Authors: Coxhead N, T et al.
Title: Carbamazepine versus lithium in the prophylaxis of bipolar affective disorder.
Reference: Acta Psychiatr Scand 1992;85:114-8.
Purpose: To determine the efficacy of carbamazepine versus lithium as monotherapy in the prophylaxis of bipolar disorder.
Study design: Randomized, double-blinded, comparative trial.
Follow up: 12 months.
Patients: 21 patients that were previously stable on lithium (15 switched to carbamazepine, 16 remained on lithium).
Treatment: Lithium adjusted to 0.6–1.0 mmol/L, carbamazepine adjusted to 38–51 mmol/L.
Results: The overall relapse rate was similar in both groups. However, the changeover from lithium to carbamazepine should be done slowly to avoid lithium withdrawal and side effects, because more were noted during the early stages of carbamazepine treatment.