certain subpopulations such as persons with a developmental disability. To study prevalence of these conditions, serum sodium levels and blood leukocyte counts in the residents of Rinnekoti Centre were measured. Effects of other anti-epileptic drugs, psychotropic drugs, tube feeding, cerebral palsy, and severe intellectual disability on sodium and leucocyte levels were studied with the simultaneous effect of carbamazepine / oxcarbazepine medication by two-way analyses of variance. Medication with these drugs resulted in significantly lower levels of serum sodium and counts of blood leucocytes in all analyses calculated. Other anti-epileptic drugs had both their own hyponatraemic effect and interaction. Tube feeding and cerebrat patsy counteracted leucopenia. A negative correlation between sodium and serum carbamazepine levels was found. The study defined a population at risk of hyponatraemia and leucopenia among residents with a developmental disability.