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Published Online, 12 October 2004, www.theannals.com, DOI 10.1345/aph.1D442.
 The Annals of Pharmacotherapy: Vol. 38, No. 11, pp. 1852-1854. DOI 10.1345/aph.1D442
© 2004 Harvey Whitney Books Company.
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Possible Reduction in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms with Oxcarbazepine in a Patient with Bipolar Disorder

Parviz Malek-Ahmadi, MD

Professor, Department of Neuropsychiatry, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX

Allan T Hanretta, MD PhD

Assistant Professor, Department of Neuropsychiatry, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center

Reprints: Parviz Malek-Ahmadi MD, Department of Neuropsychiatry, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430-8103, fax 806/743-2784, parviz.malekahmadi{at}ttuhsc.edu

OBJECTIVE: To report the effect of oxcarbazepine in a patient with bipolar illness and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

CASE SUMMARY: A 38-year-old white woman with PTSD and bipolar disorder who had partially responded to carbamazepine was treated with oxcarbazepine. Within a month of initiation of treatment with oxcarbazepine, she reported progressive improvement in her PTSD symptoms. As oxcarbazepine monotherapy with 750 mg twice daily continued, she reported significant reduction of her PTSD symptoms and stabilization of her mood. She tolerated oxcarbazepine without adverse effects.

DISCUSSION: PTSD symptoms tend to wax and wane. Spontaneous remission also occurs in some patients with PTSD. There are a few reports indicating that carbamazepine alleviates PTSD symptoms. Since oxcarbazepine is an analog of carbamazepine, it is theorized that oxcarbazepine also has efficacy in significantly reducing PTSD symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS: There are case reports and uncontrolled studies suggesting that antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) alleviate PTSD symptoms. Oxcarbazepine may also benefit patients with PTSD. However, controlled studies are needed to investigate the use of AEDs in patients with PTSD and bipolar disorder.

Key Words: bipolar disorder, oxcarbazepine, posttraumatic stress disorder

Published Online, October 12, 2004. www.theannals.com, DOI 10.1345/aph.1D442




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